Subject: Follow up Peter first Pope |
Bible Note: None of the five tenets of the Reformation Church had anything to do with hatred. They were: 1. Scripture alone is our authority (i.e. while the church is important, church tradition is fallible and does not carry the same authority as the Bible). 2. We are saved by God's grace alone (not by any merit on our part whatsoever) 3. We are saved through faith alone (not by any works on our part whatsoever) 4. We are saved in Christ alone (i.e. by his sinless life and substitutionary death on the cross in the place of sinners, not through any institution or human intermediaries) 5. All of this is to the glory of God alone. Notice that the key word here in all five tenets is the word "alone." Martin Luther said he would not recant unless he could be convinced by the Holy Scriptures that his positions were wrong. Did he get a biblical refutation of his position? Nope. And Luther did not divide the church. He reformed it. He initially tried to point out the errors made by the Pope and church tradition in the light of Scripture. It was the Pope who excommunicated Luther, not Luther leaving the church. Now, is the Roman Catholic church wiser for clinging to church traditions and practices and beliefs which are clearly contrary to what God has revealed in His holy book? --Joe! |