Theses 4

The penalty of sin remains as long as the hatred of self, that is, true inner repentance, until our entrance into the Kingdom of heaven.

The penalty is always before the people. The people are to hate their own self because they are sinful and unclean. Luther reminds us this is true inner repentance. All the penalties are still before the people until they reach the gates of heaven.

This means that while still on earth people face the pain and suffering of sin. There is always going to be sickness and adversity. Temptation will be all around the people of God. Therefore, Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him. The Christian carries their cross in humility and suffering. These are all the temporal penalties of sin.

The sinner or Christian is not released from this until the body of sin is destroyed in temporal death. Here Luther may be starting to see a great Lutheran Principle: Simultaneously Sinner and Saint. Christians are called sainted when they die because they are finally fully saints.

Until people cross through the gates of heaven there is the threat you will end up in Hell. But there is also the temporal punishment of death and suffering faced in this Life. Thank you.

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