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Contribution of Martin Luther to the church
Chapter 31 the spread and impact of the reformation
The role of Martin Luther in the Reformation
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There were various theologies of the sacrament of Holy Communion that were being debated during the Reformation. Among reformers there were conflicting views on transubstantiation, consubstantiation, infant baptism and Christ’s importance of being in communion overall. Some reformers and reformation events that appealed believers more than others were Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin and the Council of Trent.
Martin Luther was a German priest who rebelled against authorities of the Roman Catholic Church and initiated the start of the reformation. He rejected some of the traditional practices although he believed that the church was essential to the Christian doctrine. He was very big on communion with God. He believed that people of God were a part of a community of belief and being honest and just in that community made you equally seen to God. Through and in the church we receive sacraments that give us the Word of God. Luther felt that for a sacrament to be true, it had to come from Christ and be a sign of the promise of the gospel. He concluded that baptism and communion were the only two sacraments (Gonzalez, pg. 53)
For Luther, baptism was a sign of one’s death and resurrection with Christ. To complete this act one has to possess the gift of faith from God. With this faith you are a believer and baptized to become a member of the body of Christ. This baptism begins a person’s life as a Christian and lasts a life time. A person could be possibly more able to resist the devil because of the strength of God in the baptism. Luther disagreed with infant baptism because he that you couldn’t just be born into a religion.
Luther’s belief of the bread and the wine involved in the receiving of communion was seen as consub...
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References
GonzaÌlez, J. L. (1984). Luther's Theology, Ullrich Zwingli and the Swiss Reformation, John Calvin . The story of Christianity (pp. 47-56, 57-65, 77-86). San Francisco: Harper & Row.
Lusk, R. (n.d.). Theologia » Calvin on Baptism, Penance, & Absolution. House of Horne. Retrieved February 18, 2011, from http://www.hornes.org/theologia/rich-lusk/calvin-on-baptism-penance-absolution
Mason, M. W. (n.d.). Calvin on the Lord's Supper. The Theologian. Retrieved February 18, 2011, from http://www.theologian.org.uk/doctrine/calvinonthelordssupper.html
Placher, W. C. (1988). Council of Trent. Readings in the history of Christian theology (pp. 43-47). Philadelphia, Pa.: Westminster Press.
Waterworth, J. (n.d.). CT13. History Department, Hanover College. Retrieved February 18, 2011, from http://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct13.html
The Reformation debate letters from John Calvin and Jacopo Sadoleto illustrate the religious controversy of the sixteenth century. Sadoleto’s letter was addressed to the magistrates and citizens of Geneva, pleading them to come back to the Catholic church, as they had fallen to the ways of the Reformers. In his letter, Sadoleto painted the Reformers as ‘crafty’ and ‘enemies of Christian peace’ (30), never directly addressing them. Calvin does, however, address Sadoleto’s insinuations directly in his response. The two letters disagree when it comes to justification, Sadoleto believing that it comes by faith and works and Calvin, more so along the lines that faith is what really matters. Calvin successfully argues against Sadoleto’s premise and presents influential points, making his argument more convincing than his opponent’s.
Kittelson effectively composed the book and created the biography to be an interesting look into the life of Martin Luther. His successful usage of primary source documents and information compounded with his personal literary explanation of Luther’s journey toward reformation and peace with God. Kittelson’s book is not without humor either, he includes direct quotes and dialogue between Luther and Zwingli debating the Lord’s Supper. The insults and demonstrative behavior show Luther as he was, a reformer, who wished to convince others of the power of the gospel. This engaging study is both informative and engaging. Luther the Reformer is a good biography for anyone interested in Martin Luther’s life and interested in learning more about why his journey impacted not only the Roman church then, but the entirety of the Christian Church to this
First, before exploring Luther’s rejection of the peasant revolt, one must examine his explanation of Christian freedom. Written in 1520, The Freedom of a Christian proclaimed the new freedom to be found in salvation by faith alone. His doctrine liberated people from works but also from the laws of the Old Testament. Salvation was found in the promise of Go...
Luther, Martin. The Large Catechism, in The Book of Concord. Edited by Robert Kolb and
In de-emphasizing the role of the Church, it’s rituals, and offices, and supplanting them with a more direct and personal approach to God and spirituality; the Protestant Reformation, through the works of Martin...
In I.17.1 of John Calvin’s work, Calvin argues that people do not need to worry about anything they do not understand because God takes care of everything. It is important to understand that this is not the beginning of Calvin’s Institutes of Christian Religion, because his points in chapter sixteen set the basis for his argument in this next section. Chapter sixteen on providence gives the foundation of
The United Reformed Church's approach to Holy Communion is different
"EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 & 2." EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014.
At the beginning of the sixteenth century church theologian, Martin Luther, wrote the 95 Theses questioning the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church. In this essay I will discuss: the practices of the Roman Catholic Church Martin Luther wanted to reform, what Martin’s specific criticism of the pope was, and the current practices Pope Francis I is interested in refining in the Roman Catholic Church today.
During Luther’s early life he faced a severe inner crisis. When he sinned he looked for comfort in confession and followed the penance, the fasting, prayer and observances that the church directed him. But, he found no peace of mind and worried about his salvation. But reading St. Paul’s letters he came to believe that salvation came though faith in Christ. Faith is a free gift, he discovered, it cannot be earned. His studies led him to a conclusion that, “Christ was the only mediator between God and a man and that forgiveness of sin and salvation are given by god’s grace alone” (Martin Luther, 01). Historians agree that, “this approach to theology led to a clash between Luther and the Church officials, precipitating the dramatic events of Reformation”.
Spitz, Lewis. The Protestant Reformation. 1st. 1. New York: Haper & Row, 1985. 384-01. Print.
...the church. In conclusion, because of the Reformation, churches have greatly changed, and are continuing to change to this day.
The Reformation was a decisive period in the history not only for the Catholic Church, but also for the entire world. The causes of this tumultuous point in history did not burst on the scene all at once, but slowly gained momentum like a boil that slowly festers through time before it finally bursts open. The Reformation of the Church was inevitable because of the abuses which the Church was suffering during this period. At the time of the Reformation, a segment of the Church had drifted away from its mission to bring Christ and salvation to the world. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Church had gradually become weaker because of abusive leadership, philosophical heresy, and a renewal of a form of the Pelagian heresy.
Despite Calvin’s social and personal efforts that lead him to success, his theology remains influential into modern times. The 95 Theses, composed by Luther was written when Calvin was at the age 8. This acted as a base for his beliefs because it acted as influence for his studies and teachings wh...
Luther turned against the university and began to write the 95 Theses, which question the Catholic Church’s practice of selling indulgences. Martin Luther nailed them on the door at Wittenburg Castle Church. This spread like wildfire, all across Europe as pamphlets were being printed one after another. Just like in the movie Luther, The pope did not agree with Martin’s writings and called him to the Diet of Worms to discuss the writings that he had written. At the Diet of Worms, Luther refused to recant his writings before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Germany. Martin states in front of the catholic church, “Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason.. I will not recant. My conscious is captive to the word of God” (Luther). Luther stood for what he believed and he did not care if anyone did not agree with his writings. Martin states at the beginning of the 95 theses, “Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter” (Luther, 95 Theses). This scene in the movie is described true to what history tells us. It is one of the