Efficacy of the Word Basics

 

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson PhD

Efficacy of the Word Basics - Vimeo Link

Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz would certainly answer the question from Nils A. Dahl: "What do know for certain about Jesus?" Dahl's doctoral students at Yale had many responses, so he answered - 
"The text! The text! The one thing we know for certain is the text!"

The Reformation taught the Scriptures as the only source of doctrine. Luther was especially keen on teaching Jesus Christ the Son of God throughout the Bible.

Efficacy is a word-group in the Greek New Testament - and also a medical term today. "I wonder about the efficacy of vinegar," the doctor said.

But efficacy is also found throughout the Bible because the Holy Spirit is always at work in the Word of God. The Scriptures have an impact on us, whether enlightening us - or hardening us when we oppose the Bible.

Some Passages

KJV Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. [The Father commands, the Son executes the command, the Spirit communicates it to us.]

KJV John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

KJV Genesis 15:4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. [The Word of the Lord is the Son who teaches Abraham Justification by Faith.]

Other examples -

Holy Baptism and Holy Communion

The Feeding of the Multitudes

Reformation Seminary - Introduction

 

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson PhD

This Vimeo Link is the introduction to Reformation Seminary.

Martin Luther lived 1483 to 1546. He wrote the equivalent of 100 encyclopedia volumes and translated the New Testament from Greek to German, the rest of the Bible with a team of scholars, establishing the German language through the translation. 

Philip Melanchthon lived 1497 to 1560. He is known for leading the Augsburg Confession, the Apology (Defense of the Augsburg Confession), and many other works.

Both lived 63 years.

Martin Chemnitz studied under Luther and Melanchthon.

He lived from 1522 to 1586.

Chemnitz was the senior editor of the Book of Concord and wrote - among many other things - Examination of the Council of Trent.

The Reformation Does Not Include Zwingli, Calvin, 

Anabaptists, and Rome

Zwingli rejected the efficacy of the Word and the Means of Grace, rejecting Luther's Biblical doctrine.

Calvin followed Zwingli in time and in rationalistic doctrine.

Roman Catholicism continued the errors of the Middle Ages, making the Bishop of Rome the Pope.

Zwingli - 1484 - 1531

 Calvin, 1509 - 1564

Pope John 23 was the last pope to wear the tiara, which signifies the papal rule over the entire world.