BobVigneault
Bawberator
Except for our corners of reformed think tanks and our modestly attended churches there won't be a lot of celebrating of Reformation Day today. The majority of America will be consumed with the trappings of Halloween.
It's been 490 years since Luther called for a small discussion of some problems in the church. It wasn't as dramatic as portrayed in the movies. A piece of paper tacked to the town bulletin board in Latin - the language of scholars. Somebody thought the 95 theses deserved a larger audience and the new technology of the movable type printing press spread a German translation across the land seemingly overnight.
The spirit of reformation was already building, the words of Hus and Wycliffe were having a residual effect on several within the church. Everyone wanted to see reformation but no one wanted it to be a matter of doctrine until Luther forced the issue.
Most significantly, Luther and the 'protestants' did not split the church. They never wanted to split the church. They called for councils within the church to address the corruption of the church and scripture. In 1563, the council of Trent ended. At times it seemed as if the differences would be successfully addressed and resolved but in the end the Council of Trent stood firmly against the reformers and against Scripture itself.
Here are a few of the canons of Trent:
The repeated phrase, "let him be anathema" should sound very familiar to those familiar with the Apostle Paul. He used the same phrase in Galatians.
For Paul, the heart of the Gospel was justification by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. This is the Gospel that was rediscovered and articulated by the Reformers.
It should be clear to see that in invoking an anathema on those who teach 'justification by faith alone' the Roman Catholic Church cursed the great Apostle and the Word of God. In doing so the Roman Church ceased to be part of the catholic church. It had apostatized itself. Luther and the 'protestants' did not split the church, they simply remained faithful to the Word and preserved the Church for the glory of God. So today we DON'T celebrate a church split but the preservation of the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In as much as the Roman Church continues to uphold Trent, the schism also continues and there can be no agreement with the Roman Church. We have much work to do for the Gospel is under the same attacks today as it was in the 16th century but not so much from the Roman church as from our evangelical brothers and sisters.
Use your opportunity here on the Puritan Board to learn how to defend the faith, present the Gospel and fulfill Christs great commission. This should not be a haven of isolated theological debates but an incubator where we learn to defend, protect and present the Gospel of Christ and to continually reform our minds and our churches 'Soli Deo Gloria'.
It's been 490 years since Luther called for a small discussion of some problems in the church. It wasn't as dramatic as portrayed in the movies. A piece of paper tacked to the town bulletin board in Latin - the language of scholars. Somebody thought the 95 theses deserved a larger audience and the new technology of the movable type printing press spread a German translation across the land seemingly overnight.
The spirit of reformation was already building, the words of Hus and Wycliffe were having a residual effect on several within the church. Everyone wanted to see reformation but no one wanted it to be a matter of doctrine until Luther forced the issue.
Most significantly, Luther and the 'protestants' did not split the church. They never wanted to split the church. They called for councils within the church to address the corruption of the church and scripture. In 1563, the council of Trent ended. At times it seemed as if the differences would be successfully addressed and resolved but in the end the Council of Trent stood firmly against the reformers and against Scripture itself.
Here are a few of the canons of Trent:
CANON IX.-If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.
CANON XI.-If any one saith, that men are justified, either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ, or by the sole remission of sins, to the exclusion of the grace and the charity which is poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and is inherent in them; or even that the grace, whereby we are justified, is only the favour of God; let him be anathema.
CANON XII.-If any one saith, that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sins for Christ's sake; or, that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified; let him be anathema.
CANON XVIII.-If any one saith, that the commandments of God are, even for one that is justified and constituted in grace, impossible to keep; let him be anathema.
CANON XX.-If any one saith, that the man who is justified and how perfect soever, is not bound to observe the commandments of God and of the Church, but only to believe; as if indeed the Gospel were a bare and absolute promise of eternal life, without the condition of observing the commandments ; let him be anathema.
CANON XXX.-If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him); let him be anathema.
CANON XXXII.-If any one saith, that the good works of one that is justified are in such manner the gifts of God, as that they are not also the good merits of him that is justified; or, that the said justified, by the good works which he performs through the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ, whose [Page 49] living member he is, does not truly merit increase of grace, eternal life, and the attainment of that eternal life,-if so be, however, that he depart in grace,-and also an increase of glory; let him be anathema.
The repeated phrase, "let him be anathema" should sound very familiar to those familiar with the Apostle Paul. He used the same phrase in Galatians.
Gal. 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
For Paul, the heart of the Gospel was justification by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. This is the Gospel that was rediscovered and articulated by the Reformers.
Eph. 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
It should be clear to see that in invoking an anathema on those who teach 'justification by faith alone' the Roman Catholic Church cursed the great Apostle and the Word of God. In doing so the Roman Church ceased to be part of the catholic church. It had apostatized itself. Luther and the 'protestants' did not split the church, they simply remained faithful to the Word and preserved the Church for the glory of God. So today we DON'T celebrate a church split but the preservation of the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In as much as the Roman Church continues to uphold Trent, the schism also continues and there can be no agreement with the Roman Church. We have much work to do for the Gospel is under the same attacks today as it was in the 16th century but not so much from the Roman church as from our evangelical brothers and sisters.
Use your opportunity here on the Puritan Board to learn how to defend the faith, present the Gospel and fulfill Christs great commission. This should not be a haven of isolated theological debates but an incubator where we learn to defend, protect and present the Gospel of Christ and to continually reform our minds and our churches 'Soli Deo Gloria'.