To some, today is Halloween. To me, it’s Happy Reformation Day. Today, 493 years ago, Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses onto Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. His point was that the church had held power over people unbiblically, and financially, namely with indulgences: the paying off of your sins or the sins of those who have already died. If you’ve ever wondered why we have Catholicism and Protestantism, here is where the split began. (please note that I just summed up almost 500 years of history with that paragraph and there is obviously WAY more to it – but if you really care, you can do research.)
All that to say, we as Protestants owe Martin Luther a ton. And to honor him, I’ll post my favorite theses from the 95. I encourage you today to read them all.
1. When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said “Repent”, He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.
36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.
37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;
45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.
54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this Word.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.
enjoy