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The Doctrine of the Means of Grace

© John L. Hoh, Jr.

In 1985 the Northwestern Lutheran published a series of articles written by Rev. Victor H. Prange entitled "Why So Many Churches?" It was a series designed to inform the laity in the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod, who were certainly puzzled by the dazzling array of churches that are all around, about the American religious scene. Yet when we look at these various churches, we can see that there are three main branches from which all of these churches originate. These three branches are the Lutheran, Roman, and Reformed branches. The three branches are easily seen when we see what the emphasis of these branches are when they serve their people. In religion, all three of these branches have three tools: Scripture, Tradition and Reason. How each branch uses these tools and in which order is consistent in their teachings on the Means of Grace. In the Lutheran church (and by Lutheran I am here speaking of Confessional Lutheran), Scripture rules over the other two. Tradition and Reason are subject to the Word of God. Rome rules that Tradition (that is, how the Church has always operated and interpreted Scripture) is just as important as Scripture. In reality, the Traditions of the Roman Church dictate what Scripture says. The Reformed branch subjugates the Scripture to Reason. To the Reformed, if what God says in the Bible doesn't make sense, then it is tailored so that the human mind can accept it. This in a nutshell is the difference between these three branches of the Christian faith. As we study the differences in doctrines, remember the words of Paul to the Corinthians: Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.1 We are also to preach Christ crucified. That alone is the power and wisdom of God that is found. And it is found in Scripture alone.

We shall first look at the foremost Means of Grace used by the Holy Spirit--the Gospel of our Lord. In this Means we see the difference between the three branches quite clearly.

Luther, in his efforts to reform the Church, coined a term used by Confessional Lutherans ever since: sola fide, sola scriptura, sola gratia. This was not a Madison Avenue approach to define what Luther taught--it is a term with substance. Against the Calvinist use of Reason Luther answered, "Sola fide (by faith alone)". When confronted with Rome's use of Tradition, Luther answered, "Sola scriptura (by scripture alone)". To both, when their doctrines led to work-righteousness, Luther answered, "Sola gratia (by grace alone)". To Luther the Gospel meant the full and complete pardon of our sins which were paid for with the blood of our Lord and Savior.

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