What were Luther's three main ideas?

Answer 1

Martin Luther believed that Christians are saved by grace through faith in God, and that grace alone., not by the selling or buying of indulgences, not by doing good works, and certainly not through the viewing or touching of ancient relics. This belief greatly contradicted the beliefs of the Catholic Church and their practices of selling indulgences, and collecting money from the people to view relics. Although Martin Luther was the first leader to openly depart from the Roman Catholic church, he did not originally set out to start his own church. Rather, Luther was a committed church man who sought discussion and change in the church. As a monk, Luther struggled to understand his relationship to God, and felt unworthy of God's attention. His eventual conclusion was that he was not worthy of approaching God. Thus, any understanding and especially salvation was not deserved or earned in any way, but was purely a gift of grace from God. "... all that the Pope decrees and does I will receive on condition that I first test it by the Holy Scriptures." Martin Luther (1520) in Snyder, p. 41 This led him to make several critiques of the Roman Catholic church, which included: * Luther emphasized the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. This emphasis on "faith alone" was a significant shift in perspective. In particular, it undercut the selling of "indulgences," artifacts sold by the church as symbols of religious devotion. By criticizing this practice Luther challenged an important source of revenue for the church. * Pushed by the church hierarchy and backed by some of the German nobility, Luther rejected the authority of the Pope. He suggested that the Bible alone should be the guide for Christian life, and that German Christians did not need to listen (or pay taxes!) to the Pope in Italy. * Luther also disagreed with the idea that priests were needed to approach God on behalf of the people. Rather, he proposed a priesthood of all believers, saying that people could communicate with God directly. * Luther insisted that the church should use the common language of the people, and not Latin as was the practice in the Roman Catholic tradition. As a result, Luther led Mass in German and even translated the entire Bible into this European language. As you can see, Luther's conclusions had profound religious, political, and economic implications. It is hardly surprising that the Pope and the Roman Catholic church responded as they did. These issues provide important background for the beliefs and difficulties of the early Anabaptists. Luther believed that ordinary citizens did not have a right to overturn their own government, however just the cause. So Luther sided with the German princes in using force against an uprising of the peasants in 1525. Luther even wrote a tract against what he called, "The Murderous and Thieving Hordes of Peasants." He urged using unrestrained violence in putting the peasants down. If the peasant is in open rebellion, then he is outside the law of God, for rebellion is not simply murder, but it is like a great fire which attacks and lays waste a whole land. Thus, rebellion brings with it a land full of murder and bloodshed, makes widows and orphans, and turns everything upside down. Therefore let everyone who can, smite, slay, and stab, secretly or openly, remembering that nothing can be more poisonous, hurtful or devilish than a rebel. It is just as when one must kill a mad dog. If you don't strike him, he will strike you. These times are so extraordinary that a prince can win heaven more easily by bloodshed than by prayer. Luther believed that the German princes should use their power against the Jewish minority living in Germany. He urged his German allies to drive Jewish people from their homes, burn their synagogues and books, and institute total segregation in the land. Luther is quoted favorably by just about everyone in professing Christianity. Evangelicals and Fundamentalists often refer to him as a champion of "Justification By Faith ALONE." However, that is only half the story. It is absolutely amazing that very few seem to realize that Luther in fact believed that we are saved by "faith alone through baptism." However, you can't have it both ways at the same time -- "Faith Alone" and "Faith through Baptism." The addition of "through baptism" in effect contradicts "faith alone." In reality, Luther did not hold to JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE! If he had really held to this, he would have rejected the doctrine of "baptismal regeneration." He did not! In fact, Luther called for the death of those (Anabaptists) who outspokenly believed in JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE and practiced BELIEVER'S BAPTISM. To get away from a gospel of works salvation, Luther referred to baptism as "God's Work" and not a work that man does. However, the OBJECT of Luther's faith was not Christ ALONE, but CHRIST plus BAPTISM. That is ANOTHER GOSPEL!!! "He always [the Christian] has enough to do to believe firmly what Baptism promises and brings -- victory over death and the devil, forgiveness of sin, God's grace, the entire Christ, and the Holy Spirit with his gifts. In short the blessings of Baptism are so boundless ... Now here in Baptism there is brought free to every man's door just such a priceless medicine which swallows up death and saves the lives of all men. To appreciate and use Baptism aright, we must draw strength and comfort from it when our sins or conscience oppress us, and we must retort, "But I am baptized! And if I am baptized, I have the promise that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body." ... No greater jewel, therefore, can adorn our body and soul than Baptism, for through it we obtain perfect holiness and salvation, which no other kind of life and no work on earth can acquire" (pp. 85-86). (Bold added.) Luther believed that through baptism one becomes a Christian. And, thus, it resulted in salvation on the basis of "faith alone." Communion was for maintenance. Luther taught that through communion, one received forgiveness of sins that threatened one's relationship with Christ and strength for Christian living: Martin Luther's major departures from Roman Catholic doctrine were based on these beliefs: · Baptism - Although Luther retained that Baptism was necessary for spiritual regeneration, no specific form was stipulated. Today Lutherans practice both infant baptism and baptism of believing adults. · Individual Access to God - Luther believed that each individual has the right to reach God through Scripture with responsibility to God alone. It is not necessary for a priest to mediate. · The Lord's Supper - Luther also retained the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, but the doctrine of transubstantiation was rejected. · Sacraments - Luther believed the sacraments were valid only as aids to faith. · Salvation by Faith - Luther maintained that salvation comes through faith alone; not by works and sacraments. · Salvation For All - Luther believed that salvation is available to all humans through the redeeming work of Christ. · Scripture - Luther believed the Scriptures contained the one necessary guide to truth. · Worship - As to the manner of worship, Luther chose to retain altars and vestments and prepare an order of liturgical service, but with the understanding that no church was bound to follow any set order. As a result, there is today no uniform liturgy belonging to all branches of the Lutheran body. However, an important place is given to preaching and congregational singing. Martin Luther believed deeply in the reality and power of Satan and his demons. From the time of the Plague, through wars, famines and civil wars, there had been no guarantee against the onset of disaster. A high level of death-consciousness was fertile soil for the Reformation, and offers insight into Luther's persistent concern about salvation. For it was the terror of death that sent him into an Augustinian monastery. Luther believed that there could be no short cuts to this and that God could not be fooled by sinners pretending that they were repentant. Luther's main complaint against the Catholic Church was that it was supporting a system that left sinners in sin - and this was the institution that was meant to save lost souls !!

Answer 2

1. sola fide - Latin for "faith alone," the idea that one gains pardon from god not by paying the church NOR by working hard to be a good person, but instead only through a God-given faith.

2. sola scriptura - latin for "scripture alone" or "The Bible only," the Lutheran belief that while confessions and church authorities may expound the truths of God, all are subordinate to, and are to be corrected by a final authority, the static written Word of God.

3. universal priesthood of believers - the idea that, while there is an ordained priesthood (office of holy ministry) called to the stewardship of the mysteries (sacraments) and right proclamation of the Word within the Church, it is the right and obligation of every christian to preach and expound the christian faith to the world.

Answer 3

the bible is the soul authority