Week 1 – After Darkness, Light (An Overview of Protestant Reformation)

NOTES THAT CORRESPOND TO SLIDES

SLIDE - 500th

ANNIVERSARY

Let’s go back to the year 1415.

A cultural and spiritual darkness overwhelms all of Europe.

Science and art are stagnant.

There is one church in Europe – the Roman Catholic Church - and most people knew it was full of

corruption and abused its power.

Scripture and truth have been suppressed. The heart of the Gospel has been forgotten.

There is a sense of hopelessness and despair in the lives of people.

Poverty and illness are prevalent.

The Muslims are attacking and sweeping into Europe.

NOT A PRETTY PICTURE

In Germany at the Council of Constance, two men are being condemned as heretics against the Roman Catholic

Church. Both had openly spoken out against the authority of the pope and for the authority of the Bible. Both

had spoken out against the abuses and practices of the Church.

John Wycliffe, who has been called “The Morning Star of the Reformation”, had been dead for 20 years.

His bones were exhumed and burned and the ashes were put into the River Swift.

The other was a preacher named Jan Huss, one of the many followers of Wycliffe.

Lured to the Council of Constance under the promise of safety, Jan Huss was immediately thrown into prison

for six months, given a mock trial, and ordered to recant — which he refused. In July 1415, he was stripped

naked, adorned with a dunce hat painted with devils and labeled “Arch-Heretic” — all as he prayed for

his enemies.

Why were these men condemned?

Dared to translate Bible into English

Dared to question the authority of the pope

Questioned teachings of the church as non-Biblical

When Hus was condemned to death, he proclaimed, “You may roast the goose, but a hundred years from now a

swan will arise whose singing you will not be able to silence.” (Hus in Czech language means “goose”)

These men fueled the fires of discontent that led to the Protestant Reformation. About 100 years later, along

came Martin Luther, who would be “the swan”..

SLIDE

AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

Post tenebras lux

After darkness, light

October 31, 1517 October 31, 2017

Reformation Day 500th

Anniversary

MOTTO of Reformation: Post tenebras lux (Post tenebras lux is a Latin phrase translated as Light After

Darkness)

October 31, 2017 marks the 500th

anniversary of what is considered to be the beginning of the Protestant

Reformation. This is known as Reformation Day. On October 31, 1517, a Roman Catholic German monk

named Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses (basically complaints or debate points) protesting Roman Catholic

Church practices on the door of the All Saints’ Church (or Castle Church) in Wittenberg, Germany. Out

of this grew the reformation movement, and the church and society as a whole were changed forever.

Some of you may be asking - Why should this matter to us? I hope to answer that very question during

the next hour.

JUST KNOW ------ THIS IS A BIG DEAL

The Light of Jesus Christ and the Gospel, which had been put under a bowl, was uncovered, put on a

stand and began to shine bright again.

After darkness, light

SLIDE – Purpose of this Lesson

1. Provide an understanding of the Protestant Reformation

2. Prepare you for a 5-sermon series on the FIVE SOLAS

Sola Gratia Sola Fide Solus Christos

Sola Scriptura Soli Deo Gloria

1. Provide an understanding of the Protestant Reformation

• What was the Protestant Reformation?

• Why did the Protestant Reformation occur?

• Who was Martin Luther and what happened 500 years ago?

• What were the results of the Protestant Reformation?

• What are the fundamental differences in Roman Catholicism and Protestant Christianity?

2. Prepare you for a 5-sermon series on the FIVE SOLAS

• What are the five solas?

• Why is it important to understand the five solas?

REAL QUICKLY: The Five Solas are:

five Latin phrases (or slogans)

Sola means ONLY

emerged during the Reformation

summarize the Reformers’ theological convictions about the essentials

of Christianity

The Five Solas are:

1. Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority. It is sufficient and complete for

all matters pertaining to salvation and Christian living.

2. Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

3. Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.

4. Solus Christos (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.

5. Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.

We are saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

The Bible alone is our highest authority. It is sufficient and complete for all matters

pertaining to salvation and Christian living.

We live for the glory of God alone.

We will only cover these at a high level. The five-part sermon series will cover

these in detail. My goal is simply to lay the foundation for these sermons.

SLIDE – What was the Protestant Reformation?

• Protest that turned into a revolt and a complete break from the Roman Catholic Church

• Basically, the Reformers had two major issues with the RC Church:

• Authority in matters of salvation rests with Scripture alone

• Salvation is clearly defined and communicated in Scripture (and salvation was NOT defined in

Scripture in the manner and practices of the RC Church)

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION WAS A RECOVERY OF THE GOSPEL.

Started out as a movement to correct and reform the Catholic Church. There was no desire to abandon it and

start something new.

But when it became apparent that the Church was not going to change, more radical ideas and steps began to

emerge.

Before we proceed, I want you to know that we will be discussing problems with the Catholic Church that

resulted in the Protestant Reformation and the differences that separate our two faiths – even today.

This is not intended to be a class to bash Roman Catholicism.

With that said - we cannot / should not back down, or water down, what we believe to be anti-Biblical

doctrines of the RC Church. We will point these out in a definitive manner throughout this lesson.

My statements pertaining to Roman Catholicism should be accurate, because they come directly from official

Roman Catholic documents and interviews with the education director at St. Monica’s Church.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Roman Catholic Church had total power

• Power corrupts and the Church abused its power

• Unbiblical practices and false teachings promoted by the Church

• Church had obscured / distorted / abandoned the Gospel

• The Reformation sought to re-orient Christianity to the original message of Jesus and the early church.

• The doctrine of justification by faith was re-discovered and it became the focal point upon which the

Protestant Reformation was founded.

• Visionary pastors and leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin spearheaded a movement that

transformed Christianity and eventually led to the emergence of the Protestant denominations that exist

today.

Statement on Roman Catholicism

= this is not intended to be a class to bash Roman Catholicism

= there are saved Roman Catholics, because they believe Jesus Christ died for their sins

= Roman Catholic Church has done a lot of good around the world; spread gospel, charity, etc.

= AND we do have some common beliefs with Catholics

SLIDE – Areas of Doctrinal Agreement with Roman Catholicism

• Infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture

• Belief in the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God

• Same creator God and same concept of God (same attributes)

• Triune nature of God

• Hypostatic union (Jesus is 100% man and 100% God)

• Faith in Jesus as LORD and Savior

• Concept of sin and that sin has consequences

• God’s grace is necessary for salvation

• Heaven and hell

• A common history – especially the early church and first several hundred years of the church

NOTE: As we shall see, there are caveats (explanations, warnings, cautions) to many of these statements of

agreement.

OMITTED OVERHEAD

• Early Biblical church

• Roman / Eastern split (1054); Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic split over two issues

• Imposed celibacy on clergy in 11th

century

• Muslim invasion of Europe in 700-1000; continued into 1500s

• Crusades and origination of indulgences 1000 - 1200

• Darkness within church

Overview of church history prior to 1400’s

Biblical church

There were problems in the church from the beginning. Anti-Biblical teachings (Gnosticism,

Arianism) from early church

Early years (4-5 centuries) the church was focused on the Gospel and there was no centralized

power or authoritative church; Rome began to assume a leadership role over time

o church identified canon of Scripture

o clarified beliefs and doctrines

o fought false doctrines

o looked to Scripture to see what it told us about God

o defined Christ according to Scripture, etc.)

Roman / Eastern split (1054); Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic split over two issues:

theologicial issue pertaining to the Holy Spirit (Protestants side with RC Church on this matter)

Power and authority of church was being claimed by RC over the eastern church; RC claimed

to be superior and true successors to the apostle Peter (whom they claim to be the first Pope); RC

Church was becoming more monarchial in nature while Eastern Church claimed more equality

among churches; distribution of power among local churches (in this matter, Protestants would have

more in common with Eastern Church); Cardinal delivered an anathema (excommunication) to

head of Eastern Church and he anathemaed the pope right back

Darkness within church (power struggles, corruption, prostitution, 3 popes at one time (1300’s)

because of power struggles, ignored Scripture; church was involved in politics; people were

controlled in all spiritual matters; simply not focused on Scripture)

Slide - ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH DOMINATED EUROPE

• Roman Catholic Church was the biggest “business” in all of Europe

• Economic power

• Social power

• Political power

• Roman Catholic Church was THE church of all Europe

• Authority

• Spiritual power and control

Economic power

33-50% of land in Europe was owned by church

Money flowing into churches from sale of indulgences, sell and marketing of relics, selling

“bishophood” and rights to shared revenues to individual (royalty, etc.)

Social Power

Controlled all monies for social services (helping poor)

Church was the one charitable organization

There was no government nanny state – no government social programs

Political Power

Church had great influence over all kings in Europe since it held their spiritual destiny in their hands

Holy Roman Empire (began with Charlemagne in 800); Pope essentially crowned the emperor; Pope

also had access to military power also under control of Pope

Became a theocracy (much like you see in many Muslim countries (not as brutal but where church

leaders had both religious and political power)

Spiritual power and control

Roman Catholic Church was THE ONLY CHURCH in Europe

With that came unprecedented power and control

You may see a lot of similarities with the Jewish faith:

Jewish leadership (Sanhedrin, Pharisees); Power rested in the church hierarchy and could not be

challenged

Traditions (oral and written); Man-created traditions began to become more important than the heart

of the Gospel.

They wore fancy, gaudy clothes

centralized knowledge of Scriptures

more righteous

Ex communication became a threat, weapon and tool to control people, much like the Pharisees used

when threatening to have people kicked out of synagogue.

Rituals began to take precedent over faith.

Works and salvation through the church sacraments became much like Temple sacrifices and

obedience to the Law.

Merits, relics, and indulgences are remindful of the Temple moneychangers and animal merchants.

Grace was not a focal point

May not sound like a nice comparison but the reality is that there are striking similarities

Slide – Fundamental to understanding the Roman Catholic Church:

1. Apostolic Succession

2. “Three-Legged Stool” of Roman Catholicism

• Magesterium – The Teaching Authority of the Church

• Deposit of Faith - The Two Sources for Divine Revelation

o Divine Scripture

o Divine Tradition

3. Infallibility

4. Protection and gift of the Holy Spirit

5. Mystical Body of Christ

6. Canon of Scripture contains Apocrypha

The Roman Catholic Church and faith are complex. There are so many aspects to it that make more sense

when you gain an understanding of some of their key beliefs that seem to penetrate and permeate throughout

their faith. Terminology in the Roman Catholic Church is important and also unique.

Apostolic Succession

Roman Catholic Church is the only true church and its authority has been passed down from Peter; can trace

the laying on of hands from Peter to all bishops and priests even today

Power and authority for Catholic Church is traced back to primary Scripture passages:

Matthew 16: 16-20 (on this rock) John 20:19-23 (binding and loosing)

Three-Legged Stool

Teaching Authority is comprised of the pope and bishops in union with him

Under direct guidance of the Holy Spirit

“They are the authentic teachers and witnesses of the Gospel and the guarantors of every

true interpretation of it.”

Church is basically the definer and keeper of Tradition; Tradition and Scripture are considered equal;

teachings on Mary, the sacraments, relics, indulgences, etc. would all be a part of Tradition

Infallibility (incapable of error)

Pope deemed to be the Vicar of Christ (official spokesperson of Christ on earth)

Infallibility is a gift from God to the Church

Only infallible in matters of faith and morals

Infallible in matters of the entire deposit of faith, elements of doctrine such as morals

Ensure that all the saving truths of the faith are preserved and explained without error

Basically only the Pope is infallible and only when he is teaching ex cathedra (from the chair of his office)

Protected by Holy Spirit from teaching falsely; need an infallible church to properly interpret infallible

Scripture

Not divine inspiration or new revelation

The Catholic Church has the gift and protection of the Holy Spirit:

1- Cannot err in areas of faith and morals

2- Has authority to teach and interpret Scripture and Tradition

3- Can absolve sins and reduce temporal punishment for sins

When you combine and examine these key beliefs (Apostolic Succession, teaching authority, two sources of

divine revelation, and infallibility), you understand that whatever the Church does is viewed by Catholics as

correct, righteous, and authoritative.

It is very difficult (if not impossible) to debate a Catholic simply using Scripture. Since the Church is the

authoritative teacher and Tradition is equal to Scripture, then whatever the Church proclaims is truth – even

when there is an apparent contradiction to Scripture

Mystical Body of Christ

All members of the RC Church are supernaturally united

This includes members in heaven and purgatory as well

Members can assist others to/from heaven and even into purgatory

Why there are prayers to the saints and to Mary

The Church is Mary, the Holy Mother Church, containing all the members of the Church into herself to unite

them with Christ

Must have been baptized and a professing Catholic

Canon of Scripture contains the Apocrypha (or to Catholicas the Deuterocanonical books; “second canon”)

Jews who wrote them did not consider them to be Holy Scripture

Books contain some passages that support Catholic-specific beliefs

But are contrary to other Scripture

SLIDE - CHURCH IS IN TOTAL CONTROL

• Authority over Scripture and Tradition

• Definer / Keeper / Owner of Tradition

• Access to Scripture (in Pre-Reformation times)

• Interpretation and teaching of Scripture and Tradition

• Control over all matters of salvation

• Access to Sacraments

• Control over relics, indulgences and Treasury of Merits

• Ex-communication

• Power over Purgatory

- since all Sacraments had to be ministered by a priest, then people had to go to Roman Catholic

Church for salvation (marriage, infant baptism, confession, communion, confirmation, last rites)

- local priest was only local person who could read and interpret Bible (which was only in Latin);

people were totally dependent on priest

TO BE CATHOLIC: Must accept the authority of the Church and all of its teachings

Rejection of Catholic authority (schismatic)

Rejection of Catholic teachings (heretic)

Rejection of Christian faith (apostasy)

AND there was no other church to turn to; Roman Catholic Church was THE ONLY CHURCH in

Europe

KEY: Reformers would claim that Catholic authoritative claims, power and control lead to abuses,

manipulation, and distortion of Biblical truth.

SLIDE – ALONG COMES A MONK NAMED MARTIN LUTHER

• Martin Luther grew up in Germany

• Had intended to become a lawyer

• A frightening episode with lightening drove him to becoming a monk (joins an Augustinian monastery)

• Monks are fairly isolated from the world (and its sins) and are most concerned with their own personal

righteousness

• As a monk, Luther was still eaten up with guilt, depression, anxiety and fear

• To sanctify himself and make himself presentable to God, Luther punished himself

by scrubbing floors, having a meager diet, wearing rough clothes, sleeping in the

cold, self-flagellation

• He also spent many hours in confessions (sometimes several hours at a time) and

prayers to Mary and the saints

• Luther became a “monk among monks”

= “monk of monks” whereas Paul was “Pharisee of Pharisees”

“I was a good monk and kept my order so strictly that I could claim that if ever a monk

were able to reach heaven by monkish discipline I should have found my way there. All

my fellows in the house, who know me, would bear me out in this. For if I had continued

much longer I would, what with vigils, prayers, readings and other such works, have done

myself to death.” (Martin Luther)

• You could say the one thing the Catholic Church did well was instill a fear of God in people

• Luther’s fear of a God drove him; he wanted desperately to be right with God

• Luther understood God to be righteous, holy, jealous and wrathful towards sin

• But Luther did not yet have a complete understanding of God (we’ll discuss that in a few

minutes)

QUOTE from Luther:

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 “Is it not enough

that miserable sinners eternally lost through original sin are crushed by the Law of the Ten

Commandments without having God at pain to pain by the Gospel and also having the Gospel

threatening us with His righteous wrath”…..”I raged against God with fierce and troubled

conscience.”

• Pilgrimage to Rome – offered an opportunity that provided Luther with hope

SLIDE - SO WHAT IS A MONK TO DO?

So what is a monk to do to make himself presentable to God?

How do I stand before a holy God and satisfy His judgment of me?

Let me introduce you to some specific practices in the Roman Catholic Church:

1. Merits / Treasury of Merits

2. Indulgences

3. Relics

All of these things Luther was DOING were not making him feel worthy before God

OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF: Luther is going on a Pilgrimage to Rome to represent his monastery;

Pilgrimage to Rome Luther thought would provide him access to these saving graces; Rome was a holy city

and the center of the church; the 800 mile trek would be a good deed and there would be access to important

relics

Important to understand these concepts, because the Protestant Reformation grew out of protests against these

very practices and beliefs.

SLIDE – MERITS / TREASURY OF MERITS

• Church maintains and controls this Treasury of Merits

• Stores the excess merits of Christ, Mary and the righteous saints (done more good works than they need

to justify themselves before God)

• Church members can access this deposit through indulgences

• Think of Treasury of Merits like a bank with the savings of those with excess money that is available to

those who need to borrow money. DONATION OF EXCESS MERITS THAT ARE EARNED BY

MERITORIOUS WORKS Catholics can obtain / claim merits from the storehouse of excess merits of

holy, righteous saints by performing meritorious works prescribed by the Church.

• “This common treasury of spiritual goods, which is the Church’s to dispense as it sees fit, makes it

possible for us to obtain indulgences for ourselves but also for those who have died and may be in

Purgatory.”

SLIDE - INDULGENCES

What Indulgences Are, and How They Work

• Church has the authority of binding and loosing (Matt 16:19)

• Church defined ways to use this authority through indulgences

• Indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins (guilt of sin has been

forgiven)

• Church prescribes conditions / rules for obtaining the indulgence

• Church is the minister of redemption and dispenses and applies merits from the Treasury of Merits as it

sees fit (authority and control)

• Gain spiritual merit by performing good works in cooperation with God’s grace to lessen, or remove,

temporal punishment due to sin

Temporal punishment is a concept that is foreign to Protestants

Page 2 “Indulgences”

SLIDE - RELICS

• Physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or with Our Lord. (nails of the cross,

clothes of saints, blood of saints, bones, etc.)

• Three classes of relics (based on degree of association)

• Could obtain indulgence by gazing or praying before the relic

• Any good that comes about through a relic is God’s doing. But the fact that God chooses to use the

relics of saints to work healing and miracles tells us that He wants to draw our attention to the saints as

“models and intercessors” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 828).

Relics are one method to obtain an indulgence that allows you to access merits from the Treasury of Merits.

The person is gaining the righteousness of the excesses of others.

NOTES FOR VIDEO Clip #1:

We are going to see a two minute clip from the movie LUTHER, starring Joseph Fiennes.

• Luther’s makes a pilgrimage to Rome; but is shocked by the overt sin and corruption that is

everywhere (basically Luther said that you could buy sex or salvation; even brothels for the

priests)

• Here in Rome, Luther’s questioning of Catholic practices begins to really emerge; especially when he

climbs the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) in Rome

Luther is shown buying an indulgence to help free his grandfather Patrick Luther from punishment in Purgatory.

He is then shown climbing the Scala Sancta or “Holy Stairs” (which is an example Catholic relics) as part of

this process to free grandpa. And all the other people on the steps have bought an indulgence and are climbing

the steps for “merits” that will help a friend or relative in Purgatory or reduce their time in Purgatory when they

die.

VIEW VIDEO CLIP #1 11:00 – 13:16

Martin Luther climbed these steps on his knees in 1510. As he did so, he repeated the “Our Father

prayer” on each step. It was said, by doing this work one could "redeem a soul from purgatory." But

when Luther arrived at the top he could not suppress his doubt, "Who knows whether this is true?"

Scala Sancta (“Holy Stairs”)

set of 28 white marble steps that are an example of what are Roman Catholic relics

According to Roman Catholic tradition, the Holy Stairs are the steps leading up to

the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem on which Jesus Christ stepped on his way to trial during

his Passion

Brought from Jerusalem to Rome around 326 AD by the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great

Charles Dickens, after visiting the Scala Sancta in 1845, wrote: "I never, in my life, saw anything at once so

ridiculous and so unpleasant as this sight." He described the scene of pilgrims ascending the staircase on their

knees as a "dangerous reliance on outward observances".[2]

The Scala Sancta (English: Holy Stairs, Italian: Scala Santa) are a set of 28 white marble steps that are Roman

Catholic relics located in an edifice on extraterritorial property of the Holy See inRome, Italy proximate to

the Archbasilica of St. John in Laterano.[1]

According to Roman Catholic tradition, the Holy Stairs are the steps leading up to the praetorium of Pontius

Pilate in Jerusalem on which Jesus Christ stepped on his way to trial during his Passion.[2]

Medieval legends claim that St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, brought the Holy Stairs

from Jerusalem to Rome circa AD 326.

In the Roman Catholic Church, a plenary indulgence has been conceded for climbing the stairs on the

knees.[7]

Pope Pius VII on 2 September 1817 granted those who ascend the Stairs in the prescribed manner

an indulgence of nine years for every step. Finally, Pope St. Pius X, on 26 February 1908, conceded a plenary

indulgence as often as the Stairs are devoutly ascended after Confession and Holy Communion.

Do you see how this process works?

Do you see how the Roman Catholic Church

is in control of the process?

Church identifies what is an official relic.

Church possesses the relics.

Church controls access to the relics.

Church prescribes the conditions / rules for using the relic to obtain an indulgence.

Church has the authority to determine how the merits are dispensed from the Treasury of Merits.

Church dispenses merits “as it sees fit”.

Church also has power over Purgatory.

SLIDE – HEAVEN, HELL, and PURGATORY

To understand what is happening you must understand some things about the Catholic faith:

• Double consequences to sin

• Guilt needs forgiveness

• Temporal punishment needs remission

• Reparation for sin is required

• Purgatory – temporal punishment for sins; purging of sins and purification process

• Sins are offenses against God and are classified as either:

• Original (born with)

• Mortal (commit)

• Venial (commit)

• A Priest absolves a person of their sins through confession, contrition (truly sorry) and penance.

View of Sin

Double consequences to sin (difference in forgiveness and remission of sins)

1. Guilt needs forgiveness (forgiven and paid for through Christ’s sacrifice)

2. Temporal punishment needs remission

Sins remitted on earth or in Purgatory

Remission on earth through indulgences, mortifications, acts of penance

Reparation for sin is required

1. Each sin has consequences that repentance and God’s forgiveness do not erase.

2. Jesus’ actions do not make our own efforts at reparation unnecessary, however limited they may

be.

3. Reparation may be done through merits, penance, indulgences, prayers, mortifications (sacrifices

such as abstaining or fasting) or Purgatory

Purgatory – temporal punishment for sins; purification process

1. Invented by the Catholic Church

2. For people who are too bad to go to Heaven and too good to go to hell

3. length of time in Purgatory depends on state of sanctifying grace

4. everyone who goes to Purgatory will eventually be in Heaven

5. Purgatory is temporal and will be eliminated by God

6. Assumption / belief is that almost all Catholics will be in Purgatory for some period of time.

Sins are offenses against God and are classified as either:

1. Original

2. Mortal

3. Venial

Sacrament of Penance - A Priest absolves a person of their sins through confession, contrition,

absolution and works of satisfaction or penance.

1. Sins are forgiven and eternal punishment in hell is removed.

2. All temporal punishment is not always taken away.

Does this concept of Purgatory seem to you to totally contradict Romans 8:1?

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Two distinct aspects to these practices:

1- state of salvation can be questionable

2- length of temporal punishment is an unknown

My friend (education director) at the Catholic Church says this is the Catholic understanding:

“I have been saved, I am being saved, I hope to be saved”

Definition of what is a “Mortal Sin” is not clear.

Could have committed a mortal sin without knowing it

Could have committed a mortal sin and simply not yet had absolution

May should have known but did not choose to know it

A lot of gray area that leads to doubt as to your status of salvation

NOTES FOR VIDEO:

Back to Luther:

As a monk, Luther’s access to Scripture is limited. But now Luther has been given the

privilege of learning Scripture and teaching at the University of Wittenburg. Luther

becomes a Doctor of Theology.

The first part of this video clip Luther is preaching at the church in Wittenberg. Watch the people’s faces.

They show surprise and amazement at this new teaching about God.

The second part Luther is teaching students at the university in Wittenberg. His teaching is not in sync with

Roman Catholic practice and he exposes the false teachings and practices and the corruption within the church.

The Gospel had been distorted which had led to an incorrect view of God. What the church was practicing and

teaching was not Scriptural.

VIEW VIDEO CLIP #2 21:52 – 26:00

SLIDE - LUTHER’S KEY QUESTIONS

• How can I be righteous before a holy God?

• What must I do to be saved?

• How do I escape hell and the wrath of God?

• How do I gain access to Heaven?

Correct, Biblical answers to these

questions are why the Reformation is important to us today!

All of this stuff about Mary, relics, indulgences, merits, etc. obscure the key question that is like an umbrella

over it all: What must I do to be saved?

SLIDE - BEFORE-SCRIPTURE LUTHER

REMEMBER: Before Luther was exposed to the Scriptures:

• Luther had a good understanding that he was a sinner and that God was holy and righteous

• Had come to see God as threatening and brutally cruel, a demanding judge. Luther had come to almost

hate God. There was nothing but fear of God.

• Luther did not think he could DO enough to please and satisfy God (futility)

• Saw he was always going to fall short (hopelessness)

SLIDE - “A LIGHT GOES OFF” IN LUTHER”

While studying Scripture and preparing for classes on the Book of Romans, specifically Romans 1:17, a light

goes off within Luther.

Luther begins to see what justification really means. He has access to the original Greek New Testament and

saw problems in the Latin translation used by the Roman Church.

the Latin word justificare to make unrighteous people righteous

the Greek word dikaiosune to count, or declare, a person as righteous

what Luther called a justitia alienum an alien righteousness; think imputed righteousness

double imputation that takes place in justification

This is the key event in Luther’s spiritual life that is really the beginning of a recovery of the Gospel.

The whole Biblical concept of justification by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone begins to be

understood and taught again – just as it had in the early church.

Imputed righteousness (see in-depth description of imputed righteousness at the end of these notes) is the key

for Protestants and is strongly refuted by the Catholic Church and dogmatically proclaims that those that accept

that Christ’s righteousness is imputed to believers should be anathema (cursed).

Think about this: Catholic Church would say you can be infused with the righteousness of Mary and saints via

merits from the Treasury of Merits, but a believer cannot be imputed the righteousness of Christ.

SLIDE - Latin Versus Original Greek

Catholics Latin - mistranslated word for repentance to this: “to do penance”

“penitentiam agite” do penance poena - punishment

Catholic – have to make yourself righteous with the help of the Church by doing certain acts or works of

satisfaction

1. self-imposed punishment; self-mortification, affliction; repentance

Luther original Greek translated correctly means “to have a change of mind”

“Metanoia” metanoeite matnoeo – to change the mind

CATHOLIC VIEW: Since the Vulgate does not err I believe that St. Jerome’s translation of “Do penance” is

the correct one and that the Protestant CHOICE of repent is motivated by their doctrinal error! If you don’t

believe in “Doing Penance” as Jesus said then you’re in the Protestant camp. Catholics do believe in “DOING

PENANCE”!

REFORMED VIEW: true saving faith in Christ (repentance and trust) means that God declares you righteous;

you are justified before God by God;

Romans 3:21-26 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.

GOD is both the just and the justifying God; we do not and cannot justify ourselves

SLIDE - AFTER-SCRIPTURE LUTHER

After Luther was exposed to the Scriptures:

• Scripture did not just teach to fear God, but that God is loving and gracious and forgiving.

• Luther began to see a more complete picture of God.

• The Bible did not teach a “works righteousness” (be good, be better, establish our own righteousness

though works, earn God’s favor).

• Not about what you have to do, but what God has done for you.

• Luther’s whole motivation had changed from trying to satisfy God to responding to God’s love and

grace.

• Over the next few years, Luther began a journey in which the rest of his life was devoted to defending

and preaching and writing about this fundamental Gospel message.

Catholics had gotten the heavier side of the Gospel, in that God is holy and righteous and will judge man; fear

of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

but there was little focus on the sweeter side of the Gospel in that God has graciously given the gift of

salvation through faith in the work of Christ

The question of how can I stand righteous before a holy God was clearly proclaimed in the Gospel.

Salvation is by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Sola gratia - sola fide – solo Christus

To a Protestant, this is what separates true Christianity from other religions. It is not about what YOU DO, but

what CHRIST HAS DONE. The object of our faith (Jesus Christ) is the focus. God is glorified in being both

just and the justifier through His grace.

Martin Luther:

“The doctrine of justification by faith alone is the article by which the church

stands or falls.”

John Calvin:

Refers to justification as the “main hinge upon which religion turns.”

It “consists in remission of sins and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness”.

NOTES FOR VIDEO:

We are about to watch about a five minute video clip. But this is so important. The selling of indulgences,

which you are about to see, became the focal point for the reformation. It was indicative of how the Church had

gotten away from the Gospel and had become a corrupt institution.

The first part of this video clip shows Father John Tetzel selling indulgences for the Albert of Mainz, who had

struck a deal with the Pope over revenue sharing or royalties for the sale of indulgences; poor woman buying

indulgence for her crippled daughter; this woman proudly shows the indulgence to Luther thinking she and her

daughter are on the right track with God; Luther knows the woman has very little money and that the

indulgence is worthless and not Scriptural;

The woman had been given false hope. She believed there was power in the paper indulgence.

October 31, 1517 (500 years ago) Luther writes his objections to these practices and posts the 95 Theses on the

door at the church in Wittenberg; over 80 of the 95 dealt specifically with indulgences; document gets printed

and distributed (printing press was a relatively new invention); this marks what is considered to be the

beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

VIDEO CLIP #3 34:09 – 36:51 and then follow immediately with 38:23 - 40:39

SLIDE - Pic of church doors

SLIDE - LUTHER’S 95 THESES CHALLENGED

Luther 95 Theses directly challenged:

• The authority of the Pope and the Church

• Practice of indulgences

• abuse for money

• bestowal of saving graces and imposing these on God

• proposed power of the Pope over Purgatory

• welfare of the sinner at stake

Written in Latin to generate a debate among theological scholars, not to create a public stir or outcry

Church door was the bulletin board; but college students took down the theses, which were soon translated to

many languages and printed; printing press had been invented was beginning to get widespread use; went

VIRAL; in two weeks every village in Germany had copies

SLIDE - Progressive Justification Diagram

Page 24

Salvation = Faith + Works

SEVEN SACRAMENTS

1. Baptism (one-time and imprinted permanent mark)

2. Confirmation (one-time and imprinted permanent mark)

3. Eucharist (Communion)

4. Penance (Confession)

5. Anointing of the Sick (Last Rites; Extreme Unction)

6. Holy Order (one-time and imprinted permanent mark)

7. Matrimony

The purpose of a sacrament is to bestow the grace of God through the Roman Catholic Church to its recipient in

seven stages from birth (baptism) to death (extreme unction).

• Sacraments are at the heart of Roman Catholic religious practices.

• A “cause of grace”; not merely a sign of grace

• Grace is conferred immediately, without the requirement of faith. (infant baptism) Salvation is initiated

and remains as long as person practices Catholic faith throughout life.

• “The sacraments…not only point externally to salvation; they contain and bestow the salvation they

signify.”

• “Sacraments confer grace immediately, without the mediation of fiducial faith.” Sacraments infuse

sanctifying graces.

• “God gives grace immediately on account of the moral pressure exercised on Him by the Sacrament.”

(Moral mode of operation)

SLIDE – Protestant View of Justification and Salvation

Page 25

Protestant View of Justification

Born in

Sin

BORN AGAIN –

Justified by Grace Alone

through Faith Alone

in Christ Alone

Sanctification

True Saving Faith

More Christ-like

• Serve God

• Do good deeds

• Produce good fruit

Glorification

Born Live Die

Understand this point: PREPOSITIONS MATTER

Salvation is BY God’s grace; Faith simply rests in this grace and receives this grace and the merits of

Christ openly; the faith does NOT produce the salvation and is not a “work” that earns salvation

BY God’s grace THROUGH faith IN Christ

Faith = Salvation + Works

Same Gospel should drive you to be more Christ-like

FREE TO SERVE and DO GOOD WORKS and DEEDS (but it is voluntary in spirit)

Because you are grateful to God

Because you love God

Because the love of Christ is in you

Because you love others

Because Jesus is not only your Savior, but you LORD as well

Because you desire to please God

Not because you are trying to justify yourself before God, validating your performance to God, and

attempting to make yourself acceptable to God and thereby earning entry into heaven

WHOLE MOTIVE HAS CHANGED

As Luther put it: You are “no longer turned in on yourself” where life is all about you trying to be more

righteous; since by grace you abound in all good things, you are FREE to love and serve others

So the dividing issue pertaining to justification is whether a person is justified totally by the work and

righteousness of Christ OR does it require that a person’s righteousness be added to Christ’s righteousness?

Did Jesus pay it all? Was Christ’s work on the cross sufficient?

SLIDE – Simple Protestant Circle Diagram

Page 26

Christ-centered and Gospel Driven

Read the Bible, Pray the Bible, Teach the Bible, Preach the Bible, Sing the Bible and See the Bible

Protestants essentially recovered the Gospel and its simple truth and beauty

Protestants got back to the true authority

SLIDE – Catholic Circle Diagram

Page 33

Example of what happens when the authority and traditions of men are placed over or equal to Scripture

Observations and Opinions

• Complexity of the faith

• Dependence on the church for salvation and for God’s sanctifying graces

• Less focus on the Gospel

• Distortion or obscurity of the Gospel

• A lot of religiosity required (doing, working)

• God’s glory gets diluted

Roman Catholic Church would strongly disagree with these claims of mine. Instead, Catholics would argue

that Protestants are missing out on the beauty and access to the graces of God that are only available through the

Catholic Church.

Matthew 15:9 9

in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

Colossians 2:8 8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition,

according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

BACK TO LUTHER - NOTES FOR VIDEO:

Events quickly accelerated. At a public debate in Leipzig in 1519, when Luther declared that "a simple

layman armed with the Scriptures" was superior to both pope and councils without them, he was threatened

with excommunication.

Luther replied to the threat with his three most important treatises: The Address to the Christian Nobility, The

Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian. In the first, he argued that all

Christians were priests, and he urged rulers to take up the cause of church reform. In the second, he reduced the

seven sacraments to two (baptism and the Lord's Supper). In the third, he told Christians they were free from the

law (especially church laws) but bound in love to their neighbors.

In 1520 the Pope issues a Papal Bull excommunicating Luther, which Luther publicly burns.

In 1521 the Church puts Luther on trial for heresy, but the trial is held in Worms, Germany and not Rome.

Presiding over the trial is the young Prince Charles who just two years earlier at the age of 19 had become the

Holy Roman Emperor. (called the Diet of Worms)

Luther is told that if he will recant from his writings, the church will forgive him; trial and Luther’s famous

response April 18, 1521

Luther knew he could be tortured and killed for his actions and what he said. (That was the prevailing

assumption.)

Luther is condemned by the Church as a heretic and by Prince Charles for high treason.

Although Luther had been promised safe passage, after the trial the Catholic Church intends to have him put to

death. Prince Frederick stages a kidnapping and takes him to Wartburg castle where he is hidden in exile. It is

here where he translates the Bible from the original Greek into German within a few months of intense work.

VIDEO CLIP #4 1:15:10 – 1:19:55

SLIDE - Pic of Wartburg Castle

SLIDE - Impacts of Martin Luther

1. Established Scripture as primary authority

2. Re-awoke the Gospel and justification by faith

3. Translated Bible from Latin / Greek into German and caused it to be translated into other languages

4. Used hymns to bring energy / life into church services

5. Caused mass to be performed in German (not just Latin)

6. Emphasized the importance of sermons in teaching Scripture

7. Created two versions church catechisms to simplify Biblical teachings, which he richly illustrated with

pictures (Larger Catechism and Smaller Catechism), which have guided not just Lutherans but many

others since

8. Leader in establishing right for pastors to marry and have families

9. Was the original “best-selling author”; during his life he wrote about 25% of all books published in

Europe; about 130 books in total; perhaps the first person to understand the power of the press

SECOND SLIDE - Impacts of Martin Luther

10. Inspired the other Reformation leaders throughout Europe

11. Wrote hymns (best known is “A Mighty Fortress”)

12. Inspired parents to teach the Bible to their children

13. Initiated the formal education of church pastors to ensure the Gospel was properly proclaimed

14. Emphasized and promoted the education of females

15. Initiated a whole new world order where the church was no longer the political power, but sovereign

states emerged

16. Caused some reforms within the Catholic Church

17. In 1934, while on a trip in Germany, a young black pastor from Atlanta was inspired to change his name

and his son’s name from Michael King to Martin Luther King, Sr. and Jr.

Luther had his issues too: depression, coarse language, personal verbal attacks, one anti-Semitic publication;

could be stubborn and arrogant when people disagreed with him

Also Luther promoted the concept that all Christians are part of the priesthood of Christ; this elevated the status

of common people to be on the same level as church leaders

SLIDE – The Protestant Reformation Gains Momentum

• Catholic Church is outwardly rejected

• God’s providential hand at work; right men at the right place and at the right time

• Reformers work throughout Europe

• William Tyndale (England)

• Translated the Bible into English

• In October 1536, at only 42 years of age, Tyndale’s one-note voice was silenced as he was

tied to the stake, strangled by the executioner, and then consumed in the fire.

• “I defy the pope and all of his laws! If God spares my life, it will not be many years

before I will cause every boy who works on a farm plowing fields to know more of the

Scriptures than the pope does!”

• Translated the Bible into English

• John Calvin (Switzerland, France)

• Huldrych Zwingli (Switzerland)

• John Knox (Scotland)

Tyndale:

Increasingly, as Tyndale saw Reformation truths more clearly in the Greek New Testament, he made himself suspect

in the Catholic house of John Walsh. John Foxe tells us that one day an exasperated Catholic scholar at dinner with

Tyndale said, “We were better be without God’s law than the pope’s.”

In response, Tyndale spoke his famous words, “I defy the Pope and all his laws. . . . If God spare my life ere many

years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plow, shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost.”

Four years later, Tyndale finished the English translation of the Greek New Testament in Worms, Germany, and began to smuggle it into England in bales of cloth. By October 1526, Bishop Tunstall had banned the book in London, but the print run had been at least three thousand. And the books were getting to the people. Over the next eight years, five pirated editions were printed as well.

SLIDE – What were the results of the Protestant Reformation?

1. An awakening to the true Gospel message; a recovery of the Gospel

2. Doctrine of justification by faith caused people to see God in a whole new light – a God of love and

grace

3. The Bible

• authority of Scripture was re-established

• was translated into common languages

• copies of Bible were printed and made available to people

• Bible commentaries written

• Bible was read and studied by people

4. The church became viewed as subservient to Scripture, not vice versa.

5. Our closed fist doctrines that we proclaim and believe today originated with the Reformation.

6. Evangelism messages were preached

7. Modern missions movements began

8. Congregational singing restored

9. Jesus seen as only Mediator to God the Father

10. View of Sacraments changed

• Reduced to two (baptism and Lord’s Supper)

• No saving power within their substance or administering

11. Seminaries formed

12. Society changed

• Protestant work ethic

• social enlightenment impacted art, science, government

• eventually was the foundation upon which American democracy was formed

Catholic Church today promotes more reading and studying of Scripture. Catholic Bibles are in various

languages. Mass is performed in common languages, not just Latin.

Council of Trent – The Catholic Response

COUNTER REFORMATION

The Council met on and off for eighteen years: 1545 to 1563.

The importance of the Council of Trent lies in its being two things at the same time: 1) the heart and soul of the

Catholic Reformation (the authentic reform of the Church); and 2) the definitive moment of the Counter

Reformation (the reaction against the Protestant Revolt): “By almost universal agreement, the counter-attack of

the Church to the movement that is known as the Protestant Reformation begins seriously with the Council of

Trent.”[1]

The primary purpose of the council was to condemn and refute the beliefs of the Protestants, such as Martin

Luther and John Calvin, and also to make the set of beliefs in Catholicism even clearer.

Some reforms related to corruption and misuse of indulgences.

But clearly stated that authority rests with the Church, Pope and Councils.

The Apocrypha was Sacred Scripture.

Tradition is equal with Scripture.

Confirmed Purgatory as Church teaching.

SLIDE – Different Churches

Page 41

Historical Look at Churches

Early Independent Churches

Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic

Lutherans Many Other

Denominations

ReformedChurch of

England

Baptist

PresbyterianMethodist

Protestants

Puritans

- - - - -

1529 – meeting at Marbury intended to unite Protestants, results in division of Lutherans from Reformed over

the matter of transubstantiation. (Communion bread and wine are actual flesh and blood of Jesus.)

Henry III, seeking an annulment from his first wife that the Catholic Church will not grant, creates the Church

of England.

SLIDE - A RISK WORTH TAKING

• Over the next few years, Luther and the other Reformers began a journey in which the rest of their lives

were devoted to defending and preaching and writing about this fundamental Gospel message.

• The Reformers risked their very lives and some paid with their lives.

WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS? FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL

• Justification by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone was the key – the hinge. And

Scripture clearly spelled this out.

• The Gospel had been recovered and they desired to do God’s will and make it available to all people.

SLIDE – Martin Luther Quote

Martin Luther:

“And this is the confidence that Christians have and our real joy of conscience, that by our faith our sins

become no longer ours but Christ’s upon whom God placed the sins of all of us. He took upon himself

our sins … All the righteousness of Christ becomes ours … he spreads his cloak and covers us.”

Martin Luther got the Gospel; He was now at peace with God

He now committed his life to serving the God he now loved

SLIDE – Paul 2 Cor 5:21

Or as Paul wrote about the imputed righteous of Jesus Christ :

2 Corinthians 5:21 (The Great Exchange)

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness

of God.”

Think about what this really means:

-Christ took on our sins

- Not only are we forgiven of sins

- Our sins are remembered no more

- It is if you had never sinned; even it is like you had always obeyed

-Justification is a free gift of grace from God (not only “forgiven” but “given” as well)

- Result of the justification is the free gift of adoption - Bestows on us the status of adopted

children of God and all the benefits of the inheritance

- God not only tells us that we may “go in forgiveness and peace” but that we may “come into

family and kingdom” and enjoy all of those blessings

Freeing also (You will know the truth and the truth will set you free)

- Frees us to love and serve others without the motive of making ourselves righteous

- Frees us from punishment for our sins (no condemnation for those in Christ)

- Frees us from the worry of “Am I good enough to stand before God?”

- Frees us from the burden of justifying ourselves with works of religion or works for merit sake

- As Ephesians 3:12 states (NIV): In him and through faith in him we may approach God with

freedom and confidence.

That was the desire of Luther. To be able to stand before a holy God with freedom and confidence.

What Luther did was to re-discover this truth which had always been in Scripture

SLIDE - NO HOPE OF ECCLESIASTIC UNION BETWEEN CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS

Although there are common doctrinal beliefs between Catholics and Protestants, there is no hope of

ecclesiastical union between the two.

• Catholics affirm an infallible teaching Magesterium, which is contrary to the Protestant principle of Sola

Scriptura

• Too many fundamental anti-Biblical doctrines are dogmatically proclaimed within the Catholic faith

(purgatory, Mariology, prayers to the dead, progressive justification, saving graces through Sacraments,

power within the Catholic Holy Order (priests), treasury of merits, indulgences, relics, etc.)

• Catholics have proclaimed many of their beliefs ex cathedra (dogmatic) and are therefore irrevocable;

they are established permanently

SLIDE - MAJOR DIFFERENCE rests in this:

Thus saith the LORD versus

Thus saith the pope

Authority rests with Catholic Church and Pope versus Scripture Alone

Two Deposits of Faith: Tradition and Scripture versus Scripture Alone

Catholic News Article: Pope Francis says atheists can do good and go to heaven too! Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) http://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=51077

Pope Francis says atheists can do good and go to heaven too!

Pope Francis has good news for atheists. Jesus died and was raised for them as well. His redemptive embrace was for

all, not just a chosen few. The choice to accept its reach is our own.

No Other Gospel 6 I am astonished that you are lso quickly deserting mhim who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning

to na different gospel— 7 onot that there is another one, but pthere are some who trouble you and want to distort

the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or qan angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one

we preached to you, rlet 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, rlet him be accursed.

SLIDE – Quote from Dr. OJ Brown

“The question of the reality of a personal God, or of Christology, divides believers from unbelievers,

Christians from non-Christians. The question of the authority of Scripture divides sound teaching and

good theology from false teaching and bad theology.”

(well-known Reformed theologian Dr. Harold O. J. Brown)

SLIDE - Why Is It Important to Understand the Five Solas?

Represent and summarize fundamental Biblical doctrinal beliefs

Originate out of the beginning of our Protestant Christian faith

Depict the heart of the Gospel

Bring us joy, peace, assurance, blessing and clarity when we truly grasp them

It is the ARTICLE upon which the church stands or falls.

SLIDE – The Five Solas

Sola Scriptura

Sola Gratia Sola Fide Solus Christos Soli Deo Gloria

The Pillars, or Five Essential Doctrines, of the Protestant Reformation

(evolved over the next decades)

Separates and Distinguishes Protestants from Catholics

Sola Scriptura became the decisive point of division.

Other four solas (doctrinal disagreements) originate from Scriptural authority.

IT IS A BIG DEAL!!!

SLIDE - Sola Gratia – Sola Fide – Solus Christos – Soli Deo Gloria

Leave you with this verse of Scripture

Romans 5:2 2

Through him [Jesus Christ alone] we have also obtained access by faith [faith alone] into this grace

[God’s grace alone] in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God [for God’s glory alone].

The Doctrine of Imputation: The Ligonier Statement on Christology

FROM STEPHEN NICHOLS APR 16, 2016 CATEGORY: ARTICLES

http://www.ligonier.org/blog/doctrine-imputation-ligonier-statement-christology/

Don’t you just love it when good things come together? Ham and eggs. Batman and Robin. Macaroni and

cheese. So, how about chocolate chip cookies and the gospel? That might be a new one for you.

In the 1990s, a group of evangelical theologians and church leaders held talks with a group of Roman

Catholic theologians and church leaders, and together they produced a statement titled Evangelicals and

Catholics Together (ECT). In the aftermath of ECT, much discussion ensued regarding the Roman Catholic

understanding of the gospel and how it relates to the understanding of the gospel historically affirmed by

evangelicals, the heirs of the Protestant Reformation. The subject of justification by faith alone came up. This

was, of course, one of the central issues of the Reformation.

We see how essential the doctrine of justification by faith alone was in the Reformation planks of sola

fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and solus Christus (Christ alone). These solas stress that

salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We must also see, however, that the

Reformers emphasized a word that they found to be absolutely essential to the doctrine of justification by

faith alone, which they in turn saw as essential to a right understanding of the gospel. That word

is imputation.

During some of the talks around ECT, the historic differences between evangelicals and Roman Catholics

over imputation came to the surface. Reformed theologian Michael Horton likened imputation to chocolate

chips in the making of chocolate chip cookies. If you set out all the ingredients to make chocolate chip

cookies but leave out the singular ingredient of chocolate chips, then you don’t have chocolate chip cookies

when you pull the tray out of the oven. Likewise, you can have most of the key ingredients of the gospel. You

can have the understanding that we are sinners. You can have an understanding of God as holy and just. You

can have an understanding of Christ and His work on the cross. But if you leave out imputation, you don’t

have the gospel. This is why the Reformers considered this word absolutely essential to a biblically faithful

proclamation of the gospel. But what does this word imputation mean?

The word imputation comes directly from the Latin. It is an accounting term; it means “to apply to one’s

account.” Expenses are debited and income is credited. The old King James word is “reckon.”

In theological terms, we speak of a double imputation that takes place in justification. This double

imputation is taught in texts such as 2 Corinthians 5:21, where Paul says plainly, “For our sake he made him

to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Here we read that our

sin is imputed to Christ. We are the offending party. He is guiltless. He perfectly kept the law. Yet, on the

cross, God poured out His wrath on Christ. Why? Because our sin was imputed to Christ. Christ took upon

Himself our sin. Our great debit was put on His account. Christ paid the horrific penalty as the cup of God’s

wrath was poured out upon Him.

There is also a second imputation. Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us. He not only takes our debit, but

we also get His credit. Christ paid the penalty we could never satisfy, but He also kept the law perfectly,

which we can’t do either. Consequently, God credits to us His righteousness. We stand before God clothed in

Christ’s righteousness. We can actually say that we are saved by works—not at all by our works, but instead

by Christ’s works, His perfect obedience, on our behalf. One theologian said that two of the most beautiful

words in the Bible arefor us. Jesus lived and died—and rose again—for us. All of His work was done on

our behalf.

We express this essential doctrine of imputation in The Word Made Flesh: The Ligonier Statement on

Christology because the doctrine of double imputation has suffered significant attacks by self-professing

evangelicals in our day. Remember, imputation is essential to a right understanding of justification, and a

right understanding of justification is essential to a right understanding of the gospel. The doctrines of

imputation and justification were challenged in moments like ECT. The doctrines of imputation and

justification have also been challenged in contemporary movements such as the so-called New Perspective

on Paul. To respond to this dangerous theological drift, we want to draw a clear line in the sand.

Additionally, we want to remind believers of what good news the gospel is. Christ took our filthy rags of sin

and gave us His righteous robe. This is a beautiful picture. We express the work of Christ in accomplishing

our redemption in the fourth stanza of the statement:

For us,

He kept the law,

atoned for sin,

and satisfied God’s wrath.

He took our filthy rags

and gave us

His righteous robe.

The necessity of the doctrine of imputation is one of the chief reasons we have offered this statement. At

Ligonier, we take every opportunity to point people to the great creeds of the past. Dr. Sproul’s first book was

on the Apostles’ Creed, and a new edition of this book was recently released titled What We Believe. We also

recognize the great value of the Nicene Creed. Speaking personally, I greatly benefit from those occasions

when the Nicene Creed is recited in public worship. I wrote a book on Christology in the early church, titling

it For Us and for Our Salvation after that great phrase in the Nicene Creed. I think it is one of the most

beautiful phrases in all of theological literature. We are quick to point the church of today to these great texts

and riches of our past.

We also recognize that the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed are recited by evangelicals, mainline

Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox. In other words, these historic creeds are recited by

those who affirm justification by faith alone, and they are recited by those who belong to churches or

communions that deny justification by faith alone. These creeds, while giving essential teaching on the

person of Christ, do not speak with the precision on the work of Christ and our justification before God that

is needed in this present era. But we are convinced that justification by faith alone, including the doctrine of

imputation, is essential to the gospel and therefore essential to the church’s identity. So we have sought to

offer the church a statement that is in the spirit of the Apostles’ Creed, concise and even recite-able. We also

have endeavored to pick up the emphasis on the work of Christ for our right standing before God that was so

beautifully put forward by the Reformers. How delightful and refreshing it is to stand in the rich traditions of

the early church and the Reformers.

The doctrine of the person and work of Christ is the gospel. Thus, the doctrine of imputation—the crediting

of our sin to Him and of His obedience to us—is essential to this gospel. It shows us why the gospel is such

good news—Christ really has done it all. He has met our Creator’s standard of perfection for us, so we never

need to fear the Lord’s wrath if we are in Christ by faith alone. This doctrine of imputation can lead us only

to praise the glory and grace of God. This doctrine of imputation tells us that salvation truly is of Him and of

Him alone.

Read, share, and download the statement in multiple languages atChristologyStatement.com or click the

links below:

Preface

The Statement

Affirmations & Denials

Explanatory Essay

Downloads

See also:

Why a Statement on Christ Matters Now: The Ligonier Statement on Christology

The Humanity of Jesus: The Ligonier Statement on Christology

The Doctrine of Imputation: The Ligonier Statement on Christology

FAQ: The Ligonier Statement on Christology