Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz19991031.htm

A SPECIAL INTERLUDE ON LUTHER AND CATHOLICISM
"Examining Luther's Stand, Modern Lutheranism And Catholicism"
(Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 1:8-9)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

tonight, Martin Luther nailed his "Ninety-Five Theses" to the door of the Wittenburg Church starting the Protestant Reformation. Now there is a thrust for Catholics and Protestants to unite upon an alleged reconciliation of differences:

Hartford Courant ran a story, "Catholics, Lutherans Celebrate New Spirit Of Reconciliation" (p. A1, A12). In it was reported a new "'Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification'". This declaration proclaims: "'Toge ther we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.'" In fact, the Courant's rel igion reporter, Gerald Renner called Luther's original rift with Roman Catholicism "a tragic misunderstanding."

Well, if Catholics and Lutherans NOW agree one is justified by faith "' . . . not because of any merit on our part . . . '", and the Courant's religion writer calls the original rift "a tragic misunderstanding," should we JOIN in with its reconciliation?!

The Berean Call, Sept., '77, "News Alerts," p. 5) This stand offended Catholic PK members, so John Sengenberber had so me Catholic theologians submit a revision for approval to Promise Keepers. The Promise Keepers' leaders accepted the their recommendation, and changed its credo to read: "'Only through faith, trusting in Christ alone for salvation, which was made possible by His death and resurrection, can that alienation [between God and sinful man] be removed.'" (Ibid., The Berean Call)

Well, if the Catholic Church NOW says one is saved ONLY through FAITH, trusting in CHRIST ALONE for salvation, isn't that in keeping with OUR stand at Nepaug so we should ALSO join company with those who unite with the Catholic Church?

this month has invited William Bennett, the "founding director of Catholic Campaign for America" as a keynote speaker. (The Berean Call, Oct. '99)

Does Nepaug Church need to "keep up" with the changes in Catholicism since Vatican II so that we should UNITE with it?!

(We turn to the sermon "Need" section as follows . . . )

Need: "On this 482nd anniversary of the Luther's posting of his 'Ninety-Five Theses' and the current alleged mending of Lutheran and Roman Catholic rifts, should WE join in that union?! Why?!"
  1. We note the Catholic Church's CURRENT OFFICIAL doctrine:
    1. According to the Catholic Church's sanctioned Catholic Encyclopedia (s. v. "Justification," p. 319), Roman Catholicism's Vatican II council (1962-1965) reaffirmed its doctrine of the 16th cent. Council of Trent.
    2. Some of that 16th century Council's decrees on justification are cited in Dave Hunt's, The Berean Call, Oct. 1999 issue (p. 1) as follows:
      1. 6th Session, Canon 4: "'If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law [canons and decrees of the Church] are not necessary for salvation but ... without them ... men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of justification ... let him be anathema.'"
      2. 6th Session, Canon 9: "'If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification ... let him be anathema.'"
      3. 6th Session, Canon 12: "'If anyone shall say that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in the divine mercy ... or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, let him be anathema.'"
      4. 6th Session, Canon 30: "'If anyone says that after the reception of the grace of justification the guilt is so remitted and the debt of eternal punishment so blotted out ... that no debt of temporal pu nishment remains to be discharged either in this world or in purgatory before ... heaven can be opened, let him be anathema.'"
    3. Summary: Catholicism now asserts justification is by faith plus works!
  2. We then now examine the ALLEGED recent CHANGES in Roman Catholic doctrine regarding how one is justified (as follows):
    1. The "'Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification'" reported in the October 17, 1999 Hartford Courant relates that the Roman Catholic Church agrees to these alleged revised views:
      1. Justification is "'by grace alone...'"
      2. Justification comes "'...not because of any merit on our part ...'"
    2. The Promise Keepers modified statement of faith (cited in The Berean Call, Oct. '97) to which Roman Catholics agree adds these statements:
      1. Justification is "'...only through faith...'"
      2. Justification is by "'...trusting in Christ alone...'"
    3. We review each of these phrases in order in light of the Catholic Church's endorsed The Catholic Encyclopedia (Broderick, ed., '87):
      1. On Catholicism's consent to justification "'by grace alone,'" "grace" in Catholicism has "also the idea of 'merit'" so one can gain grace or loose it by good or bad works respectively, Ibid., p. 246!
      2. On Catholicism's consent to justification "'not because of any merit on our part'", the Catholic Encyclopedia notes (Ibid., s. v. "Merit," p. 384) "...we can do nothing to give profit to God..." while also claiming "...we share, through the Church and sacraments, in the merits of Christ...": for Catholicism to deny man's merit does not mean it denies justification by works, for Catholicism teaches that we gain Christ's merit by faith plus OUR OWN WORKS!
      3. On Catholicism's consent to justification "'...only through faith...'", any Protestant or Catholic would always agree that apart from faith in Christ there is no salvation! Their difference of opinion arises over whether anything is to be added to faith for justification!
      4. On Catholicism's consent to justification by "' ... trusting in Christ alone ... '", a Protestant or Catholic can agree one believes in Christ and no one else to be justified. They differ over whether simple faith in Christ or if faith in Him plus works produces justification!
      5. Summary: The Catholic Church can agree to the Lutheran-Catholic declaration and the Promise Keeper's credo and still contend that justification is by faith plus works as stated in its Council of Trent!
  3. We then review Martin Luther's stand to see if there was a possible "tragic misunderstanding" between him and the Catholic Church:
    1. Martin Luther wrote: "' ... the righteousness of God is revealed only in the gospel ... This comes by faith ALONE ... '" (Atkinson, Advance of Christianity: Volume 4: The Great Light, p. 30-31).
    2. The Catholic Encyclopedia (Ibid.) itself says of "Lutheranism," (p. 361-362): " ... it finds its center in a justification by faith alone, based on Luther's translation of Romans 3:28 ... Thus, Luther did away with the sacraments ... Luther also denied purgatory ... "
    3. Summary: There was NO "tragic misunderstanding": Luther opposed justification by faith plus works, so the pope excommunicated him!
Lesson Application: (1) To gain eternal life, we must trust ALONE in Christ ALONE apart from any merit OR WORK on our own, Eph. 2:8-9. (2) Then, we must hold to this Gospel and not come under GOD'S "anathema" for adopting any OTHER one, Gal. 1: 8-9. (3) We must disciple others to the TRUE Gospel for their salvation and (4) be on our guard against DECEPTION to the contrary as Paul warned us would come in 2 Timothy 3:13, 14-17!

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

 The Catholic Encyclopedia states that Luther drew his belief in justification by faith alone from Romans 3:28 (Ibid., p. 361), we now quote that verse to ascertain its instruction. It states simply: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

knew well what he was NOT saying just like he knew what he was saying: he believed a man was justified by faith ALONE apart FROM any Church sacraments or works. THAT stand has ALWAYS been opposed by the Catholic Church, and that is why the Papal Bull excommunicated Luther on July 17, 1520!

The wall between LUTHER HIMSELF and the Roman Catholic Church has NOT been dismantled! Until the Roman Catholic Church REFUSES to require SACRAMENTS or ANY OTHER such WORK or CONDITION besides SIMPLE faith ALONE in Christ ALONE for salvation can there be ANY BASIS of any GODLY union to BEGIN between those who stand with Martin Luther's original stand and that of the Catholic Church.



Scripture says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT of WORKS, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Scripture also states: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be anathema." (Galatians 1:8)

Accordingly, WE stand WITH LUTHER HIMSELF in upholding justification by faith without human merit OR MAN'S WORKS of ANY kind! Luther's stand of 482 years ago was NOT a "tragic misunderstanding" as some now teach, but an accurate, wonderful clarification of the FACTS of the BIBLE!