In Thesis 3, Luther says that man’s good works are likely to be mortal sin. In Thesis 5, he says they are not mortal sins. What distinction is Luther trying to make in Thesis 5, and is he contradicting himself? 

	

Is the commission of a mortal sin always recognizable by society, or even the church?

		

		

		

		

	

Many Christians speak of grace as being “cheap”. What inner problem does such a sentiment reveal?

		

		

		

	

What makes even God’s works done through His Christians impure?

		

		

		

		

	

How does Thesis 6 contradict and correct the medieval (and modern) Roman theology of grace?

		

		

		

	

Thesis 7 finally distinguishes between the good works of the Christian that are mortal sins and those that are not. What is the difference?

		

		

		

		

	

What is the problem with the distinction between mortal and venial sins as understood by the Romanists?

		

		

		

		

	

What is meant by “the fear of God” according to Forde? Can we really distinguish categories here?

		

		

		

		

		

	

Pr. David A. Kind

	

January 8, 2003