Martin Luther "On Papal Power, Justification by Faith, The Interpretation Of The Bible, And The Nature of the Clergy"

ATTACK ON PAPAL POWER

1. denounced the abuses connected with the preaching of papal indulgences

2. argues that papcay was blocking reform by building 3 walls arounds themselves, and as a result; "the whole of Christendom has fallen"

a. 1st wall: by saying that the spiritual power of the papacy is above the temoral power of the councils

b. 2nd wall: by saying only the pope can interpret scripture

c. 3rd wall: by saying only the pope can call a council

3. Luther demands reform of the papacy, calling out the Romanists (tradional Catholics loyal to the papacy) for having no basis in Scripture for their rulings

4. Luther calls the papacy deceiving, wicking, and knaving, always trying to ensure that they never lose their grip on all European Christians (ex. bribing councils, giving pope power over council)

5. Luther calls for someone to establish a "truely free council"

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

1. salvation came not because of his good works but as a free girf from God due to Luther's faith in Christ <--- This belief became the ralling point of the Protestant Reformation

2. preaching Christ feeds the soul, makes it righteous, sets it free, and saves it

3. REASONING: "it is clear that the inner man cannot be justified, freed, or saved by any outer work or action at all, and that these works, whatever their character, have nothing to do with this inner man"

4. faith in Christ not only frees us from works but also from false opinions concerning works

THE INTERPRETATION OF BIBLE AND THE NATURE OF CLERGY

1. calls out the Pope for wanting to be the only interpretor of scripure....says that the Catholic church can't produce a letter saying that he is

2. says that the Clergymen are equal to all other Christians