Sola Fidelity

You read that subject rightly. First, a little background for those who are like me and relatively unacquainted with the Lutheran wing of the Reformation: The Formula of Concord is the primary Lutheran confessional document composed in 1577. One of the major contributors was Martin Chemnitz, who studied under Luther and Melanchthon at Wittenberg and later taught there himself. 

Chapter 6 on the third use of the Law, section 4 (or 3, maybe – the numbering is weird) states:

For although they are regenerate and renewed in the spirit of their mind, yet in the present life this regeneration and renewal is not complete, but only begun, and believers are, by the spirit of their mind, in a constant struggle against the flesh, that is, against the corrupt nature and disposition which cleaves to us unto death. On account of this old Adam, which still inheres in the understanding, the will, and all the powers of man, it is needful that the Law of the Lord always shine before them, in order that they may not from human devotion institute wanton and self-elected cults [that they may frame nothing in a matter of religion from the desire of private devotion, and may not choose divine services not instituted by God's Word]; likewise, that the old Adam also may not employ his own will, but may be subdued against his will, not only by the admonition and threatening of the Law, but also by punishments and blows, so that he may follow and surrender himself captive to the Spirit.

I quote this for two reasons:

• To support recent comments with regard to some reformers’ usage of the word “regeneration” in the sense we typically use the word “sanctification”.
  • This may help us understand some reformers’ willingness to tie regeneration to baptism (e.g. Calvin’s Institutes, 4.15.4; 4.17.1). Under this paradigm, Baptism would mark the commencement of our regeneration/sanctification.
  • It makes sense to me that under the first Adam we are ordinarily generated, and under the Last Adam we are re-generated. But since we still suffer some of the effects of our ordinary generation under the first Adam, it stands to reason that we are not yet completely regenerated under the Last Adam. So “born again” points to our final glorified state in Christ when the curses of our ordinary generation, up to and including death, are finally defeated.
• To point out that even the hardest line Lutheran Law/Gospel theological document (that I know of) states that the moving of the Spirit is contingent upon the perpetual reading and preaching of God’s Law.
  • This is totally rad (literally so for some, I am sure).
  • Let the “indicative only” ear ticklers put that in their pipe and smoke it.