Tuesday, April 3, 2012

APELT Symposium at CLS

On March 5, 2012, there was an APELT symposium at CLS, the title is “Justification and Spiritual Growth”. There were 131 participants. The two speakers were President Yu, and Dr. Armin Buchholz, Director of Graduate School for Luther’s Studies.

President Yu’s topic was “Justification by Faith and the Growth of Spiritual Life. The key to the growth of spiritual life is to keep Jesus always at the center. The power of gospel of justification by faith transforms people’s life. If not, it’s not because we do not try our best but because we do not understand the gospel thoroughly and experience the life-changing grace.

The characteristic of sin is egocentric. The sinner sees only everything in relation to themselves. Since humankind went astray from God, they sought “gods” in their own ways. Instead of forsaking His creature, God called Adam “Where are you?” He has also prepared the plan of redemption for us.

“By faith” we do not mean that faith is the cause but the attitude of receiving gift. We are declared righteousness by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Dr. Rev. Armin Buchholz explained justification by faith as an amazing exchange. Justification by faith is like the relationship of marriage. Faith is our heart connected with Christ, like husband and wife sharing everything in any circumstances. Jesus Christ gives us goodness as our adornment, also says to us “you are mine”. Dr. Buchholz emphasized that God gives us His righteousness all by grace, our good deeds make no contribution to our relationship to God. If we trust in God, the relationship between Creator and creature can be restored. If we have Christ, we have everything.