Posted on 10/12/2002 1:59:34 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration
No Compromise Between The Church and Rome
by Martin Luther (1483-1546)
The following article has been extracted from volume VIII of, The Sermons of Martin Luther, published by Baker Book House (Grand Rapids, MI). This was a section of a sermon based on Col. 1:3-14 titled "Knowledge of God's Will and Its Fruits," (sections 26-30 presented here). It was later published in english in 1905 by The Luther Press (Minneapolis, MN), in Precious and Sacred Writings of Martin Luther, vol. 14 (later republished by Baker Books, Sermons of Martin Luther vol. 5). This e-text was scanned and edited by Shane Rosenthal for Reformation Ink; it is in the public domain and it may be copied and distributed without restriction. Original pagination from the Baker edition has been kept intact for purposes of reference.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER, VOL. VIII
The world at the present time is sagaciously discussing how to quell the controversy and strife over doctrine and faith, and how to effect a compromise between the Church and the Papacy. Let the learned, the wise, it is said, bishops, emperor and princes, arbitrate. Each side can easily yield something, and it is better to concede some things which can be construed according to individual interpretation, than that so much persecution, bloodshed, war, and terrible, endless dissension and destruction be permitted. Here is lack of understanding, for understanding proves by the Word that such patchwork is not according to God's will, but that doctrine, faith and worship must be preserved pure and unadulterated; there must be no mingling with human nonsense, human opinions or wisdom. The Scriptures give us this rule: "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
We must not, then, regard nor follow the counsels of human wisdom, but must keep ever before us God's will as revealed by his Word; we are to abide by that for death or life, for evil or good. If war or other calamity results complain to him who wills and commands us to teach and believe our doctrine. The calamity is not of our effecting; we have not originated it. And we are not required to prove by argument whether or no God's will is right and to be obeyed. If he wills to permit persecution and other evils to arise in consequence of our teaching, for the trial and experience of true Christians and for the punishment of the ungrateful, let them come; and if not, his hand is doubtless strong enough to defend and preserve his cause from destruction, that man may know the events to be of his ordering. And so, praise his name, he has done in our case. He has supported us against the strong desires of our adversaries. Had we yielded and obeyed them, we would have been drawn into their falsehood and destruction. And God will still support us if we deal uprightly and faithfully in these requirements, if we further and honor the Word of God, and be not unthankful nor seek things that counterfeit God's Word.
So much by way of explaining what Paul means by wisdom and understanding to know the will of God, and by way of teaching the necessity of having both wisdom and understanding. For not only must the doctrine where by wisdom is imparted be inculcated in Christendom, but there is also need for admonition and exhortation concerning that understanding necessary to preserve wisdom, and [or defense in strife and conflict. Were not these principles exercised and inculcated in us, we would be deceived by false wisdom and vain imaginations, and would accept their gloss and glitter for pure gold, as many in the Church have ever done.
The Galatians had received from Paul the wisdom of justification before God by faith in Christ alone. Nevertheless, inspite of that knowledge, they were deceived and would have lost their wisdom altogether through the claim of the false prophets that the God given Law must be observed, had not Paul aroused their understanding at this point and brought them back from error. The Corinthians were taught by their spiritual wisdom the article of Christian liberty; they knew that sacrifices to idols are nothing. But they failed in this respect: they proceeded without understanding, and made carnal use of their liberty, contrary to wisdom and offending others. Therefore Paul had to remind them of their departure from his doctrine and wisdom.
The Scriptures record many instances of failure in this matter of understanding. A notable one is found in the thirteenth chapter of First Kings. A man of God from the kingdom of Judah, who had in the presence of King Jeroboam openly denounced the idolatry instituted by the king, and had confirmed his preaching and prophecy by a miracle, was commanded by God not under any circumstances to abide in the place whither he had gone to prophesy, nor to eat and drink there. He was to go straight home by another way than the route he had come. Yet on the way homeward he allowed himself to be persuaded by another prophet, one who falsely claimed to have a revelation from God, by an angel, commanding him to take the man of God to his home and give him to eat and drink. While they sat together at the table the Word of the Lord came to the inviting prophet and under its inspiration he told the other that he should not reach home alive. The latter, departing on his journey, was killed on the way by a lion, which remained standing by the body and the ass the man of God had ridden, not touching them further, until the old prophet came and found them. He brought the body home on the ass and buried it, commanding that after his own death he should be laid in the same grave. Such was God's punishment of the prophet who allowed himself to be deceived and obeyed not God's express command. However, his soul suffered not harm, as God testified by the fact the lion did not devour his body but defended it. Now, in what was the prophet lacking? Not in wisdom, for he had the Word of God. He lacked in understanding, allowing himself to be deceived when the other man declared himself a prophet whom the angel of the Lord had instructed. The man of God should have abided by the word given to him, and have said to the other: "You may be a prophet, indeed, but God has commanded me to do this thing. Of that I am certain and I will be governed by it. I will regard no conflicting order, be it in the name of an angel or of God."
Amen!
I think that your definition admits the heresy of antinomianism. I could be persuaded otherwise.
That said, I'm sure I'm not competent to answer this question as fully as you might like, but I would go out on a limb and say that each individual works out there salvation with Jesus, not the RCC.
My understanding of the core RCC position on the sacraments is that they are a gift of the Holy Spirit, not a litmus test for salvation. The sacraments are certainly not "helping" God, though they do help us. We are called to work with God, but I don't think of it as a partnership. The best analogies are probably from Lord and serf, rather than modern business practice.
I am most disappointed in the acrimony of the debates, but I can see some of the differences are wide. The more I learn of Catholicism the more I see that it is a hard faith that asks a lot of a catechist or practitioner. It is not for the unlearned which is why so many of our children fall away -- and why so many scholars of Protestant faiths return.
It is also foreign to America's current mindset. It is something out of antiquity.
I hope that if RCs have hurt you, that you accept healing in my suffering and sorrow.
Your #34 was well put! Good summary of the Good News!
ftD's..................................#34....Amen!
Maranatha!
Thank you, that is a very Christian attitude.
Even those Protestants who deny eternal security (which are most of them) accept the fact that salavation must be a free gift not a work that you earn (Rom.6:23)
It is simply by faith because it is a gift, not a work that we can take credit for (Rom.4:4-5)
[Now, under any definition I would say that he meant alone without works, or merit (Eph.2:9) I think that your definition admits the heresy of antinomianism. I could be persuaded otherwise.]
Even those Protestants who deny eternal security (which are most of them) accept the fact that salavation must be a free gift not a work that you earn (Rom.6:23)
[It is simply by faith because it is a gift, not a work that we can take credit for (Rom.4:4-5)]
Yes,......saints are made/created as saints by God and HIS work,......NOT by Man and his organizations !
He is above 'religion' but He is a God of Doctrine (2Tim.3:16)
Amen.
My church is OK, not perfect, right now our big "worry" is paying our bills, you would think a church could live by faith.
What church is that?
A church (the Christians in it) should never 'worry' about anything.(2Cor.5:7)
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