The Bethany Bullet - October 22, 2013

Luther’s insistence that “pope and council’s could err” and that the Scripture alone was the source for what Christians are to believe and how they are to behave was the spark that ignited the Reformation. 

As we have seen in the Soul of the Solas the Roman church of the day ultimately had different definitions of faith and grace than the Biblical definitions employed by the Reformers; yet the Solas of Fide and Gratia did not receive the condemnation of that of scriptura. This is historically intriguing in so far as both the Reformers and the leaders of Rome believed the Bible to be the inspired Word of God.  Both held that the words of the prophets were prescribed from the Lord and that the words of the Apostles were the promises of Christ. Both accepted the truth of the Word.  However, when the Reformers insisted that the Bible alone had the final say on matters of faith and life they challenged the authority of the church, both in history and hierarchy. This began the Reformation, which later brought to light the return to Biblical definitions of grace and faith that “restored the Gospel” which had been lost. 

Yet it was a matter of the authority of the Word that began this rediscovery.  Luther’s “Here I stand” response at the Diet of Worms was in fact a decree that “What the pope says” or “What the church says” was not sufficient enough, rather “What the Word says” was what was required.

Click HERE to watch this YouTube clip from the movie, Luther. If you are unable to open link, copy/paste this into your browser to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IkqniF8AA8

-Pastor Kevin Kritzer