Apology, Parts 12 through 14: Baptism, Lord's Supper, and Confession
Apology (Part 12): Article IX, Of Baptism
Lutherans and Rome have very few differences in their views on baptism. Hence, Melanchthon addresses this as an area of common belief. Later confessions from the Lutheran camp would address the differences between Lutherans and Anabaptists on this sacrament.
Apology (Part 13): Article X, Of the Holy Supper
Again, Melanchthon emphasizes the common views of Rome and Luther on this sacrament, affirming that the body and blood of Christ are in the sacrament. In later confessions the distinct differences between Luther and Rome would be spelled out. Rome believes that the bread and wine change into body and blood. Lutherans believe that the body and blood of Christ are "in, with, and under" the bread and wine.
Calvin, Zwingli, and other reformers believed that the bread and wine merely represent the body and blood. It is this position that Melanchthon is separating Lutherans from in his defense of the Augsburg Confession.
Apology (Part 14): Article XI, Of Confession
Melanchthon recalls that Rome abuses confession in two ways: 1) it requires an enumeration of sins, and 2) requires some good work (community service?) to "make good" the sin.
Melanchthon points out that under this scenario, absolution was lost. And the Gospel is absolution of all sin, with no recompense required (but gifts from the heart are welcome). Semi-pelagianism is part and parcel of the Catholic confession rite. Confess your sins, be forgiven, but do something for penance. The downside is that people actually thought they could keep on sinning because all they had to do to make things right was confess and perform some service. Is this how Christians should act?
Apology (Part 15): Article XII (V), Of Repentance
Is our repentance predicated on faith or works?
Melanchthon states that the Roman camp believed that works were necessary for repentance, not faith. That is, you had to do some penance as part of repentance (similar to confession in the previous topic).
Notice that Melanchthon finds common ground with Rome. He points out that Rome has accepted the position held by Luther that one can repent after baptism when one has fallen away. However, the "faith versus works" debate rages on the Christian's response to repentance. Rome believed in penance; Luther trusted in faith grabbing the promise: "Your sins are forgiven."
Melanchthon points back to "The Ministry of Keys and Confession." Here, is where Jesus' command, "whatsoever you bind on heaven will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Rome somehow mixed the two up.
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