Martin Luther and 95 Theses

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2nd Salvation was by grace alone. God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Such grace was free and undeserved calling man from sin to life in Christ. This became known as justification by faith. From this new beginning would proceed fruit in the form of good actions. The Catholic Church also believed in salvation through Christ but had developed a system of merit according to good works alongside it. Protestants did not deny the value of any good works, but denied their value as a condition of salvation.

3rd. The priesthood of all believers. This idea is based in the main upon 2nd Peter 2 v 5-9. While the Protestant church does have ministers they are not seen as necessary intermediaries between God and man. When Christ died the curtain in the temple was torn in two – the curtain that supposedly separated the place where God dwelt from the world of men. The reformers justifiably claimed that in the early church there was no precedent for a priest a mediator. Hebrews 8 v 6 claims that Christ is the only mediator and this is put very plainly by Paul in 1st Timothy 1 v 5 :-

‘There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.’

This meant huge changes in the church if every man was responsible to be able to read the Bible for himself and to take part in church government. This idea of a Christian democracy would eventually affect countries such as America and other democratic states.

The Council of Trent has been described as the Catholic Church fighting back against Protestantism, but it is perhaps better described as the Catholic churches response to the reforms called for. The commission of reform, which had been appointed by the Pope in 1536, first of all drew up a report to be used as the basis for corrections needed because of abuses in church life and in 1542 a great council met at Trent, despite much opposition. It took many weeks just to decide upon an order of business. So complicated and so important were matters that the council dragged on until 1564 The Catholic Encyclopedia entry by Johann Kirsh (1912)[4] says ‘No council has ever had to accomplish its task under more serious difficulties, none has had so many questions of the greatest importance to decide’. The Council issued condemnations on what it saw as certain Protestant heresies and, more positively defined the Church teachings about the scriptures and church tradition. Subjects such as original sin, justification and the sacraments and numerous decrees regarding reform were issued by its members. The results included a new Catechism, a new Breviary and a new Missal.

The Reformation caused huge social and political change, both within and without the Catholic Church, but was primarily about a rediscovery of Salvation through Christ alone. This idea was freed up from the accumulation of theological debate which might make the basic Gospel truth hard to see. It also freed it from practices such as the sale of indulgences which could corrupt it. It put Christ at the center where he truly belonged.

Bibliography

Bible, King James’ Version

Johann Tetzel, 2010, Solent Communications. http://www.nndb.com/people/102/000098805/

Kirsh, J. 1912, The Council of Trent, New Advent, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15030c.htm

Merriman, C.D., Martin Luther, Jalic Inc, The Literature Network, 2005 http://www.online-literature.com/martin-luther/

Stupperich, R., 1977, Martin Luther, A Lion Handbook; the History of Christianity, pages 362-368, Tring, Lion Publishing

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