Following the Formula, Article III: The Righteousness of Faith Before God — LW Searching Scripture, March 2026

Following the Formula, Article III: The Righteousness of Faith Before God — LW Searching Scripture, March 2026

From The Lutheran Witness Podcast by KFUO Radio

March 3, 2026 · 28 min

About this episode

This episode discusses Article III of the Formula of Concord, addressing historical doctrinal errors regarding righteousness before God.

Article III of the Formula of Concord addresses doctrinal errors spread by two 16th-century teachers, Andreas Osiander (1498–1552) and Francesco Stancaro (1501–1574). Osiander taught that the righteousness of Christ’s divine nature dwelling in Christians is their righteousness before God, while Stancaro insisted that the righteousness of Christ’s human nature is the Christian’s righteousness. The article quickly dispenses with the controversy by demonstrating from Scripture (for example, 1 Corinthians 1:30 and Jeremiah 23:6) that the righteousness of the whole, indivisible Christ is what Christians receive by faith, for which God the Father justifies them (that is, declares them righteous before His judgment throne). This article also demonstrates the falsehood of the Roman Catholic teaching that Christians are justified by becoming righteous in themselves rather than trusting solely in the righteousness of Christ. Lest we think this issue is merely part of an arcane debate hundreds of years ago, note what the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church continues to teach: “Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man. ……

People in this episode

Host: Rev. Carl Roth

Topics covered

  • righteousness of faith
  • justification
  • doctrinal errors
  • Formula of Concord
  • Christian theology
  • historical controversy

Keywords

  • righteousness
  • faith
  • justification
  • Osiander
  • Stancaro
  • Formula of Concord
  • Christianity
  • Catholic teaching

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Formula of Concord, Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church

Places: Roman Catholic Church

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