L11–IV. 2, 3. Proper distinction of Law from Gospel

      This concludes from Part L10 (Table of Contents in Part L01) in a series on the instruction of the Law by C. F. W. Walther and Martin Luther. — In this segment, Walther addresses two more points on the relationship of the preaching of the law to that of justification through faith. It is a wonderful sight to see these two speak on this all important subject. — From Lehre und Wehre, vol. 7 (Dec. 1861), p. 374 ff.:

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IV. What is the relationship between the preaching of the law and the preaching of justification through faith?

      2. Justification itself may be taught from the gospel alone, and therefore the preaching of the law is to be entirely excluded from it.

What Luther says on the preaching of the law in relation to justification:

• “The law is not only unnecessary for man to be justified by it, but quite useless and impossible in all things. But those who hold the law in the opinion that they want to be justified by it, to them the law also becomes a poison and pestilence to righteousness.”
• “In sum, as high as heaven is above the earth, so far should the law be separated from justification; and nothing should be taught, said, or remembered in the article concerning justification, but only the word of grace.”

Walther concludes with a caution on the limits of the Law:

      3. The law must not be preached to the justified as such in order to make them pious and fruitful in good works, and it must therefore not be imposed on the new man, but only on the old man; just as the holy apostle Paul calls out to the Galatians, who had again placed themselves under the yoke of the law: "I want to learn this from you alone: Did you receive the Spirit through the works of the law, or through the preaching of faith?" (Gal 3:2)

What Luther says on the limits of the Law:

• “The Gospel, where it is right in the heart, should make such a person who does not wait so long for the law to come, but is so full of joy in Christ, has a desire and love for good, that he gladly helps and benefits everyone where he can, out of a free heart, before he even thinks of the law, dares to risk his body and life, not asking anything about what it suffers, and thus becomes full of good works that flow from himself.”
• “So Moses [the Lawgiver] is to do his work apart from Christ, that he may drive those who are not Christians or who are ever the old man. For he does not thereby make Christians pious or righteous; but he does so by showing them what their office is, that they may gladly do according to the Spirit”

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      It is this last Section IV that sets Walther's theology above modern LC–MS theologians and pastors, ones who think they can judge Walther, like Prof. Henry Eggold (see Parts L09a, L10). It was Walther who brought Luther's counsel on the "Misuse and Proper Use of the Law" (see the sermons in Am. Ed. vol. 56, pp. 92 ff.) to America, in his book The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel (or Law & Gospel). May this series presenting his instruction and counsel aid the reader as it has me. Amen!

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      In the following English translation, all Luther quotes have been linked directly to their source in the St. Louis Edition, American Edition (where possible), and, in the case of Church Postils, to Lenker's edition. Of course all St. Louis and Lenker edition materials are available without restriction for immediate viewing. Many weeks, days, and hours have been spent looking up and providing these links so that readers, like me, may be able to study Luther's writings further. One can never learn too much on this subject, and one cannot have better teachers than C. F. W. Walther and Martin Luther:

Web version here; download file here; German version here.