While the power of the Catholic church was increasing and the pope was reaching his greatest power (1200-13 A.D.), there were other forces at work trying to destroy the power and influence of Roman Catholicism.
a. The Crusades, Renaissance, and increasing trade weakened the hold of Catholicism over people.
b. Political change and Nationalism weakened the the Catholic church.
c. A New view of Humanism was also in conflict with Catholicism.
d. Martin Luther's reaction against the immorality of Rome and his own guilt lead him to understand salvation by grace through faith by his Bible study and eventually a rejection of the hierarchal system.
e. Tetzel's sale of indulgences caused Luther to protest and post his 95-point thesis. http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/tetzel.htm
f. The Catholic Church's reaction to this led to Luther's spreading his newly learned doctrines.
Three basic Principles Were developed by Martin Luther and his movement against the Papist.
a. The Priesthood of all believers
1) 1st Peter 2:5, 9; 1:6 – All Christians are Priests.
2) Heb.10:19 – We can, without a Catholic Priest stand in the presence of God.
b. The All-sufficiency of Scripture.
1) 2nd Tim. 3:16-17 – the Bible is all we need.
2) Luther's knowledge of Greek and Hebrew saved him from being misled by the corrupted Latin version.
c. Salvation by faith alone – Luther did not believe in faith alone absent of obedience as is taught today.
A. Lutheranism
Luther's Attitude Toward the Bible.
a. “The Bible alone is the religion of Protestants.
b.. Luther was a mystic.
1) He was limited by his concept of Christ.
2) The Epistle of James was the Epistle of Straw.
3) The Gospel of John was more important than all the rest.
c. He believed the Bible allowed everything which it did not specifically forbid. (although no instrumental music was allowed)
d. Luther believed in the personal enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.
e. But in truth, much like Calvin, Luther was really dominated by Augustine and not the Bible.
f. How to properly interpret the Bible.
1) As you would any other book 2nd Peter 3:16).
2) Handle the Word of God rightly (2nd Tim. 2:15).
3) Paul wrote truth so other might read and understand it (Eph. 3:3-5).
4) Paul's writings are the commandments of God. (1st Cor. 14:37).
5) Eph. 6:17; Col. 4:17; 1st Thess. 5:27
Luther's View of Salvation.
Luther taught that man must know three things in order to be saved. (1) What we ought to do and what we ought not do. (2) It is impossible to live in this way on our own strength. (3) How we can obtain aid to so live as to go to heaven.
a. Luther's Belief in Justification by Faith.
1) He believed that this involved a personal experience with God.
a) This happened at the point when we believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
b) Luther's mystic concept relied on grace coming into the heart directly from God independent of any outward observance.
2)A Refutation of Luther's “Faith Alone.”
a) “Not....by faith alone.” Jas. 2:24
b) “Hebrews 11 – an action in every example of faith (they did something.)
c). Man saved by faith when they submit to God's will.
1) “into Christ.” Gal. 3:27; Romans 6:2-5
2) “into remission of sins” Acts 2:38; 22:16.
3)”Into the body” 1st Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:47
4) “Into the family of God. Matthew 28:18-20.
b. Luther's Belief Concerning Baptism.
1) Followed Augustine's idea that infants were depraved and in need of baptism for remission of sins.
a) Practiced infant baptism by sprinkling or pouring.
b) Babies must be baptized in order to go to heaven.
2) My answer to this:
a) Prerequisites to baptism.
Prospects for baptism must be taught, Matthew 28:18-20.
They must receive the Word. Acts 2:41.
The must first believe. Mark 16:16
There must be repentance. Acts 2:38
Confession is also required, Romans 10:9-10.
3) Total depravity and inherited sin is not biblical.
a. Sin is not transferable (Ezekiel. 18:20).
b. Little Children are the only fit subjects for heaven. Matthew 18:1ff.
4) Infant Baptism is not in the place of circumcision, which was for infants in the OT.
a. The Apostles removed circumcision. Acts 15:1-6
b. Baptism is not a sealing. Eph. 4:30
5) What about the household baptism in Acts (four cases)
a. Cornelius (Acts 10) but they all feared God.
b. Crispus (Acts 18:8), they all believed.
c. Jailer (Acts 16:32-34), they all believed.
d. Lydia: (Acts 16) but:
1) Was Lydia Married ?
2) Did she have children?
3) If so, were there any infants?
4) If so, were they with her?
5) If so, were they all baptized?
6) There is nothing in the Bible about any of the above!
6) " Baptize" means to immerse!
a) The word "baptize" has only one meaning and that is
to immerse, dip or plunge.
1) The many forms of the root word "bapto: all mean dip.
2) The word "sprinkle" is from the word "rantizo.
3) The word "pour: is from the word, "cheo."
4) The word "baptize never includes the idea of sprinkling or pouring.
5) Some have argued the Septuagint Version's use of the Greek form of baptize to represent the Hebrew "tavel" justifies sprinkling.
a. They say that "tavel" sometimes means sprinkling or pouring.
b. But - this is completely false. "Tavel" never meant sprinkling or pouring.
b. The Symbolism of baptism demands immersion.
1) Baptism is a burial (Rom. 6:3-4)
2) Baptism is a washing (Hebrews 10:22)
c. The Examples of baptism are immersion: see Acts 8.
Luther's Concept of Worship
a. Luther believed in both free and planned worship.
1) Sacramental part of worship – God speaking to man through songs and sermons.
2) Sacrificial part of worship- Congregation speaking to God through prayer and offerings.
b. Luther's Ideas About the Lord's supper.
1) He believed that sins were forgiven in observance.
2) He believed in cosubstaniation.
a) But, in 1st Cor. 11 and Luke 22, the Lord's supper is a memorial.
b) Nothing miraculous about it.
c. He stressed the symbolism of the environment (1st Peter 3:15)..
Luther's Teachings concerning the importance of the individual.
a. He had a concept of Mass education
b. Everyone must be able to read the Bible.
c. Based on universal dignity and Priesthood.
d. This is the thought behind the modern school systems.
Note: What is a Protestant?
a. Luther's friends went to the Council of Speyer, 1529 to Protest a Catholic action.
b. They were called protesters.
c. The name stuck and became Protestants.