LUTHERANISM
BRIEF HISTORY:
The Lutheran Church is the oldest of existing Protestant churches. It can be traced to the Eve of All Saints Day, Oct. 31, 1517. On that date, Martin Luther (a Roman Catholic priest of the Sulpician order) nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Church at Wittenburg, Germany. He was principally opposing the sale of Indulgences as preached by Tetzel throughout Germany. Luther’s intention was to reform the Roman Church, not to start a new one. However, those acts started a great movement known as the Protestant Reformation.
Luther at the age of 20 obtained a completed copy of the bible in a university library. He soon developed a great love and respect for it. He later entered a monastery, but when he saw the many evils in it, he quit and left it.
Various trials were held, and after Luther was given a chance to renounce his views but refused to do so, he was banned in 1521 from the Roman Church. He then started meeting on his own and soon has a sizeable following. The worship was similar to that of the Catholics.
(Schaff-Herzog, Vol. 2, p. 1363-72)
Lutheran Tradition
Word of God
I. Creeds
I. Creeds
• Endorse Nicene Creed, Apostles Creed, Athanasian Creed and also the Augsburg Confession, and others (Luth Catechism, p. 81-82).
• John 6:63; Matthew 22:29
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21
• Galatians 1:8-9; Matthew 10:20
II. Different Church Branches
II. Different churches are not branches of Christ’s Church
• The Lutheran Church is one of the branches along with other denominations. (L. Catechism, p. 108)
• Evangelical Lutheran church is the one established on Pentecost (L. Catechism, p. 110)
• Christ the head over the body. Ephesians 1:22-23
• One body, Ephesians 2:16; 4:4; 1 Corinthians 12:20
• John 15:1-6. Man, not groups or denominations are spoken of. Abide in Christ.
• How enter into Christ: Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27
• Only planted one church. Matthew 15:13; 16:18
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Lutheran Tradition
Word of God
III. Justified by Faith Alone
III. Not Justified by faith alone
• “Justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ is held to be the central doctrine of the word of God: (Government Report of Denominations, Vo. 2, p. 853). Added “alone” to Romans 3:28, German Bible, See Catechism, p. 104.
• James 2:24. Not by faith alone
• James 2:19. Devils believe also
• John 12:42. Some who believed were not saved
• Matthew 10:32-33. Confession also necessary
• Galatians 5:6. Faith must work to avail
IV. Baptized by Sprinkling or Pouring
IV. Baptize by sprinkling or pouring not right
• Christ does not specify the mode of baptism. It may be performed in any of the three ways; namely, by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. One mode is just as valid as another. (Luther’s Catechism, Stump, p. 147)
• John 3:23. Much water.
• Matthew 3:16. Up out of water after baptism
• Acts 8:38-39. Down into and up out of water.
• Romans 6:4 Burial (Colossians 2:12)
• Greek work is baptizo . . . to dip, plunge, submerge, two other words for sprinkling and pouring.
V. Baptize Infants
V. Baptize Infants Unbiblical
• “Christ has commanded that little children should be brought to him and we obey this command by baptizing them and teaching them.” (Lutheran Catechism, Stump, p. 146)
• “They (children) have inherited a sinful heart, and the germs of sin in them will soon grow” (Lutheran Catechism, Stump, p. 146)
• Acts 17:29. We are offspring of Go
• Mark 10:14. “Suffer the little children” . . .
• Ezekiel 18:20. Son not guilty except for own sins.
• No infant baptized
• Acts 8:12. Both men and women.
• Mark 16:16. Belief comes first.
VI. Lord’s Supper
VI. Lord’s Supper
• A Sacrament through which forgiveness of sins is promised. (Lutheran Catechism, p. 159)
• Always proceeded by service of confession and absolution. (Lutheran Catechism, p. 161).
• Sacrament from Romanism, not Bible.
• Forgiveness not through the partaking of the Lord’s Supper
• Not in Bible
• Christ conferred upon the church the “Power of the Keys” to remit sins-so the minister uses the power and pronounces the absolution (Lutheran Catechism, p. 161
• Upon Apostles only. Matthew 16:18; 18:18
• “The real presence of the body and blood of Jesus are sacramentally and supernaturally received by those who partake of the communion.” (Government Report, Vol. 2, p. 853)
• “With and Under” – consubstantiation doctrine is that “the bread and wine do not simply represent the body and blood of Christ (Zwingli’s view).” (Lutheran Catechism, P. 156-7)
• A figure like John 10; and John 15
• Luke 22:19. Jesus was still in the flesh
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Lutheran Tradition
Word of God
VII. Observe Lent and Easter
VII. No Lent nor Easter
• Similar to Catholics, borrowed from them
• Hebrews 1:2. God speaks through Christ only.
• Hosea 2:11. Special days to cease
• Colossians 2:16-17. Not to be judged by special days.
• Mark 16:9. The first day of the week is the only day Christians distinguish from others.
• Such days as Lent, Easter, Sabbath, Christmas, seasons, etc., not to be observed religiously.
VIII. Name Lutheran
VIII. Name Lutheran
• Luther did not approve: “I pray you leave my name alone and not to call yourselves Lutherans but Christians. (Life of Luther, Michelet, p. 262)
• Acts 4:12. No other name
• I Peter 4:16. Name Christian
• Acts 26:28. Name Christian
• Acts 11:26. Name Christian
IX. The Ten Commandments
IX. The Ten Commandments
• The Ten Commandments are for us and all God’s creatures. (Lutheran Catechism, p. 41-42)
(They omit the 2nd Commandment in their listing, like Catholics do). Lutheran Catechism, p. 17.
• II Corinthians 3:7-11. Passed away
• Colossians 2:14-17. Nailed to cross.
• Galatians 5:1-4. Severed from Christ if justified by law
• Romans 7:1-4. Discharged from law.
X. The Christian Sabbath
X. The Christian Sabbath
• Lutherans teach Sunday is the Christian Sabbath, the Lord’s Day.
• Sabbath is the 7th day of week. Exodus 20:8-11
• Lord’s Day is the first day of the week. Matthew 28:1-10; John 20:19-29; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Revelation 1:10.
XI. Baptism and Circumcision
XI. Baptism and Circumcision
• Circumcision was received by children as a token of the covenant – “so now children are to be baptized and receive the token of the new covenant, the seal for the righteousness of faith.” (Luther’s Small Catechism under Question, 335.)
• “. . . circumcision, which is a type of baptism.” (Lutheran Catechism, Stump, p. 146)
• Circumcision of flesh was a shadow of circumcision of the heart. Hebrews 10:1; Romans 2:29.
• Baptism never compared to circumcision in Bible; if so, then why female children baptized? Only males were circumcised.
BRIEF HISTORY:
The Lutheran Church is the oldest of existing Protestant churches. It can be traced to the Eve of All Saints Day, Oct. 31, 1517. On that date, Martin Luther (a Roman Catholic priest of the Sulpician order) nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Church at Wittenburg, Germany. He was principally opposing the sale of Indulgences as preached by Tetzel throughout Germany. Luther’s intention was to reform the Roman Church, not to start a new one. However, those acts started a great movement known as the Protestant Reformation.
Luther at the age of 20 obtained a completed copy of the bible in a university library. He soon developed a great love and respect for it. He later entered a monastery, but when he saw the many evils in it, he quit and left it.
Various trials were held, and after Luther was given a chance to renounce his views but refused to do so, he was banned in 1521 from the Roman Church. He then started meeting on his own and soon has a sizeable following. The worship was similar to that of the Catholics.
(Schaff-Herzog, Vol. 2, p. 1363-72)
Lutheran Tradition
Word of God
I. Creeds
I. Creeds
• Endorse Nicene Creed, Apostles Creed, Athanasian Creed and also the Augsburg Confession, and others (Luth Catechism, p. 81-82).
• John 6:63; Matthew 22:29
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21
• Galatians 1:8-9; Matthew 10:20
II. Different Church Branches
II. Different churches are not branches of Christ’s Church
• The Lutheran Church is one of the branches along with other denominations. (L. Catechism, p. 108)
• Evangelical Lutheran church is the one established on Pentecost (L. Catechism, p. 110)
• Christ the head over the body. Ephesians 1:22-23
• One body, Ephesians 2:16; 4:4; 1 Corinthians 12:20
• John 15:1-6. Man, not groups or denominations are spoken of. Abide in Christ.
• How enter into Christ: Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27
• Only planted one church. Matthew 15:13; 16:18
11 | P a g e
Lutheran Tradition
Word of God
III. Justified by Faith Alone
III. Not Justified by faith alone
• “Justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ is held to be the central doctrine of the word of God: (Government Report of Denominations, Vo. 2, p. 853). Added “alone” to Romans 3:28, German Bible, See Catechism, p. 104.
• James 2:24. Not by faith alone
• James 2:19. Devils believe also
• John 12:42. Some who believed were not saved
• Matthew 10:32-33. Confession also necessary
• Galatians 5:6. Faith must work to avail
IV. Baptized by Sprinkling or Pouring
IV. Baptize by sprinkling or pouring not right
• Christ does not specify the mode of baptism. It may be performed in any of the three ways; namely, by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. One mode is just as valid as another. (Luther’s Catechism, Stump, p. 147)
• John 3:23. Much water.
• Matthew 3:16. Up out of water after baptism
• Acts 8:38-39. Down into and up out of water.
• Romans 6:4 Burial (Colossians 2:12)
• Greek work is baptizo . . . to dip, plunge, submerge, two other words for sprinkling and pouring.
V. Baptize Infants
V. Baptize Infants Unbiblical
• “Christ has commanded that little children should be brought to him and we obey this command by baptizing them and teaching them.” (Lutheran Catechism, Stump, p. 146)
• “They (children) have inherited a sinful heart, and the germs of sin in them will soon grow” (Lutheran Catechism, Stump, p. 146)
• Acts 17:29. We are offspring of Go
• Mark 10:14. “Suffer the little children” . . .
• Ezekiel 18:20. Son not guilty except for own sins.
• No infant baptized
• Acts 8:12. Both men and women.
• Mark 16:16. Belief comes first.
VI. Lord’s Supper
VI. Lord’s Supper
• A Sacrament through which forgiveness of sins is promised. (Lutheran Catechism, p. 159)
• Always proceeded by service of confession and absolution. (Lutheran Catechism, p. 161).
• Sacrament from Romanism, not Bible.
• Forgiveness not through the partaking of the Lord’s Supper
• Not in Bible
• Christ conferred upon the church the “Power of the Keys” to remit sins-so the minister uses the power and pronounces the absolution (Lutheran Catechism, p. 161
• Upon Apostles only. Matthew 16:18; 18:18
• “The real presence of the body and blood of Jesus are sacramentally and supernaturally received by those who partake of the communion.” (Government Report, Vol. 2, p. 853)
• “With and Under” – consubstantiation doctrine is that “the bread and wine do not simply represent the body and blood of Christ (Zwingli’s view).” (Lutheran Catechism, P. 156-7)
• A figure like John 10; and John 15
• Luke 22:19. Jesus was still in the flesh
12 | P a g e
Lutheran Tradition
Word of God
VII. Observe Lent and Easter
VII. No Lent nor Easter
• Similar to Catholics, borrowed from them
• Hebrews 1:2. God speaks through Christ only.
• Hosea 2:11. Special days to cease
• Colossians 2:16-17. Not to be judged by special days.
• Mark 16:9. The first day of the week is the only day Christians distinguish from others.
• Such days as Lent, Easter, Sabbath, Christmas, seasons, etc., not to be observed religiously.
VIII. Name Lutheran
VIII. Name Lutheran
• Luther did not approve: “I pray you leave my name alone and not to call yourselves Lutherans but Christians. (Life of Luther, Michelet, p. 262)
• Acts 4:12. No other name
• I Peter 4:16. Name Christian
• Acts 26:28. Name Christian
• Acts 11:26. Name Christian
IX. The Ten Commandments
IX. The Ten Commandments
• The Ten Commandments are for us and all God’s creatures. (Lutheran Catechism, p. 41-42)
(They omit the 2nd Commandment in their listing, like Catholics do). Lutheran Catechism, p. 17.
• II Corinthians 3:7-11. Passed away
• Colossians 2:14-17. Nailed to cross.
• Galatians 5:1-4. Severed from Christ if justified by law
• Romans 7:1-4. Discharged from law.
X. The Christian Sabbath
X. The Christian Sabbath
• Lutherans teach Sunday is the Christian Sabbath, the Lord’s Day.
• Sabbath is the 7th day of week. Exodus 20:8-11
• Lord’s Day is the first day of the week. Matthew 28:1-10; John 20:19-29; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Revelation 1:10.
XI. Baptism and Circumcision
XI. Baptism and Circumcision
• Circumcision was received by children as a token of the covenant – “so now children are to be baptized and receive the token of the new covenant, the seal for the righteousness of faith.” (Luther’s Small Catechism under Question, 335.)
• “. . . circumcision, which is a type of baptism.” (Lutheran Catechism, Stump, p. 146)
• Circumcision of flesh was a shadow of circumcision of the heart. Hebrews 10:1; Romans 2:29.
• Baptism never compared to circumcision in Bible; if so, then why female children baptized? Only males were circumcised.