Disputation: How Shall We Come?
Qæstio : How shall a poor, wretched sinner come to Christ? Must he come in some special way? Must he come in love? Is coming in fear of sin and death self serving? Iudicium : Dubium, We deny. Disputatio : Holy wisdom ( sophia ) speaks like this: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Prov. 9:10) It is from this point that all else proceeds. Christianity, the only and true Religion, rests upon a proper understanding of the creature to his relation with the all holy, omnipotent, righteous God. The creature is subordinate. The creature is the lesser. And since the entry of sin into the world, the creature is polluted with it. God is too pure to look on sin (Hab. 1:13). How shall we be wise? When we see ourselves as we really are (1 Cor. 13:12), as helpless, destitute sinners ready to perish without a savior. It is not sin itself we fear, nor its immediate effects in this world (for sin, beloved, is exceeding...