500th Anniversary of the
Reformation
Martin Luther, The Last Judgment
and the New Church
Rev. Dr. Andrew M. T. Dibb
O
ctober 31, 1517: A German Augustinian monk approached the doors
of the castle church in Wittenberg, Saxony. Amongst the other notices
pinned to the door, he nailed a new document and walked away. The monk
was Martin Luther, the document was the Ninety-Five Theses, or points of
contention with the Roman Catholic Church. Whether the event took place
as described, or Luther published his Theses in some other way, is a matter of
debate, but that this event changed the course of history, first in Germany, then
in Europe and finally in the world, is a fact.
Martin Luther was a doctor of theology teaching at the University of
Wittenberg when Johan Tetzel, a Dominican monk, was charged with the task
of selling indulgences in Germany. Indulgences, sold by the church, released
people from time of suffering in purgatory. The money raised was to be used
to build the new St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome – although half was given to the
Archbishop of Mainz for his use.
In Luther’s eyes, selling indulgences amounted to selling salvation. He
was appalled at the assumption that the pope had any right to forgive sins,
something that can only be done by God. He was even more appalled at the
commercialization of forgiveness.
The alternative Luther offered to papal abuse was based on the concepts
of faith and grace he saw taught in the book of Romans. Romans 3:28 is the
perfect summary of his teaching: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified
by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Faith justifies a person’s sins in the
sight of God, which is the essence of salvation. No amount of papal remission,
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