4 Books That Made a Priest Leave the Church

CCC Discover ^ | May 24, 2017 | Nicholas Davis

[Gamecock]

The year 2017 is the year of Martin Luther—or at least it should be. Nearly 500 years ago on October 31, 1517, Luther nailed (or “mailed,” for some historians debate this point) his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Castle Church.

Even so, Luther didn’t become a full-fledged protestor of the church in that single moment. It took him about eight years (1513-1521) to challenge and hammer out a more robust understanding of the gospel.

Have you ever wondered what Martin Luther was reading during this crucial time in his life? Maybe I’m just a nerd, but I thought at least someone else might be interested in what Luther was reading during his slow, but steady, transition out of the medieval church and into the world of reformation.

Remember, Luther’s goal wasn’t to invent or start an entirely new church. His goal was to reform the church and call her to repentance and faith in the abiding Word of God.

Here are four books Martin Luther read that made him question everything:

1. The Psalms Luther spent time studying and lecturing through the Psalms in the Bible. He began to realize that the Bible teaches we are not generally sinful, we are totally sinful. Here, Luther had the beginnings of what theologians later would refer to as “total depravity,” meaning that we are sinful in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

2. Romans After that, Luther lectured through Paul’s letter to the Romans. He came across Romans 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” The last part of this verse is a direct quotation from Habakkuk 2:4.

Luther began to see something that he never saw before. He began to see the doctrine of imputation—that we are declared right before God not by our own righteousness, but by the righteousness of another. He began to understand that the righteousness of God that was such a terror to him as a priest (because it told him that he was unholy and unworthy), was actually the righteousness from God that told him he was holy and worthy. God gives this right standing by faith alone. It is a righteousness that is received as a gift and not earned.

3. Galatians It wasn’t until Luther started lecturing through Galatians that he began to realize that faith does not justify us before God. Faith is merely an instrument that God uses. Faith is a tool by which we embrace Jesus Christ as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Faith is, as John Murry once said, “extrospective.” It looks outward—not inward—to embrace the God who gives himself. In other words, faith is only an empty hand. It justifies because it grabs hold of the Jesus who justifies (Rom. 3:26).

4. Hebrews The last book that turned a medieval priest into a true Reformer was the letter to the Hebrews. Luther began to embrace an entirely different understanding of how the Old and New Testaments relate to one another. He realized that the law is not simply the Old Testament and the gospel is the New Testament, but that the gospel of God can be seen as preached throughout both Old and New Testaments.

The same Jesus of the same gospel was offered freely to both Jew and Gentile alike, throughout the whole Bible. Sure, there was a greater and fuller proclamation of that message, such that it went out to the whole world instead of only Israel and their close neighbors—but the gospel was preached nonetheless!

In short, reading and studying the Bible is what ultimately made Martin Luther “protest” the medieval church. Luther was convinced that the Bible was worth listening to. So this year we celebrate the anniversary of a “recovery of the bright light of the gospel.” To God alone be all the glory (Soli Deo Gloria).

[af_vet_1981]

What's interesting tho is the rest of the bible; especially Paul's letters to the church is a complete mystery to you...It is foreign...You don't appear to know why Jesus died nor the result of his death...And you reject every attempt that we make to enlighten you on the rest of the 'God breathed scriptures

False; it seems to me this is a classic example of mind reading that has previously been rebuked on RF threads.

[Luircin]

It is beyond absurd to imagine a Balaam could recreate, reconstruct, or reform the faith once delivered to the saints.

***

Sadly, Rome tried to do just that.

Thank the Lord for Dr. Luther who saw the heresy that Rome was spreading and spoke out against it, and re-found the true Church.

And in doing so, broke the power of the heretics in Rome.

[daniel1212]

Nonsense...Overseers, elders were apointed in all the churches to teach...We do not need Paul to come to our churches to explain his writing to us...

It is true that the only record of an apostolic successor being elected (which was by the non-political Scriptural means of casting lots: cf. Prov. 16:33) was that of Matthias being chosen for Judas (even though James was martyred: Acts 12:1,2), which maintained the foundational number of apostles (cf. Rv. 21:14)

And that the only leadership we see being ordained as a perpetual ordinance is that of deacons and episkopos=superintendent/presbuteros=senior, these terms (one of function, the other of age or position) referring to those in the same office. (Titus 1:5-7)

But nowhere were they distinctively called “hiereus” or “archiereus" (priests or high priest). All believers are called to sacrifice (Rm. 12:1; 15:16; Phil. 2:17; 4:18; Heb. 13:15,16; cf. 9:9) and all constitute the only priesthood (hieráteuma) in the NT church. (1Pt. 2:5,9; Re 1:6; 5:10; 20:6).

However. just like Israel of old could have used a Moses and a Joshua, a Samuel a David etc. after the kingdom was dividded, so the church could certainly use a Paul, a Peter, etc. But God is under no obligation to give the same level of grace to all, and His judgment for souls failing to render unto thee Lord according to the benefit is just.

And is should not need to be said that Rome's so-called apostolic successors fail of even the qualifications and credentials of manifest Biblical apostles. (Acts 1:21,22; 1Cor. 9:1; Gal. 1:11,12; 2Cor. 6:1-0; 12:12)

Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? (1 Corinthians 9:1)

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (2 Corinthians 6:4-10)

[Luircin]

And I still haven’t seen an apology for your willful falsehoods about Lutheran teaching, nor for your lies to my face about what I believe.

On this very thread, I posted the link to you from a week back where I wrote the essay explaining good works in Lutheran theology.

You have since repeated your blatant falsehoods on this very thread.

So either you didn’t read what I said, or you read what I said, and then you deliberately lied about it.

I was under the impression that bearing false witness was a mortal sin in Catholicism.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“So you are okay with sweeping assertions of what God is doing (taking the name of the Lord) without biblical mandate?”

No, I did not say that.

It is always right to go to the Word of God, study it and obey it, as Josiah did (when the priests did not) and when Blessed Father Luther did it (when priests did not).

God blessed both.

[Elsie]

Galatians It wasn’t until Luther started lecturing through Galatians that he began to realize that faith does not justify us before God. Faith is merely an instrument that God uses.

HMMMmmm...

---

Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

[Elsie]

It’s a good thing that stuff like this did not go on when the Evil Popes of Rome were in power!

[Elsie]

Dogma always develops. Dogma NEVER changes to the opposite.

WHAT??

I thought that...

Jesus said it and Rome teaches it.

[Elsie]

Hey!

What did you COMPLETELY type in #81??

[Elsie]

Bingo

[Elsie]

Answer! They're NOT preaching "salvation by works," but the only way anyone can take Luther's rewrite of Christianity seriously is to constantly attack anyone who doesn't approve their absolutist hermeneutics so they won't notice they don't practice it themselves.

Hey; I get 'attacked' because I don't bow at the feet of Rome's 'Mary' and believe it's 'promises'; but instead rely on the BOOK that early Rome produced.

I wonder why that is???

[Elsie]

They're NOT preaching "salvation by works," ...

O...
K...

 

---

The 15 promises

(Given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche)

1	Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive powerful graces.
2.	I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3.	The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies
4.	It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of people from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5.	The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6.	Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying Himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise Him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7.	Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8.	Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise.
9.	I  shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10.	The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11.	You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12.	All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13.	I  have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death
14.	All who recite the Rosary are my children, and brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
15.	Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

 

"The Most Holy Virgin in these last times in which we live has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Rosary to such an extent that there is no problem,

no matter how difficult it is, wheter temporal or above all spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families...that cannot be solved by the Rosary.

There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary."

Sister Lucia dos Santos

[Elsie]

It is every single historical church descended from the Apostles, every single church for fifteen centuries.

Preach it; Brother!!

Tell 'em how our 7 Catholics churches in Asia that John wrote about were such Shining Examples of correct doctrine; straight from the Apostles!!

--Poorly_Catechized_Catholic_Dude(Hail Mary!!)

PS: I just LOVE compeling arguments!!

[Elsie]

Some of my most brilliant thoughts also fade from memory as soon as I put them to paper (virtual).

[Elsie]

And that being the historical instruments and stewards of Divine revelation (oral and written) means that such is that assuredly infallible magisterium.

Aren't these the guys who vote for the pope?

[Elsie]

Greek Orthodox teaches salvation by grace.

Well!!

It's no wonder then that ROME takes umbrage against them!

[Elsie]

You can't argue from Scripture, so you continue to play the Godwin card, even after we showed you clearly that Catholics of the time were far, far WORSE than Dr. Luther could even dream of being?

Why is it that such a LARGE percentage of FR Catholics are emulating Luther?

How You Ask?

"I'll tell you."

They do so by NAILING their present pope to a virtual Wittenberg door; complaing about what he does and says continually; much like the MSM's love for Trump!!

[Elsie]

Where does the Bible say any of what you claim,

Habakkuk 2:4
"See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright- but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness-

[Elsie]

The word “Jew” is centuries post-biblical, and grounded in ignorance.

I just HATE that!!

---

Romans 10:12
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich to all that call on him.

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

[Elsie]

Try reading the Acts. Is there anything in it that is not Torah?

Try reading Acts chapter 15. Is there anything in it that is not written by the fledgling Roman church??