Lesson #4 – Novatian and Donatist Divisions

Time Line of Heresies INTRODUCTION

Gnosticism - c.100 AD-Present Day Influences When you misuse tools and equipment harmful things are bound to happen to our bodies. Today Marcionism - c. 140 AD-Present Day Influences we will see the danger and harm that can come to the soul when there is a misuse of the tool of – c. 150 AD-Present Day Influences God’s Word.

Novatian and Donatist Divisions c. 3rd and 4th Century AD- Present Day Influences

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become

convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for through faith in Christ Jesus.”

– 2 Timothy 3:14-15

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Introduction to Donatist and Novation Divisions Lesson Objectives

1. Introduction to Donatist and Novation Evaluate these 2 Responses to sin: Divisions

1) No sin is unforgiveable. The practice was put in place to 2. Uncover their Appeal forgive a person only once if they commit one of the “7 deadly sins”. That included the sin of apostasy, or 3. Relate them to Present Day Heresies worshiping a false god. - 4. Practice Defending the Truth and Attacking 2) The 7 deadly sins are unforgiveable and those who the Heresy worshiped a false god during the time of persecution should not be allowed back into the church. -

Characteristics of Donatists and Discuss: What is the appeal of making forgiveness Novations conditional? Cf. Matthew 20:1-16  Abuse of Law and

 Misunderstanding of the Efficacy of the Sacraments Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

Heresy Recycled Background of Divisions

Evaluate these quotes: Christian Persecution was a huge factor in the first 3 Centuries AD. According to Roman Law, “Many sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm (e.g., return stolen Christianity was not a legal religion (religio goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, pay illicita). It really depended on the individual compensation for injuries). Simple justice requires as Roman Emperor as to how seriously much. But sin also injures and weakens the sinner Christianity was attacked. himself, as well as his relationships with God and neighbor. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not Many would deny their faith, and remedy all the disorders sin has caused.62 Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by would demonstrate this by making sacrifices to doing something more to make amends for the sin: he pagan gods. Those who fell away from must ‘make satisfaction for’ or ‘expiate’ his sins. This Christianity were referred to as the “lapsi”, aka, satisfaction is also called ‘.’" those who lapsed in their Christian faith.

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“If anyone says that the satisfactions by which penitents, Background of Donatist Division through Christ, pay for their sins are not a worship of God but human traditions which obscure the doctrine of grace, The Diocletian persecution, AKA The Great the true worship of God, and the benefit of the death of Persecution, started in 303 AD. The law was Christ, let him be anathema.” now being more seriously enforced to force - people to worship and sacrifice to Roman gods Defending the Truth or face imprisonment or death.

Those Christians who sacrificed to the Roman The Novatians claimed that there is no forgiveness for the gods were labeled as Christian traitors “lapsi”. To what Scriptural passages or examples do you (traditores). point them to argue against them? After the Edict of Milan, 313 AD, accomplished mostly by Emperor Constantine, Christianity doctrine claims that you have to do works of became a legal religion, and the persecution penance, and “suffer with Christ” in order to make ceased. satisfaction for our sins. To what Scripture do you point them to argue against that point? The catalyst for the division: When the Bishop of Carthage was consecrated into office by one who had been considered a “traitor”, those who When is it proper to withhold forgiveness from someone? were of the stricter side of spiritual matters questioned whether or not this action was valid since it was performed by a “traitor”. Explain: Objective forgiveness is never conditional. Subjective forgiveness is conditional upon faith.

Heresy

The Issue: Those who are traitors are not worthy enough to distribute the sacraments. Discuss: Why is this an appealing statement?

Evaluate:

“If anyone says that all Christians have the power to administer the Word and all the sacraments, let him be damned.” -

What makes the sacraments powerful and effective?

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Defending the Truth

Explain: “After this protestation, Doctor Luther, of blessed memory, presents, among other articles, this also: In the same manner I also speak and confess (he says) concerning the Sacrament of the Altar, that there the body and blood of Christ are in truth orally eaten and drunk in the bread and wine, even though the priests who administer the Lord’s Supper or those who receive it should not believe or otherwise misuse it. For it does not depend upon the faith or unbelief of men, but upon God’s Word and ordinance, unless they first change God’s Word and ordinance and interpret it otherwise, as the enemies of the Sacrament do at the present day, who, of course, have nothing but bread and wine; for they also do not have the words and appointed ordinance of God, but have perverted and changed them according to their own false notion.” -

Discuss: What are the dangers of the Novatian and Donatist Heresies?

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Conclusion When you misuse tools, people

get hurt. When you misuse God’s

word. Souls are in danger of

being eternally hurt and lost.

“It is therefore a matter of utmost necessity that these two kinds of God’s Word be well and properly distinguished. Where this is not done, neither the Law nor the Gospel can be understood, and the consciences of men must perish with blindness and error. The Law has its goal fixed beyond which it cannot go or accomplish anything, namely, until the point is reached where Christ comes in. It must terrify the impenitent with threats of the wrath and displeasure of God. Likewise the Gospel has its peculiar function and task, viz., to proclaim forgiveness of sin to sorrowing souls. These two may not be commingled, nor the one substituted for the other, without a falsification of doctrine. For while the Law and the Gospel are indeed equally God’s Word, they are not the same doctrine.” -

“Even nature teaches that certain materials must not be mixed if they are to retain their salutary virtue. There are certain substances that are, by themselves, salutary; but when they are mixed, they are turned into poison. That is what happens when Law and Gospel are mingled.” -

Next Time:

1 Corinthians: Lessons Learned from a Troubled Church

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