Moravian Moment #190 — Luther’s 95 Theses and the Fire Ignited in the Church…Part 8


November 07, 2010

Martin Luther used The Ninety-Five Theses to display his unhappiness with the Church's sale of indulgences, and this eventually gave birth to Protestantism. It especially defied the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church on the nature of penance, the authority and power of the pope and the efficacy of indulgences. Three fundamental things happened as a result of Luther’s passion to see the truth of the gospel being proclaimed. It promoted the protestant reformation. It brought many changes in religion, and way of life. New religious groups were formed. Today we will look at articles 68-79.

Nevertheless, they are not to be compared with the grace of God and the compassion shown in the Cross.

  1. Bishops and curates, in duty bound, must receive the commissaries of the papal indulgences with all reverence.
  2. But they are under a much greater obligation to watch closely and attend carefully lest these men preach their own fancies instead of what the pope commissioned.
  3. Let him be anathema and accursed who denies the apostolic character of the indulgences.
  4. On the other hand, let him be blessed who is on his guard against the wantonness and license of the pardon-merchant's words.
  5. In the same way, the pope rightly excommunicates those who make any plans to the detriment of the trade in indulgences.
  6. It is much more in keeping with his views to excommunicate those who use the pretext of indulgences to plot anything to the detriment of holy love and truth.
  7. It is foolish to think that papal indulgences have so much power that they can absolve a man even if he has done the impossible and violated the mother of God.
  8. We assert the contrary, and say that the pope's pardons are not able to remove the least venial of sins as far as their guilt is concerned.
  9. When it is said that not even St. Peter, if he were now pope, could grant a greater grace, it is blasphemy against St. Peter and the pope.
  10. We assert the contrary, and say that he, and any pope whatever, possesses greater graces, viz., the gospel, spiritual powers, gifts of healing, etc., as is declared in I Corinthians 12 [:28].
  11. It is blasphemy to say that the insignia of the cross with the papal arms are of equal value to the cross on which Christ died.