Learning from the “SARDIS” Period

Age of Reformation [1517 - 1648]

According to the Roman church, a Christian was merely one who “conformed to Christian and Papal duties”. The Roman Catholic Church, busy raising money to pay off debts from its Crusades to thwart Islamic invasion and eager to build a grand St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, was unresponsive to the pleas of its priests and people for moral reform and a return to a foundation of Scriptural truth. This dark and desperate situation for godly believers, coupled with the advent of new technology of the printing press and a renewed love of the arts and learning, especially of the Greek language, made a complacent, corrupt Roman church ripe for division. Supported and protected by German princes desiring autonomy from Rome, a few brave individuals took on the “goliath” of the Roman church….most paying for it with their very own blood.

Armed only with the Word of God,

The DOCTRINAL PILLARS OF PROTESTANTISM were

1. Salvation by grace through faith (Sola Fide) 2. The supremacy of Scripture over church tradition (Sola Scriptura) 3. The priesthood of every believer

TRUTH / ERROR
ANABAPTISTS = “Baptized Again”
·  Salvation is a mater of heart, not membership in a church controlled by the state
·  “Believers Baptism”—immersion, based on personal, voluntary choices resulting from genuine repentance & faith in Jesus Christ.
·  The Church is gathered out of society, rather than a geographical church parish
·  Christ is the Head of the Church, not the state
·  The state should NOT have control over the Church
Ulrich Zwingli, “People’s Priest” and Swiss Reformer (1484-1531)
Abolish Mass (Transubstantiation)
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Clergy should preach only what can be proved by Scripture
John Calvin … 5 Points of Calvinism (1536)
T- Total depravity of Man (Man’s inability to choose Christ)
U-Unconditional Election (Man can do nothing for his salvation)
L-Limited atonement (Christ died only for the elect)
I- Irresistible Grace (When God calls, Man cannot refuse Him)
P- Perseverance of the saints (an elect person will continue in, not lose, his salvation) / JESUITS: group dedicated to militaristic obedience to the Roman Church. Mission-minded--Took “Christianity” to China, Russia, New World, but often used forced conversions. Motto: The end justifies the means. In China, they converted scholars in the emperors’ court.
Fourth Council of Trent (1545-63)
The doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church are non-negotiable
Protestants & their teachings are condemned (Anathema)
The Church (Magisterium) alone has authority to interpret Scriptures
OT Apocrypha deemed authoritative and canonical
Tradition is granted authoritative status with Scripture
“Justification” is a gradual process of becoming righteous-- Infused, not imputed
Christ’s sacrifice made salvation possible, but it must be received thru offices and 7 Sacraments of the Church --7 Sacraments are “means of grace” for salvation
Actions of this council are the direct will of the Holy Sprit, (giving the Church the authority of infallible dogma)