Happy Reformation Day!

On what we know as “All Hallow’s Eve, October 31, 1517 Martin Luther wrote a letter

of protest to Albert of Mainz. Cardinal Albert of Brandenburg was Elector and Archbishop of Mainz from 1514 to 1545, and Archbishop of Magdeburg from 1513 to 1545. Luther wrote to protest the sale of indulgences. Enclosed in this letter was a copy of what he called, “Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” which we know as “The Ninety-Five Theses.

Luther’s chief complaint was an objection to a jingle that was attributed to Johann Tetzel which said, “As soon as the coin in the coffers rings, the soul from purgatory springs.” Luther believed that forgiveness belonged to God alone and that no one could offer forgiveness especially and even when coupled with the payment. Luther maintained that those who preached that indulgences would absolve the buyer from any and all punishment, and provided salvation were in error. Luther proclaimed that Christians should not cease following Christ for forgiveness on the basis of these “false promises.”

It was on the day before “All Saints Day, October 31 that Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. He also sent a hand-written copy to Cardinal Albert who he believed was responsible for the sale of indulgences in Germany.

Two months later, in January of 1518 Luther’s ninety-five thesis was translated by a Christoph von Scheurl from Latin into German. Some think that when Luther’s ninety-five thesis was translated and printed it became the first “controversy” in history promulgated by the printing press.

The Protestant Reformation was born on this day by this act. The Reformation began the religious, political, intellectual, and cultural fractures in Catholic Europe. The Reformation was used of God to use men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and even Henry VIII to challenge papal authority.

 The Reformation questioned the “right” of the Catholic Church to define Christian practices. The greatest tenant of the Reformation was the clarion call for bibles to be translated into the native tongues of God’s people who then could interpret the Word of God for themselves.

Penitence

Penitence. Among Protestants penitence is considered a synonym for repentance, sorrow for sin, and the turning away from it to lead a new life. It should not be confused with penance, a sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church that stresses the performance of ecclesiastically prescribed acts to make satisfaction for postbaptismal sins.

Jesus’ message, as well as that of his immediate disciples, was characterized by the call for men to repent (Mark 1:15; 6:12; Luke 10:13). The Greek term metanoeo holds two ideas: “to change one’s mind” and “to regret or feel remorse.” Thus, repentance is one aspect of conversion, the other being faith. Together they form one experience in which a person turns from sin to Christ.

--B. L. Shelley,

Evangelical Dictionary of Theology,

Second Edition, p. 898

homoiousios or homoousios

One of the early and fundamental controversies concerning the church occurred in 319 AD when a man named Arius tried to reason through the mystery of the relationship between Jesus and God. Arius came to believe that a unity between God and Jesus could not exist. His conclusion was that Jesus was a “lesser deity” that was called into existence by God.

Athanasius, pastor in Alexandria taught that Jesus was “homoousian” or of the same essence of God. Arius maintained that Jesus was “homoiousios” or of similar essence to God.

The conflict became so heated that the Emperor Constantine (whom I am the 55th grandson – if my sister’s genealogy research is anywhere near accurate) ordered them to settle the argument.

A council was called in 325 AD which we now know as the Nicaea Council. At this council it was determined that Jesus was in fact homoousian, or of the same essence as God. In other words, Jesus claim of being one with the Father was upheld and Jesus was determined to be equal to God bearing the same divine essence.

Who Would Have Thunk It? (Entry #1)

I love the church! One of the many synonyms for the church is "family." Like most families the church has some members that are harder to love than others. At times there are squabbles and problems similar to everyday families.

The church is special! She is unique! The Church is a mirror that reflects the image of the character and nature of God. The church is the Divine plan to display the character of God to the entire universe.

"...to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places..." (Ephesians 3:10, NKJV)

Do you know what this means? God determined that the church with all of its festers and foibles would be the vehicle that He would use to "show off" His grand and majestic character to the angels, both good and bad. Who would have thunk it?

The Prologue - Part 2

Christian Living in a World of Chaos

A series on the true faith & life of a Christian

The Prologue:  The Reality of the Incarnation

Part 2 * 1 John 1:2

REVIEW

1A  The Encounter by John  (Vs. 1)

       1B  …that which was from beginning 

       2B  …which we have heard 

       3B  …which we have seen 

       4B  …which we have looked upon &                          

            handled

TRUTH FOR TODAY

2A  The Excursion of John  (Vs. 2)

       1B  Eternal life was revealed

             1C  The declaration

             2C  The distinction

       2B  Eternal life was reported

              1C  The Connection

              2C  The Corroboration

              3C  The Connotation  

              4C  The Confirmation

The Wisdom of our God!

D.A. Carson 

“If God had perceived that our greatest need was economic, he would have sent an economist. If he had perceived that our greatest need was entertainment, he would have sent us a comedian or an artist. If God had perceived that our greatest need was political stability, he would have sent us a politician. If he had perceived that our greatest need was health, he would have sent us a doctor. But he perceived that our greatest need involved our sin, our alienation from him, our profound rebellion, our death; and he sent us a Savior. ”

Spurgeon's Quick Wit

Hope you like this little "story" as much as I did.

"My mother said to me one day, 'Ah Charles! I often prayed the Lord to make you a Christian, but I never asked that  you might become a Baptist.' I could not resist the temptation to reply, 'Ah, mother! the Lord has answered your prayer with His usual bounty and given you exceeding abundantly above what you asked or thought.'"

excerpt from C. H. Spurgeon 

Autobiography: Volume 1, p. 45