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The Lutheran Church – the Reformation

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The Lutheran Church – the Reformation A Study of Denominations 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV 1900) - 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. The Lutheran Church – The Reformation • The reformation began almost simultaneously on three different fronts. (Germany, England & Switzerland) • The Lutheran Church was the first of the many Protestant churches formed out of the protest against Catholicism during the Reformation Movement. Protestant Reformer – Martin Luther • 1517: Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses (challenges to Catholic teaching) usually marks the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. • Those involved in the reformation did not intend to start a new church, but… – Reformation of the Catholic church • Born – Nov 10th, 1483 (1546) • Eisleben, Saxony (Germany) • Considered the “father of the reformation” • Did not want his name used to describe his teaching or followers. The Lutheran Church – The Reformation • Reformation – Does not suggest overthrow but changing an existing order enough to correct its faults. • “Protestant” – (originally) any of the German princes who protested against the decision of the Diet of Speyer in 1529, which had denounced the Reformation. • Protestant Reformation – Movement originally calling for reform of the doctrines, preaching, and rites of the Catholic Church, ignited by the work of Martin Luther, and which resulted in the secession of many churches from the Catholic Church. Protestant Reformer – Martin Luther • Luther’s ExperienCes – 1501 – Entered University of Erfurt preparing to practice law – 1505 – Received his Masters degree & also decides to change direction and enter the Augustinian monastery at Erfurt • He later attributed his decision to an event: on 2 July 1505, he was on horseback during a thunderstorm and a lightning bolt struck near him as he was returning to university after a trip home. Later telling his father he was terrified of death and divine judgment, he cried out, "Help! Saint Anna, I will become a monk!” (Brecht, Martin. Martin Luther. tr. James L. Schaaf, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1985–93, 1:48.) – 1507 – Ordained a priest and following year was appointed as professor of philosophy at the university of Wittenberg. – 1510-1511 – Spent time in Rome and saw firsthand the corruption and luxury of the Catholic Church Protestant Reformer – Martin Luther • 1512 – Received a Dr. of Divinity degree and was named the professor of theology at Wittenberg. • “Began lecturing in the vernacular on the books of the bible and in order to do so started studying the original languages of the bible. He gradually developed the idea that only in the bible could true authority be found” • “1513-1515 – Lectured on the Psalms” • “1515-1517 – Lectured on Romans, and, later, on Galatians and Hebrews” • “From Rom 1:17 he was convinced that only faith in Christ could make one just before God” (Earle E Cairns, Christianity through the Centuries 289, 290) Luther’s Break With Rome… • Motivated by the sale of indulgences (John Tetzel) through arrangements made between Pope Leo X and Prince Albert of Brandenburg – Funds were to be used to build Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome • October 31st, 1517 he nails to the door of the church in Wittenberg a letter of protest which becomes known as the “Ninety-Five Thesis” – #86 “Why does not the Pope build the basilica of Saint Peter with his own money, rather than with that of the poor….” • One of the most famous documents of the reformation and is translated into many languages being transported all over Europe • Unintendedly these actions began the Protestant Reformation Luther’s Break With Rome… • Pope Leo X was used to reformers and heretics, and he responded slowly. – Over the next three years he deployed a series of papal theologians and envoys against Luther, which only served to harden the reformer's anti-papal theology. • This led to a debate between Luther & Dr. Johann Maier von Eck in hopes that he could further expose Luther and get the Pope to excommunicate him. • On 15 June 1520, the Pope warned Luther with the papal bull (edict) that he risked excommunication unless he recanted 41 sentences drawn from his writings, including the 95 Theses, within 60 days. • Luther burned the papal bull and was excommunicated by Pope Leo X on 3 January 1521 Luther’s Break With Rome… • Diet of Worms – The enforcement of the ban on the 95 Theses fell to the secular authorities. On 18 April 1521, Luther appeared as ordered before the Diet of Worms. This was a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire that took place in Worms, a town on the Rhine. – The Emperor presented the final draft of the Diet of Worms on 25 May 1521, declaring Luther an outlaw, banning his literature, and requiring his arrest: "We want him to be apprehended and punished as a notorious heretic. – During his stay at Wartburg, which he referred to as "my Patmos”, Luther translated the New Testament from Greek into German (1522) and he & others finished the Old Testament in 1534. • 1524 the first Lutheran hymnal published: 1527 Luther writes “A Mighty Fortress # 16 in Hymns for Worship The Formation Of The Lutheran Church What really is a Lutheran? – While there are a variety of ways one could answer this question, one very important answer is simply this, “A Lutheran is a person who believes, teaches and confesses the truths of God’s Word as they are summarized and confessed in the Book of Concord.” The Book of Concord contains the Lutheran confessions of faith. (Dr. A.L. Barry, President, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) The Formation Of The Lutheran Church The Lutheran ChurCh Claims to use the Bible as their only standard of authority BUT….. What is the Formula of ConCord? • After Luther’s death in 1546, significant controversies broke out in the Lutheran Church. • After much debate and struggle, the Formula of Concord in 1577 put an end to these doctrinal controversies and the Lutheran Church was able to move ahead united in what it believed, taught and confessed. • In 1580, all the confessional writings mentioned here were gathered into a single volume, the Book of Concord. Concord is a word that means, "harmony.” The Formation Of The Lutheran Church "Our Lutheran ChurCh has nine Creeds and Confessions in whiCh we state what we believe.” • "The ECumeniCal (or Universal) Creeds are:” "1. The Apostles' Creed. "2. The Nicene Creed. "3. The Athanasian Creed. • "The Confessions of the EvangeliCal Lutheran ChurCh are: "1. The Augsburg Confession. "2. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession. "3. The Sma1cald Articles. "These six Confessions and the ECumeniCal "4. The Small Catechism of Luther. Creeds form the Book of ConCord, first "5. The Large Catechism of Luther. published in 1580." (Luther 's Small Catechism, St. "6. The Formula of Concord. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1943, p. 210) The Formation Of The Lutheran Church Being "Lutheran” - Our congregations accept and preach the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone. (The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod) SOLA GRATIA (Grace Alone) - God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly. SOLA FIDE (Faith Alone) - By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him. SOLA SCRIPTURA (Scripture Alone) - The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine. Lutherans in the USA • There are three main bodies of the Lutheran ChurCh in the United States: • The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) • The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS • The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). • There are many other smaller Lutheran bodies in the United States. The better known are: • The American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC) • Church of the Lutheran Confession(CLC) • Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) • Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC). Doctrines, Teachings and Views: Justification by Faith “Lutherans do believe that trust in Jesus is necessary for salvation. However, we understand that such trust is the work of God the Holy Spirit working through the Scriptures and the Sacraments to create such faith. We understand that simple trust in the promises of God in Jesus Christ are sufficient to secure an individual's salvation.” 6. What are some of the Scriptural refutations of the Lutheran doctrine of "salvation by faith only?" • Assurance of salvation through law of the Spirit. (Rom 8:1-2) • Faith only saves when it works through love. (Gal. 5:6; Cf. Eph 2:8-10; Heb 5:8-9) • Faith without works is dead. (Jas. 2: 17-24,26) • Faith plus baptism equals salvation. (Mark 16:16; Cf. John 14:15; 1 John 5:3) Doctrines, Teachings and Views: Baptism 8. What erroneous views on baptism does the Lutheran Church have? • Lutheran Doctrine says one may be baptized by “pouring, sprinkling or immersing” (LC page 193). Too, they say children (infants) may be baptized, or that someone may be baptized for them (LC page 194). Further, they say an unbaptized person CAN be saved if he has not despised baptism (LC page 198). (Wisconsin Synod’s Catechism) • Why are infants and young Children baptized? – They are baptized for the same reason adults are baptized—because of the command and promise of God.
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