Martin Luther: The German Protestant (1483-1543)
Martin Luther, a Christian monk, was the main character of the German protest (1483-1543). Luther criticized the church's practices of selling "indulgences" in 95 theses he penned in 1517, among other corruptions. Self-gratification was originally a gift given to the church by sinners who had experienced repentance. They were expressing their appreciation to God for pardoning their transgressions. By the beginning of the 16th century, the custom had degenerated, and people believed that Christian institutions were offering to sell people the gift of forgiveness and loyalty. Martin Luther criticized this practice because it was de-emphasizing repentance and at the same time making Christians think that they can buy God's forgiveness. Moreover, Martin Luther preached about salvation as a gift that comes from God.Martin Luther's Opposition to Hierarchy
Martin was also of the objection of the hierarchical structure that comes with Christianity. He argued that any Christian could interpret the Bible and serve as a minister as well as any other. However, his efforts for reforms were faced with resistance. In fact, most of the Christian authorities denounced his theological claims. By being adamant, Martin Luther continued with his attempts at reforms. He even managed to convince his followers to form a new Christian group that was distinct from the original Western or 'Catholic' church. These Christians became known as 'Lutherans' and remained most numerous in Germany. Today, in the United States, Lutherans are one of the larger Protestant denominations, numbering about five million.Luther's Emphasis on Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, and Sola Gratia
Luther's conscience had been taken captive by the word of God; he soon galvanized many to embrace sola scriptura, sola fide, and sola gratia - the Bible alone, faith alone, and grace alone. This threefold emphasis became the battle cry for reformation. The Lord's Supper or the Communion tended to create a divided opinion among the reformers. Catholics held to transubstantiation, which is, in the bread and wine Christ's body and blood mysteriously reside as a means of grace. Lutheran believed in consubstantiation, that is, the body and blood of Christ do not reside in the bread and wine but like a fire emanating from a hot poker permeate them.Sola Fide: Justification by Faith Alone
Sola Fide is a Latin word meaning by faith alone, also known as justification by faith alone. The Christian theological doctrine distinguishes the Lutheran and Reformed branches of Protestant Christianity. This also applies to other denominations such as the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Methodist Churches, and Restoration Movements. It also affirms that the following regenerations believed that good works are ordinarily necessary for salvation. The theory of sola fide supports God's pardon for guilty sinners is granted and received through faith alone. All of mankind, it is asserted, is of sin, fallen under the curse of God, and incapable of saving itself from the wrath and curse of God. Nevertheless, God, through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ alone grants all sinners pardon, or justification, which is received only through faith.Faith is passive, merely the reception of Christ and all benefits that come along. Amongst the benefits, lies both the active and passive righteousness of Jesus Christ. Christ's righteousness, as perceived by the followers of sola fide, is attributed by God to the believing sinner. This is opposed to infusion or impartation so that the divine verdict and pardon of the believing sinner are founded not upon anything in the sinner but solely upon Jesus Christ and his righteousness, which are gained through faith only. To Lutheranism and Reformed Christianity, only faith is foundational, and that distinguishes it from other Christian denominations. According to Martin Luther, 'justification by faith alone is the article on which the Church stands or falls.'Sola Scriptura: In Scripture Alone
Sola scriptura is a Latin word meaning in Scripture alone. It is a Christianity based theological doctrine which holds that the Christian Scriptures are the sole/the only infallible rule of faith and religious practices. The meaning found in the Scriptures is mediated through many kinds of secondary authority which include: the ecumenical creeds, the ordinary teaching offices of the Church, the councils of the Christian Church, and much more. However, sola scriptura turns down any original infallible authority apart from the Bible. In this regard, all the secondary authority is derived from the authority of the Scriptures/the Bible and is therefore subject to reform when compared to the teaching of the Bible. Bible commentators, preachers, private revelation, Church councils, or even messages allegedly from an angel are not an original authority alongside the Bible according to the sola scriptura approach. Sola scriptura was a foundational doctrinal principle of the Protestant Reformation held by the Reformers, who taught that the authentication of Scripture is dictated by the perceptible excellence of the subject and the personal beholder of the Holy Spirit to the heart of each man. Some Evangelical and Baptist denominations state the doctrine of sola scriptura more strongly as the Scripture itself is authenticating, clear to the rational reader, its interpreter, and sufficient of itself to be the final authority of Christian doctrine.Sola scriptura is entailed amongst the solas, considered by some Protestant groups to be the theological pillars of the Reformation. The major implication of the principle is that the definitions and applicability of the Writings do not have the same authority. 'A simple layman armed with Scripture is greater than the mightiest pope without it,' said Martin Luther. The main intent of Reformation was to correct what Luther asserted to be the mistakes made by the Catholic Church of appealing to the uniqueness of the Bible's textual authority. Catholic doctrine is based on Church tradition and Scripture. Moreover, Sola scriptura meant rejecting the infallible authority given to the Magisterium to interpret both Scripture and Church tradition.Sola Gratia: By Grace Alone
Sola gratia is a Latin word meaning by grace alone. It is one of the solas propounded to summarize the Lutheran and Reformed leaders' basic beliefs during the Protestant Reformation. These Lutheran and Reformed leaders believed that the emphasis was in contradicting the teachings of the Catholic Church. However, it had some explicitly, which affirmed the doctrine of sola gratia during 529, the Council of Orange. The doctrine also condemned the Pelagian heresy. In responding to this misunderstanding, Catholic doctrine was further made clear in the Council of Trent. The Council emphasized that salvation is made possible solely by grace. Faith and works of men are secondary means that have their origins only in grace and are afterward sustained by grace. During the Reformation, Lutheran and Reformed theologians believed that the Roman Catholic view of salvation was a mixture of reliance on the grace of God together with love.This was pejoratively known as Legalism. These Reformers asserted that salvation is entirely embraced in the gifts from God. They also believe that the act of God is as a result of free grace. The same grace is administered by the Holy Spirit and supported by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Consequently, they claimed that a sinner is not accepted by God by the change wrought in believing in the grace of God. In fact, a believer is accepted without considering the merit of his works. Acceptance is based on the fact that no one deserves salvation. The concept, which someone takes to the extreme of Antinomianism. Also, the doctrine illustrates that if someone is saved, he/she does not need to live a holy life because salvation is already guaranteed. Furthermore, the belief is associated with the five points, which describe Calvinism. On the other hand, synergists such as Methodists have taken a different line of explanation to sola gratia when compared to the Lutherans and Reformed Christians. They are holding that God can reach individuals with prevenient grace. Although, individuals have the free will of interacting with grace.Bibliography
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