Something from Martin Chemnitz on the Human Nature of Jesus Christ

Martin Chemnitz (1522-1586) is known as the second Martin because without him, the work and theology of Martin Luther may have been swept away to trivial bits of history.  Chemnitz worked tirelessly to defend and confess the teachings of the Bible, both critiquing Roman Catholic teachings as espoused in the Council of Trent and in addressing false teachings that were creeping into the Lutheran Church.  

Chemnitz' work is best known among Lutherans in the Formula of Concord.  The quotation below, however, is from The Two Natures in Christ, in which Chemnitz details how God the Son, by taking the human nature into him binds himself to us.  He explains the comfort that we derive from this union of human and divine natures, as it secures our salvation and future glorification.

Here is something from Martin Chemnitz:

"What sweet comfort this is that the Son of God, our Savior, joins Himself to us and deals with us not with His bare (nuda) deity, but in, with, and through the nature in which He is like a head, our kinsman, and of the same substance with us, His members...  Here is a most present and certain pledge of our glorification.  For how could His members be forever left in their miseries when our Head by the very same nature by which He is our kinsman and of the same substance with us, which is now in the glory of the Father, has joined Himself to us most intimately in the sorrows of this present life?  These comforts are weakened and completely lost if we remove the substance of Christ's human nature or exclude it from the Lord's Supper, which is celebrated at in the church on earth." (page 289, The Second Martin: The Life and Theology of Martin Chemnitz.  J. A. O. Preus.  Concordia Publishing House: St. Louis, MO.  (c) 1994. A quotation from The Two Natures in Christ, pages 472-473.)

Something from ... Martin Chemnitz on Church Discipline

Young Martin Chemnitz
with bad haircut.

Martin Chemnitz (November 5, 1522 - April 8, 1586) was a Lutheran pastor who was involved in settling numerous controversies affecting the Lutheran Church in the generation that followed Martin Luther.  In settling these matters with sound biblical theology, he also eased tensions and resolved problems in various congregations who were in danger of schism.

When Chemnitz was called to serve as the superintendent over churches in the city of Braunschweig, he sent a proposal to ensure that he would be able to serve as pastor there without the city council interfering with church-related matters, particularly in the area of church discipline.

The concerns about church discipline were well-founded.  People still had vivid memories of the Roman Catholic practice of church discipline which were tantamount to imposing threats over individuals, congregations, or even entire territories so that the people would do as the Pope declared.  Chemnitz' concern, however, was for godly living among God's people.  Sinners were to be called to repent.  Negligence in word and sacrament were to be addressed so that people would not be lost to the kingdom of God.  Discipline was not to be a bully tactic, but an exercise of the faith.

Older Martin Chemnitz
with better haircut.

Nevertheless, Americans would be shocked to read what would result in the pastoral discipline of God's people.  Apparently, it was concluded that people who allowed themselves to be ensnared in the areas listed below were not to be considered God's people.  After all, God's people should not have to be begged to come to church or to flee from sin.

Here is something from Chemnitz on church discipline:

"But this discipline takes place when a person does not attend the preaching of the Word, does not partake of the Sacrament, or lives in open sin, so that the pastor admonishes him to take hold of himself, and he speaks and warns him earnestly on the basis of God's Word to live a better life.  Likewise, such a person must not be allowed to stand at a Baptism or help serve at Communion, and if such a person has not attended Communion in the last two years, it must be solemnly stated that there be no singing or music at his grave side."  (page 136, The Second Martin: The Life and Theology of Martin Chemnitz.  J. A. O. Preus.  Concordia Publishing House: St. Louis, MO.  (c) 1994.)