Lesson: Should I Fear The Reformation? If You Are Religious, Yes If A Sinner Saved By Grace Absolutely NOT!

Lesson: Should I Fear The Reformation?

If You Are Religious, Yes

If A Sinner Saved By Grace Absolutely NOT!

So let’s look at

1 What is the Reformation?

2 Should I Fear The Reformation?

3 Taking Comfort In The True Understanding Of The Bible

1 What is the Reformation?

499 years ago on October 31, 1517 Monk Dr. Martin Luther nailed “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,” or 95 Theses to the Door of Wittenberg Castle Church.

https://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/web/ninetyfive.html

Meant to start a dialog on what Dr. Luther saw as an abuse and misreading of Scripture with regard to indulgences, and works, it instead started a Civil War in the Roman Catholic Church, as Rome saw this as an attack.

So much for thinking our inability to discuss matters is a late 20th early 21st Century phenomena, as it has always been the issue.

If we take an honest trip through history we will see this is not just religious problem as so many “enlightened” like to claim, but a human nature problem.

Wars throughout the ages have been started for reasons NOT Connected to the Church, though to the “educated” the Church is to blame.

But back to the History of the Reformation, and why the 95 Thesis became a battle.

One needs only to read the Bible to understand that to the “Religious” from the Temple to the Church have seen themselves as an order needing to protect their way of life, or to be blunt business.

In Acts 19:27 "Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence."

 28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

We see an example of such a turf war, and there is no room in their minds for discussion.

So is Rome’s reaction to the 95 Thesis, as it will do the same harm to the “industry” built over centuries, regardless whether it is Biblical.

Before we throw Rocks at Rome, to days Protestants Churches has fallen into the same trap and we will touch more on this in the third point, but it has to do with Star Theologian Gazing and not trusting the Bible.

This will set up our second point;

2 Should I Fear The Reformation?

Well if you are in the Religious Business YES, but if you are not, then absolutely NOT!

We should see by the Grace of GOD, that our Justification is truly by Faith and as we will read in our verse posted after the message, that this Faith too can only be regenerated in us as we start out truly Dead in our Trespasses and Sins.

So how do we start?

True question as it goes fully against the “reformed” teaching the churches, and synagogues are feeding us weekly.

HOLY SPIRIT please open our eyes and ears to the final points that weekly demand “We improve our Faith”, Live a more Righteous, and Christ like Life” as if we actually can save the Mercy of our triune GOD.

Our Lesson is boiled down to seeing how the LORD has worked HIS Redemption of our Souls, by bringing them to Life and Walking us to Grow in the path of Christ, as an alive Christian can only due by HIS Grace.

So as you review Romans 3:21-25 will remind us that Salvation Is a Gift of GOD purchased by Christ, and that includes our Faith, as that too is given to us, and not something we came to, as remember we start out dead, and it is impossible for the dead to come to faith as the LORD alone by Grace must awaken us period.

Romans 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

The Reformation is only a return to Orthodox (of a person or their views, especially religious or political ones, or other beliefs or practices) conforming to what is generally or traditionally accepted as right or true; established and approved. In this case used as Bible Standardist Christians) Christianity where the 5 Solas are viewed as the true foundation.

·        Sola Fide, by faith alone.

·        Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone.

·        Solus Christus, through Christ alone.

·        Sola Gratia, by grace alone.

·        Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone.

Since October 31, 1517, and the nailing of the 95 Thesis on the Wittenberg Castle Door the Orthodox path of reading the Bible has been labeled, Reformed, and thus confused with a new understanding of the Bible when in fact it truly is as I have suggested a return to Orthodoxy as we attempt to rescue the Church from Pharisaical Tradition that of course are defined by regulations that are additional to the rule of Scripture.

As we approach our third point we will need to understand that the Religious leadership since the very beginning, dating back to the early Priesthood up to both sides of the reformed debate, will stray toward “Church Tradition” in Rome’s case and “Star Theologian Interpretation” on the Protestant side.

Jesus warned against this in Matthew 23 and the woes, we will read them and then go to the 3rd point

 Mt 23:10 "Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

 11 "But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

 12 "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

 13 ? "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

 14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

 15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

 16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.'

 17 "You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?

 18 "And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.'

 19 "You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering?

 20 "Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it.

 21 "And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it.

 22 "And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

 24 "You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.

 26 "You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.

 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.

 28 "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

 29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,

 30 and say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'

 31 "So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

 32 "Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers.

 33 "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

 34 ? "Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city,

 35 so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

 36 "Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

 37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.

 38 "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!

 39 "For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'"

(NAS95)

3 Taking Comfort In The True Understanding Of The Bible

Why has this occurred on Both sides, and why are we in the Reformed camp to be more pitied then the Church of Rome?

When one performs an autopsy (analysis) on the Historical past one sees the differences in the period between the First Century and 1517, and 1517 to 2016;

Number one is the masses in the Western Developed World ability to read for themselves and since 1440 the invention of the Gutenberg Press.

The early Church must really on the educated who are able to read the hand written documents and proclaim them.

In 382 St. Jerome translated the Greek Bible into Latin, and the Latin Vulgate was born.

Up until the late 1200’s Latin was the only translation, when the Bible was translated into French, the 1338 English Bible translated by John Wycliffite but all of these translations where outlawed and condemned by the Roman Church who for the record would adopt the Latin Vulgate as the official Roman Catholic Bible in 1600.

The Translators of the Bibles were declared Heretics and in many cases burned at the stake to ashes in order to not have a body to be resurrected at the second coming.

“The Council of Constance declared Wycliffe a heretic on 4 May 1415, and banned his writings. The Council decreed that Wycliffe's works should be burned and his remains removed from consecrated ground. This order, confirmed by Pope Martin V, was carried out in 1428. Wycliffe's corpse was exhumed and burned and the ashes cast into the River Swift, which flows through Lutterworth.” Wikipedia

The Church in this very practice shows they have walked from the Authority of the Bible as Genesis Tells us plainly from Dust we were created, unto Dust we shall return.

Ge 3:19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

Ge 18:27 And Abraham replied, "Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.

But why is this History important?

Because up to the time when the masses were taught to read, the MAIN reason for the First Public Schools in what was now known as the United States

“The first American schools in the thirteen original colonies opened in the 17th century. Boston Latin School was founded in 1635 and is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the United States. The first tax-supported public school was opened in Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1644 and was run by Rev. Ralph Wheelock. Cremin (1970) stresses that colonists tried at first to educate by the traditional English methods of family, church, community, and apprenticeship, with schools later becoming the key agent in "socialization." At first, the rudiments of literacy and arithmetic were taught inside the family, assuming the parents had those skills. Literacy rates were much higher in New England, because much of the population had been deeply involved in the Protestant Reformation and learned to read in order to read the Scriptures. Literacy was much lower in the South, where the Anglican Church was the established church. Single working-class people formed a large part of the population in the early years, arriving as indentured servants. The elite planter class did not support public education but arranged for private tutors for their children, and sent some to England at appropriate ages for further education.” Wikipedia

Only the well to do were able to read, and therefore the Masses HAD to rely on the Church to preach the Bible in truth.

We are actually warned by Paul in the famous 2nd Timothy 3 Passage that normally get quoted using verse 15 & 16, but the caution in verse 12-14 gets overlooked;

2nd Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

(NAS95)

Having traveled across the Country we have found a constant problem, and I don’t want you to be shocked but since our Church going only references “Reformed” Churches I can tell you that in 100% of the Sermons, the Orthodox understanding of the Bible IS NOT taught!

Week after week we hear the 3 to 4 Theologian quote Sermon, suggesting if the latest Theological Star, and one or two from the past are quoted the Sermon must be on point, when in fact if we took the message home as we are supposed to do, we would realize the message IS NOT Biblical but rather, Pharisaical, as it relies on us to “do better”, and “sacrifice more”.

Jesus on the cross said this and MEANT it;

Joh 19:30 (NAS95) Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished! (teleo: complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt):--accomplish, make an end, expire, fill up, finish, pay}” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

The Work is completed as only the work could be and by the only one who could do it perfectly Jesus Christ Himself.

It is Jesus who tells us that the FATHER alone reveals through the HOLY SPIRIT,

Mt 16:17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Joh 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.

When we hear a message that goes off of the point of the Gospel we slip in the camp of the Pharisees, and BOTH Sides are guilty of this.

This brings me back to two closing thoughts;

Why are the Reformed Churches to be most pitied?

As with the Galatians we are being led astray by “Star Theologians” and this does happen each week.

The Congregant is convinced that the sermon is accurate based on the likes of John Calvin, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Spurgeon types, and backed up by quotes from “the Stars of today Theologian class”, you can insert your favorite if you like.

All to prove their point when the Bible alone should be enough to prove, but also sadly disprove their point;

Example, we are told to give more sacrificially with our money and time.

To wash feet as Jesus did, and then the Pastor tells us what that actually looks like, forgetting Jesus own words “It is Finished!”

We need to know that this does not mean we as Christians sit around and do nothing, as we who are made alive in Christ alone CANNOT do nothing but By the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT we live!.

But that is the key, as our works are from the LORD alone, and from the passive, and not the active.

When we are told what we have to do, the message ceases to be Reformed and instead turns into the same problem that has plagued the people of GOD from the beginning.

They demand action, when  Mr 10:18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

 Lu 18:19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

Ro 3:10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

All tell us plainly that we are incapable of coming to salvation, but that the LORD alone rescues us period!

Today we in the Western Civilized Church can read the Bible for ourselves

This is huge, as it separates us from the Church of 1517 as we are able to READ the Bible, and yes by the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT understand it!

This really means we don’t have to rely of the “Star Theologians”, but should be proving what they say through Scripture as good Bereans, as you should be proving what I say through Scripture.

This is why we are to be pitied as this is NOT the practice of most Churches, and needs to be recaptured.

This brings us full circle, and asks the question once more, Should I fear the Reformation?

I hope this lesson has helped us say from either side, the Reformed, or Roman side, that NO we should not fear the Reformation, but in fact embrace it as a return to Orthodox Christianity and its pursuit of

·          Sola Fide, by faith alone. Given by GOD Alone

·        Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone. Understanding Given by the HOLY SPIRIT Alone

·        Solus Christus, through Christ alone. Salvation Paid In Full By Jesus Christ Alone

·        Sola Gratia, by grace alone. Grace Paid in full by Jesus Christ alone, by the will of the FATHER alone

·        Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone. To the Glory of GOD Alone

We note in all of these truths, the LORD is the only one active in our salvation, while we are passive, and when made alive HE alone walks us to works of HIS will.

Our Next Lesson is planned to be the start of “Is The “church” Killing Christianity?”

Psalm 51

1 ? <<For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.>> Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.

 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

 6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

 7 ? Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

 9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.

 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.

 14 ? Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

 15 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.

 16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.

 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

 18 By Your favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.

 19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.

(NAS95)

This Is The WORD Of The LORD

Response By All:  Thanks Be To GOD

Romans 8:26-34, Ephesians 1:2-9, Matthew 16:15-17

26 ? In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

 29 ? For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

 31 ? What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

 33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;

 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Ephesians 1:2-9

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 3 ? Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight

 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him

Ephesians 2:3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

 4 ? But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

 Matthew 16:15-17

15 Jesus *said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

 17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

The Holy Gospel Of Our LORD Jesus Christ

Response By All: All Glory To YOU LORD Christ