On Reformed and Lutheran Views of Assurance

1/29/2020

Rapper FLAME's recent album Extra Nos chronicled his journey from a Calvinistic to a Lutheran view of justification, sanctification, and assurance. When I asked for questions for a recent Q&A program, nearly every response was related to the doctrines discussed on this EP. I decided to spend the whole program dealing with these specific questions, especially as they are all related to one another. Three in particular were addressed:

1. What is the difference between a Lutheran and Reformed understanding of assurance?
2. Are Lutheran and Reformed doctrines of justification distinct?
3. How do Lutherans interpret passages which tell Christians to examine themselves?

The full discussion can be found on the podcast here.

A video on the section about assurance can be found below.

-Dr. Jordan Cooper

2 Comments

Janelle S link

2/27/2021 08:13:54 am

Greatt reading your post

Daniel Smith link

5/23/2022 07:06:08 pm

One of the things that I question about the Lutheran view is the certain inconsistency in the consequences of how the doctrines of grace hang together.

For example to affirm total depravity and unconditional election ought to necessitate limited atonement. For what sense does it make to affirm that no man is capable of coming to Christ, and is in fact his willing enemy, and that God has chosen some of that lump of clay to be made vessels of honor; yet all are justified by his death? Where then is the choice of election? Where then is Christ saving HIS PEOPLE from their sins and the unique and singular efficacious offering to the Father of his blood as the mediation for that people?

I admire the fact that we look outside ourselves for assurance, but that’s not a Lutheran distinctive. It’s just that the reformed who do so get labeled as antinomian, lol.

But this supposed outward gaze isn’t free from speculation, for all our knowledge and hope and faith are internal realities and internal beliefs. I maybe told to look at Christ crucified, but it doesn’t answer if I am elect. It doesn’t answer whether he has loved me with an everlasting love. The supposed objectivity of the redemption and its universality still has to be believed as true. Is it the case? Did the high priest make atonement for the world or for Israel? And in Israel did all benefit, or only those who had faith?

I don’t see how either system overcomes subjectivity without presuming the reality of an external object. The reality of what Christ has promised in John 6 and 10 however is also external and objective- that the Father wills to give some to the Son, who he will never lose, nor cast out, who will not come into condemnation, who are not condemned, and whose Father’s will is greater than all- including the will of the sheep.

What am I missing in the promises of Christ Dr. Cooper?

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On Reformed and Lutheran Views of Assurance

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