Reformation Day
Notes
Transcript
Reformation
Reformation
what was the reformation?
reformation refers to the practice of changing, reforming an institution or practice
during the dark ages there was basically only one type of recognized church, the Roman Catholic Church
eventually even that splits into eastern orthodox
most of the services or mass was conducted by a priest in Latin
besides that, books are expensive to print and slow to print, there was hardly access to the scriptures.
even monks had to give up their copy of the bible once they had reached full monkhood and read strictly theology, commentaries
most scholars credit an event that occurred on October 31, 1517, through an Augustinian monk named Martin Luther, as the Spark that started the flames of reformation burning
The Spark
The Spark
Martin Luther was born Nov. 10,1483 in Eiselben, Germany, where he was to die in 1546
he was seeking a law degree at the University of Erfurt when an event took place that would change the course of his life, and the church
caught in a storm, lighting strikes close to him, collapses to the ground and cries out, “Help me, Saint Anne.” (the holy mother of the holy mother) “I will become a monk!”
Just 2 weeks after that vow, Luther was at the door of the Augustinian order of monks in Erfurt
devoted to the source of theology, Luther made great use of his study of the bible and grew in understanding throughout his life, which led to his academic challenge of the sale and use of indulgences
indulgences are ways to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins in purgatory, an intermediate state after death for further purification of sins
priests and friars alike were in charge of selling these indulgences (benefitting from the prayers and good works of another) solely from papal authority. The thought being a soul in purgatory could benefit from the good works of those that prayed on their behalf, limiting or eliminating their time in purgatory.
with a desire by the powers to be to see a Cathedral in Vatican City become one of the wonders of the world, funding was all that was laking.
Johann Tetzel, Dominican friar, great salesman, “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” Even if one raped the virgin Mary, his indulgences could cover that sin
In accordance with common academic standards announcing a debate, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses against the practice of the sale of indulgences to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany, Oct. 31, 1517.
“In criticizing indulgences, Luther also did what is always guaranteed to precipitate a reaction: he hit the church where it hurts most, in her revenue department.” Carl Trueman, “Luther on the Christian Life”
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses Thesis 82
“Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial.”
Most credit this document and the following repercussions and debates with the beginning the Reformation as we know it today. However, Luther was not arguing against the legitimacy of indulgences, simply the missue of them. It would take time for Luther’s theology and biblical understanding to come close to the tenants of the gospel and biblical christianity that we know today.
in 1519, lecturing through the Psalms, Luther is struck in meditating on the term “righteousness of God” He turns to the verse in Romans 1 which was once a torment to him.
Meanwhile, I had already during that year returned to interpret the Psalter anew. I had confidence in the fact that I was more skilful, after I had lectured in the university on St. Paul’s epistles to the Romans, to the Galatians, and the one to the Hebrews. I had indeed been captivated with an extraordinary ardor for understanding Paul in the Epistle to the Romans. But up till then it was not the cold blood about the heart, but a single word in Chapter 1, “In it the righteousness of God is revealed” that had stood in my way. For I hated that word “righteousness of God,” which, according to the use and custom of all the teachers, I had been taught to understand philosophically regarding the formal or active righteousness, as they call it, with which God is righteous and punishes the unrighteous sinner.
Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God, and said, As if, indeed, it is not enough, that miserable sinners, eternally lost through original sin, are crushed by every kind of calamity by the law of the decalogue, without having God add pain to pain by the gospel and also by the gospel threatening us with his righteousness and wrath!” Thus I raged with a fierce and troubled conscience.
Nevertheless, I beat importunately upon Paul at that place, most ardently desiring to know what St. Paul wanted. At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, namely, “In it the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live.’” There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith. And this is the meaning: the righteousness of God is revealed by the gospel, namely, the passive righteousness with which merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, “He who through faith is righteous shall live.” Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates. There a totally other face of the entire Scripture showed itself to me.
Thereupon I ran through the Scripture from memory. I also found in other terms an analogy, as, the work of God, that is what God does in us, the power of God, with which he makes us wise, the strength of God, the salvation of God, the glory of God. And I extolled my sweetest word with a love as great as the hatred with which I had before hated the word “righteousness of God.” Thus that place in Paul was for me truly the gate to paradise.
Romans 1:16-17
Romans 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
The Gospel reveals the righteousness of God
God is the gospel, Jesus is the gospel, He is righteous
14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth;
1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Gospel righteousness comes by faith
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Those made righteous by faith through the Gospel, live by faith in His Gospel
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Galatians 3:5–9 “5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”
Post Tenebras Lux
Post Tenebras Lux
- Matthew 4:16
16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
How does He do this?
The summation of the Gospel clarified, coming out of the Reformation...
5 Solas
The Gospel of Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone as revealed in Scripture Alone to the Glory of God Alone