Posted on 10/27/2014 5:43:10 AM PDT by Gamecock
The Protestant Reformation stands as the most far-reaching, world-changing display of God’s grace since the birth and early expansion of the church. It was not a single act, nor was it led by one man. This history-altering movement played out on different stages over many decades. Its cumulative impact, however, was enormous. Philip Schaff, a noted church historian, writes: “The Reformation of the sixteenth century is, next to the introduction of Christianity, the greatest event in history. It marks the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of modern times. Starting from religion, it gave, directly or indirectly, a mighty impulse to every forward movement, and made Protestantism the chief propelling force in the history of modern civilization” (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. VII: Modern Christianity—The German Reformation [1910; repr., Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980], 1). The Reformation was, at its heart, a recovery of the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and this restoration had an unparalleled influence on churches, nations, and the flow of Western civilization.
Under the guiding hand of God, the world scene had been uniquely prepared for the Reformation. The church was greatly in need of reform. Spiritual darkness personified the Roman Catholic Church. The Bible was a closed book. Spiritual ignorance ruled the minds of the people. The gospel was perverted. Church tradition trumped divine truth. Personal holiness was abandoned. The rotten stench of manmade traditions covered pope and priest. The corruption of ungodliness contaminated both dogma and practice.
On the other hand, a new day was dawning. Feudal states were giving way to nation-states. Exploration was expanding. Christopher Columbus discovered the New World in 1492. Trade routes were opening. A middle class was rising. Opportunities for learning were increasing. Knowledge was multiplying. Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press (1454) had vastly improved the dissemination of ideas. Under all of these influences, the Renaissance was at high noon. Moreover, a further alteration in the world scene was soon to be ushered in by the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, bringing great changes especially in the church of Jesus Christ.
In light of such dramatic upheaval, certain questions beg to be asked: What factors led to the Protestant Reformation? Where was the Reformation born? How did this powerful movement come about? Where did it spread? Who were the key leaders who stoked its flames? What biblical truths were unleashed on the world at this time? To begin to answer these questions, we must focus in on those giants of the faith who led the Reformation.
The Magisterial Reformers
At the beginning of the sixteenth century, God began to raise up a series of strong-willed figures known to history as the Reformers. There had been earlier reformers in the church, but those who came to prominence in this period were the best educated, most godly, and most faithful reform leaders the church had ever seen. These men were steeped in Scripture and marked by audacious courage in the face of opposition. They were emboldened by deep convictions as to the truth and a love for Christ’s church that drove them to attempt to bring it back to its timeless standard. In the simplest terms, they longed to see God’s people worship Him according to Scripture. These men were shining lights in a dark day.
“The Reformers did not see themselves as inventors, discoverers, or creators,” according to historian Stephen Nichols. “Instead, they saw their efforts as rediscovery. They weren’t making something from scratch but were reviving what had become dead. They looked back to the Bible and to the apostolic era, as well as to early church fathers such as Augustine (354–430) for the mold by which they could shape the church and re-form it. The Reformers had a saying, ‘Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda,’ meaning ‘the church reformed, always reforming’” (Stephen Nichols, The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World [Wheaton: Crossway, 2007], 17).
The Magisterial Reformers are so called because their reform efforts were supported by at least some ruling authorities, or magistrates, and because they believed the civil magistrates ought to enforce the true faith. This term is used to distinguish them from the radical reformers (Anabaptists), whose efforts had no magisterial support. The Reformers are also called “magisterial” because the word magister can mean “teacher,” and the Magisterial Reformation strongly emphasized the authority of teachers.
Scripture Alone
In time, the message of the Reformers became encapsulated in five slogans known as the solas of the Reformation: sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”), solus Christus (“Christ alone”), sola gratia (“grace alone”), sola fide (“faith alone”), and soli Deo gloria (“the glory of God alone”). The first of these, sola Scriptura, was the defining benchmark of the movement.
There are only three possible forms of spiritual authority. First, there is the authority of the Lord and His written revelation. Second, there is the authority of the church and its leaders. Third, there is the authority of human reason. When the Reformers cried “Scripture alone,” they were expressing their commitment to the authority of God as expressed through the Bible. James Montgomery Boice states their core belief: “The Bible alone is our ultimate authority—not the pope, not the church, not the traditions of the church or church councils, still less personal intimations or subjective feelings, but Scripture only” (James Montgomery Boice, Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace? Recovering the Doctrines That Shook the World [Wheaton: Crossway, 2001], 32). The Reformation was essentially a crisis over which authority should have primacy. Rome claimed the church’s authority lay with Scripture and tradition, Scripture and the pope, Scripture and church councils. But the Reformers believed that the authority belonged to Scripture alone.
Schaff writes: “While the Humanists went back to the ancient classics and revived the spirit of Greek and Roman paganism, the Reformers went back to the sacred Scriptures in the original languages and revived the spirit of apostolic Christianity. They were fired by an enthusiasm for the gospel, such as had never been known since the days of Paul. Christ rose from the tomb of human traditions and preached again His words of life and power. The Bible, heretofore a book of priests only, was now translated anew and better than ever into the vernacular tongues of Europe, and made a book of the people. Every Christian man could henceforth go to the fountain-head of inspiration, and sit at the feet of the Divine Teacher, without priestly permission and intervention” (Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. VII, 17).
The Fountain of Sovereign Grace
This commitment to Scripture alone led to the rediscovery of the doctrines of grace. Any return to the Bible inevitably leads to the truth of God’s sovereignty in saving grace. The other four solas—solus Christus, sola gratia, sola fide, and soli Deo gloria—flow from sola Scriptura.
The first Reformer was an Augustinian monk who nailed Ninety-five Theses against the Roman Catholic practice of selling indulgences to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517. His name was Martin Luther (1483–1546). This bold act by a monk with a mallet launched the Reformation. Other Reformers would follow, such as Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531), Hugh Latimer (1487–1555), Martin Bucer (1491–1551), William Tyndale (ca. 1494–1536), Philip Melanchthon (1497–1560), John Rogers (1500–1555), Heinrich Bullinger (1504–1575), and John Calvin (1509–1564). To a man, they were firmly committed to the truths of Scripture and sovereign grace.
Really? Long at the long term result and the real legacy of the heretics Luther, Calvin and Henry VIII. Europe has entered a neo pagan, post Christian era of decadence and decline. It is devoid of true spirituality and value. The seeds of regeneration repose with the faithful remnant of the true Church. The heresy of the Reformation has destroyed those that followed it.
What are you guys up to now? 20,000 different Protestant sects? 30,000? More?
The Protestant Schism started with a divorce, and carried on splitting from there.
“When the Reformers cried “Scripture alone,” they were expressing their commitment to the authority of God as expressed through the Bible. James Montgomery Boice states their core belief: “The Bible alone is our ultimate authority—not the pope, not the church, not the traditions of the church or church councils, still less personal intimations or subjective feelings, but Scripture only”
+1
Under your logic the colonies should have remained under the crown.
Under your logic the colonies should have remained under the crown.
“What are you guys up to now? 20,000 different Protestant sects? 30,000? More? “
We separate from those in sin, unlike the Roman Catholic denomination.
We separate for the purpose of “rites” in non-essentials.
On the other side of the coin, it appears that the majority you claim as members each believe whatever they want, making how many sects now? 1,000,000? 20,000,000?
Your argument falls way short because many Roman Catholic Nations in Europe have lost their ways as acknowledge by the last three Popes. Can we also look at Catholic South American Countries and apply your argument.
Not so for the Body of Christ.
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you.
I believe the Pharisees did that too. Is that what you guys are going for?
So Christ is limited to be in full communion with his people through one church. I understand.
“I believe the Pharisees did that too. Is that what you guys are going for?”
It sounds like you are more of an expert on the practices of the Pharisees than me. I will concede to your knowledge there.
In regards to Christians separating from other Christians in heresy, just read the Apostle Paul.
“The Bible alone is our ultimate authority—not the pope, not the church, not the traditions of the church or church councils, still less personal intimations or subjective feelings, but Scripture only”
The Apostles followed the commands of Christ: for instance they ate His Body and drank His Blood. They baptized in the name of the Trinity.
And when they did these things, they weren't following Scripture. How could they? The New Testament hadn't been written yet.
They were acting with the authority given to them by Christ, not by Scripture.
“The Apostles followed the commands of Christ: for instance they ate His Body and drank His Blood. They baptized in the name of the Trinity.”
The Apostles heard His words.
“And when they did these things, they weren’t following Scripture. How could they? The New Testament hadn’t been written yet.”
Actually, they were already following 2/3 of the Scriptures, which existed. In addition, they had Christ with them.
“They were acting with the authority given to them by Christ, not by Scripture.”
And we are blessed now to have 100% of the inspired Words of God to follow, but alas, no Apostles. We are provided for by the Scriptures that contain all needed for salvation and maturity.
as ONLY stained glass and a latin mass can provide./sarc
Hey GC - didn't you visit the church Luther vandalized with a hammer?
You are not aware, perhaps, that Christ came into the world to save sinners?
And that at every turn in His ministry He encountered the Pharisees, who were forever presuming on their own salvation and haughtily distancing themselves away from sinners?
Also: please don’t change your ground. You said ‘separate from those in sin’. Please don’t pretend that you said ‘heretics’ now.
“You are not aware, perhaps, that Christ came into the world to save sinners?”
Oh, I do know. This is why I have actually invited RCs here on FR to send us their sinners.
“And that at every turn in His ministry He encountered the Pharisees, who were forever presuming on their own salvation and haughtily distancing themselves away from sinners?”
Again, you seem to know so much about Pharisees and their practices. I will leave that to you.
“Also: please don’t change your ground. You said ‘separate from those in sin’. Please don’t pretend that you said ‘heretics’ now.”
Heretics & those believers living in sin are both covered by the Apostle Paul’s words. Both are sin.
That really says it all.
Explain to me why Christ would break the law against eating blood and have His apostles do the same.
So you admit that when the Apostles ate and drank Christ’s Body and Blood, and baptized in the name of the Trinity, they were not following scripture?
I repeat: how can scripture be the source of authority when the early Church ate Christ’s Body, drank Christ’s Blood and baptized in the Name of the Trinity - without a single word of scripture to authorize their actions?
Where in the Old Testament does Christ command us to Eat His Body and Drink His Blood?
Where in the Old Testament are we commanded to Baptize in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit?
Nowhere.
The early Church did these things - and they did not refer to Scripture when doing them. They had them from the Apostles - who had them from Christ.
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