For this lecture, Dr. Walther began the evening by discussing those who may be very well intentioned preachers who desire to proclaim Christ, but mingle Law and Gospel. Then he enters the thirteenth thesis, which is, “In the ninth place, the Word of God is not rightly divided when one makes an appeal to believe or at least help towards that end, instead of preaching faith into a person’s heart by laying the Gospel promises before him.” Then he makes the good point, “When I invite a halfstarved person to sit down to a well-furnished board and to help himself to anything he likes, I do not expect him to tell me that he will take no orders from me. Even so the demand to believe is to be understood not as an order of the Law, but as an invitation of the Gospel.” The error against which this thesis is directed is this, that man can produce faith in himself. Then Walther gave scenarios of preaching with and without faith. Then Walther covers Melanchthon and his false teachings. For example, “There is, and must be, a reason in men why some are predestinated unto salvation while others are reprobated and damned.” That was a false teaching because it is synergistic. Also, he makes the good points, “When a parishioner comes to you complaining of his inability to believe, you must tell him that you are not surprised at his statement; for no man can; he would be a marvel if he could. And you must instruct him to do nothing but listen to the Word of God, and God will give him faith.” Also, “But your telling him-these things does not give him the strength he needs. When the Gospel enters his heart like a blessed water of life from heaven, faith is kindled there.” Later, he draws the evening to a close by stating Melanchthons last point, “What I mean is this: man hears the promise, makes an attempt to give his assent to it, and puts sins against his conscience aside.” is wrong, and, “before a person is able to put aside sins against his conscience, he must be converted.”
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