Frei durch Rechtfertigung

The ongoing debate in Germany about a consensus between the Roman Catholic and the Lutheran churches concerning the article on justification, which Jörg Baur had joined with a pronounced contribution as early as 1989, has recently, in the dispute about the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification of 1995, engaged the interest and attention of the general public, causing irritation as well. In his lectures of 1997 and 1998, written for a general educated audience, Baur analyses the theologico-political context of the Joint Declaration and discusses its specific problems. The envisioned consensus-ecumenicalism is examined in the light of the insights of the Lutheran reformation in such a way that the truth of the gospel reveals its capacity as a liberating force for the secular consciousness, free from an confessionalistic self-assertiveness.»Die Liebe freut sich nur der Wahrheit« (I Kor 13,6). Freundliche Einsprüche im Licht der noch immer zukünftigen Reformation - Die Rechtfertigungslehre in der Spannung zwischen dem evangelischen 'Allein' (Christus, Gnade, Glaube, Schrift) und dem römisch-katholischen Amts- und Sakramentsverständnis - Vom Sinn und Recht konfessioneller Eindeutigkeit im Zeitalter der Ökumene - Zum christlichen Verständnis menschlicher Identität - Einig in der Hauptsache? - Predigt über Römer 3,21-28