John William Baier's _Compendium of Positive Theology_ Edited by C. F. W. Walther Published by: St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1877 [Translator's Preface. These are the major loci or topics of John William Baier's _Compendium of Positive Theology_ as edited by Dr. C. F. W. Walther. These should be seen as the broad outline of Baier-Walther's dogmatics, but please don't assume that this is all. Each locus usually includes copious explanatory notes and citations from patristics and other Lutheran dogmaticians. Chapter Six On renewal and good works. 1. The word of renewal sometimes is widely accepted, that also conversion or regeneration, and even justification is embraced with the following work of sanctification; in this place however strictly, that from it is distinguished from conversion and also follows justification. Otherwise it is called sanctification. 2. Renewal strictly speaking introduces a certain real and inward change in a human by rebirth or conversion; which is accepted sometimes transitively, and sometimes intransitively. 3. Both of its goals, from which and to which, are known. 4. The goal from which are the remnants of sin, which remain after conversion; truly someone lacking the good strength, on the part of the intellect indeed to a spiritual knowing, on the part of the will to the following of spiritual good, on the part of the sensitive appetite to a yielding by higher faculties; at the same time also there is an inclination of the faculties of the spirit to depraved things. 5. The goal to which of renewal are those greater spiritual powers, which after conversion are at last acquired; clearly on the part of the intellect a fuller knowledge of spiritual things, on the part of the will a more perfect sanctity, and on the part of the sensitive appetite more promptly and constantly an outstanding submission to the superior faculties. 6. However the goal from which of renewal partly is done away with, when a human, by a beginning of loving and by an accurate testing of his life he observes more carefully the sins lost or left behind after conversion and he refused to do them through a serious dissatisfaction and sorrow of them, partly when in the exercise of spiritual acts however large he is occupied according to the various kinds of Christian virtues. And to this pertains the mourning spirit of the reborn against the flesh. 7. And thus at the same time it is tending toward the acquiring of the end to which of renewal, when through more frequent spiritual acts the spiritual forces of intellect and will before imparting are increased and they take growth, so that they extend to a more full habitual perfection. 8. The principal efficient cause of rebirth is the triune God. 9. The instrumental cause on the part of God are the word of law and gospel, and the sacraments of baptism and the eucharist. 10. On the part of humans, powers of grace received in conversion efficiently agree at the same time for renewal. 11. The subject which of renovation is the human converted and justified. 12. The subject by which is the spirit as far as its faculties, the intellect, will and sensitive appetite; secondly also the members of the body. 13. And thus the form or the formal reason of renewal consists in a complex of many spiritual acts, through which the human more and more tends toward taming perverse desire and toward acquiring an increase of a habitual gift, by which it is restored more fittingly to the outstanding things, which conform to the divine will. 14. The nearer goal of renovation coincides with its end to which. The ultimate goal on the part of humans is eternal life, on the part of God it is his glory. 15. The adjuncts of renovation are I. Necessity. II. Difficulty. III. Imperfection. IV. Utility. 16. It is possible to define renovation, that it is a complex of spiritual acts, which the reborn human, by God through the word and sacraments graciously concurring to the spiritual forces gathered to them, as far as he exercises the intellect, will and sensitive appetite to the abolishing of the remnants of sin and a greater acquiring of sanctity in the life of salvation, and to the glory of God. 17. To the doctrine about renewal pertains the doctrine about good works, which partly they have for themselves as a goal and an effect toward renovation, partly they see for the rational form of it. 18. However the free actions of a reborn human are understood in this place through good works, which by the powers of grace accepted in conversion and by an increase according to the standard of the divine word he exercises to the glory of God. 19. The works of the non-reborn, which are done according to the prescription of the moral law, are not equally possible to be said good, as the works of the reborn; and it is not permitted in itself and simply to call them good, however in so far as they are lacking the requirements of good works, rightly they are called sins. 20. The efficient cause of good works is the same, as that of renewal. 21. The form or the formal reason of good works, when they are seen in itself, is conformity with the law of God; when however they are seen, in so far as, although not exactly in agreement with the law, however they are pleasing to God, if the form of them is faith in Christ. 22. The affections of good works are: 1. that they are done spontaneously; 2. that they are imperfect; 3. that they are necessary to those being saved. -------------------------------------------------------------- This text was translated by Rev. Theodore Mayes and is copy- righted material, (c)1996, but is free for non-commercial use or distribution, and especially for use on Project Wittenberg. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 66000 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (260) 452-3149 Fax: (260) 452-2126 --------------------------------------------------------------