Following the Formula, Article IV: Good Works — LW Searching Scripture, April 2026

Following the Formula, Article IV: Good Works — LW Searching Scripture, April 2026

From The Lutheran Witness Podcast by KFUO Radio

April 6, 2026 · 28 min

About this episode

Rev. Carl Roth discusses the significance of good works in relation to justifying faith as outlined in Article IV of the Formula of Concord.

Article IV of the Formula of Concord elaborates on teachings introduced in the previous article: “Good works always follow justifying faith and are surely found with it — if it is true and living faith. Faith is never alone, but always has love and hope with it” (FC Ep III 11). The authors of the Formula chose to include a separate article on good works in order to resolve a dispute that had occurred among Lutheran theologians: Some argued that good works are necessary for salvation, while others argued that good works are detrimental to salvation. Both claims are unscriptural. The Formula of Concord follows the Bible in confessing that good works are “necessary,” but in the sense that God wants them to be done and that they will always be produced by true faith. The Formula also counters the accusation that Lutherans discourage good works. Far from it! Lutherans maintain the necessity of good works while upholding a distinction between justification by faith and the good works that are produced by the Holy Spirit in one who is justified. Certainty of salvation by grace alone is preserved by this distinction. If the quantity or quality of our good works had any bearing on our…

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