Catholics vs Christians Part 1 (A summary of the Origins of the Protestant Reformation)

I’ve come across many social networks whereby protestant Christians believe that Catholics are saved. I can only say that this is far from the truth! And I don’t say this out of hatred but out of love (following the 1 Corinthians 13 model). Many people may be offended by this blog post and the ones to come, but I feel like this is something that needs to be addressed. The books need to be opened and we need to see the facts for what they truly are and way up based on scriptural evidence what the mark of salvation actually looks like.

The obvious question that many people including non-believers will often ask is “what are the differences between Catholics and Protestant believers?” To understand this we need to look at the point of the greatest historical protest against Catholicism, the Protestant Reformation. During 31^st October, 1517, Martin Luther led the protestant reformation after nailing his famous 95 theses on the church of Wittenburg in Germany.

In his 95 theses he objectifies the practices of the Pope and his authority over the church. His objectifying also includes the sale of indulgences (that is the purchase of a prayer for the release of loved ones in purgatory) (copy of Luther’s 95 theses http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/95theses.htm)

So why did Luther feel the need to write such a direct and powerful message that would shape the course of Christianity? Luther was a man who wrestled with the scriptures, especially the book of Romans. As Luther desired to know God in the scriptures, he came across a passage in scripture that became his stumbling block. For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith,^[a] just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. Romans 1:17 (http://www.orlutheran.com/html/tower.html)

Luther actually grew to hate God because he could not see the connection of justification by faith. His perception of God was not the God of the scriptures, since his understanding of faith was one of works and not one of resting on the work of Christ. Finally the breakthrough came when Luther gave heed to the words at the end of 1:17, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." Then he realized that the verse was not talking about the active righteousness that God demands, but the passive righteousness that He freely gives to those who believe the Gospel.

This was the origins of Luther’s conversion and his deliverance of a powerful message that created division between Protestants and Catholics. Our faith was no longer seen as a faith by works but a response to the gospel and that any work done is a response to what Christ has done. During the reformation period, the early reformers had established what is known as ‘The Five Sola’s’ which are basic theological beliefs in contradistinction to Roman Catholic teaching.

-          Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)

-          Sola Fide (Faith Alone)

-          Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)

-          Solus Christus (Christ Alone)

-          Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)

These five Sola’s were considered the pillars to the Christian life in both theological teaching and practice. This was considered highly important for the early reformers to establish in knowing the clear distinction between Catholic and Protestant beliefs.