The Legacy Of Martin Luther

Martin Luther was a man of great thought and constantly went against the feelings and views of other people of his time. Martin Luther was born on November 10th in 1483, in the Saxon town of Eisleben located in Germany. Martin was born of mother Margrethe, who many of his enemies thought of as being a whore and a bath attendant, yet Martin recalled her later on in life as someone who was hardworking and very able and willing to punish him if he had done wrong. Martin Luther grew up in the middle-class range and wasn't born into great wealth like many other great scholars of his time were like such as Girolamo Savonarola, who's family was rich before his birth around Luther’s time. Martin Luther’s father's name was Han's Luder, which later

Martin Luther's "The Freedom of a Christian" discusses an in-depth look into the Christian faith, God's work in each individual. Refusing to believe in the established doctrine, Luther wrote this reforming treatise in response to Pope Leo's criticisms and to further explain the theological and ideological core of his thinking. Nevertheless, Luther centered his ideas around the concept that the joys and freedoms of a Christian were that in faith; humans, as sinners, should not look at ourselves, but instead at God's goodness. He goes on to elaborate that through the justification by faith, humans grasp the meaning of a whole Christian life. Throughout "The Freedom of a Christian", Luther expands on the threefold power of faith: faith frees

Martin Luther, born in 1483, grew up in a devout Roman Catholic household, where the church stood at the center of his world. However, he suffered at the hand of his parents’ harsh criticism. His father had emerged from the feudal system into the new middle class as a successful Coppersmith. His desire was for his son to also climb the social ladder. To assist with his son’s success, Luther’s father was a fierce judge of the character of his son, and often punished him severely for his failures. From these experiences, Luther developed a low self-esteem and fear of failure, which encroached on every aspect of his life, including his theology.

This is an essay about Martin Luther, and his concept of Christianity. As a student and a unbiased Christian, I enjoy studying all types of religions, and elements that encompass them. Luther began his religious career as an Augustinian Monk in the Roman Catholic Church. So, Luther was initially loyal to the papacy, and even after many theological conflicts, he attempted to bring about his understanding with the Church. But this was a contradiction not to suffer because in his later years, Luther waged a continual battle with the papacy. Luther was to become a professor of biblical exegesis at Wittenberg where, in 1957, he posted his critique of the Roman Catholic Church 's teachings and practices. This is otherwise known as The Ninety-Five Theses, which is usually considered to be the original document of the Reformation. The Reformation was very controversial then, and, from a historical viewpoint, it still is today. Luther played a large part in the movement, and I was interested I doing a research to uncover what was the issue with religion. Basically, this document was an indictment of the venality of the Roman Catholic Church, particularly the widespread practice of selling indulgences in association with the sacrament of penance. Luther 's beliefs on the matter were that after confession, absolution relied upon the sinner 's faith and God 's Divine Grace rather than the intervention of a priest.

(pg 31) Luther was one of three professors who were sent to Wittenberg when the elector there asked the Augustinian and Franciscan orders to send them. Luckily for Luther for at this time his inner conflict was so great he, ‘would have sunk into hell,’ had it not been for Dr. Johann von Staupitz Vicar of the Augustinian Order. (pg 34) It was to Dr. Staupitz Luther continually went to in order to find guidance and solace. Dr. Staupitz tried all manners of reasoning and consolation in order to help Luther. Until finally he seemed to say, according to the author, “Physician, cure thyself by curing others…” and Luther was to be commissioned as a ‘teacher, preacher, and counselor to sick souls.’ (pg 42) It is at this point Luther started studying and expounding the Scriptures which lead him, eventually, to a confrontation with the Catholic Church. (pgs 43,44) His study of Scriptures built a foundation of knowledge in Luther which he was soon to find did not line up with the practice of the Church. His work was time consuming to the point where he wrote in 1516, “I could use two secretaries. I do almost nothing during the day but write letters. I am a conventual preacher, reader at meals, parochial preacher, director of studies, overseer of eleven monasteries, superintendent of the fish pond at Litzkau, referee of the squabble at Torgau, lecturer on Paul, collector

As a young man Luther struggled with his conscious and finding peace with God. During some very difficult years while living in the monastery he would discover that the more he tried to do for God, the more he became aware of his own sinfulness. However, he would get the opportunity to study the Bible as a professor of Biblical Theology at the University of Wittenberg. It was there, while studying the bible over several years, that he would conclude that there was nothing he could do to obtain Salvation through the rules of monastic life, works of men, or by anything other than the Scriptures alone by Grace through Faith alone. He now understood saving faith based on the promises of God found in the Word of God. The free Grace of God for sinners was the revived message that Luther and the Reformers stressed to anyone who would listen. Luther made it clear that it was a falsehood to believe that only the the pope may interpret scripture, but rather the whole community should be able to interpret scripture. A message that was welcomed and readily accepted by

He strongly debate the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He also debated that anyone can have a direct relationship with God. A lot of people will agree that it is true that we cannot pay money to take away our sin. As a Christian and from what the bible said we do good things and pray to take away our sins. The righteousness of God does not condemn sinners but save them and bring them closer. So it is not ok for man to punish other man for their sin. In other word nobody is perfect and we should not judge people. Luther teaches the people about free will, he recognized the Erasmus's literary superiority. Luther claim that faith alone makes someone just and fulfills. In order words you can worship and pray God without going to church. Most people will agree with this one, but we do not have to go to church to be a Christian or to have faith in God. We just need to live according to the bible and not the pope as Luther said. As long as we have faith in our heart it is enough but some people will disagree because we as a Christian we have to worship together and it is more powerful to be

Luther studied scriptures from the Bible and prepared lectures about them. The one thing that stood out to Luther was when he read the Letter of Romans that the Apostle Paul wrote. “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:17, NKJV). With this verse, Luther began to ponder everything.

How Luther understands the righteousness of God was that he remembered reading the Bible in the Book of Romans when the Apostle Paul talked about the righteousness of God. He felt that God is righteous and punishes the unrighteous sinners. Since he lived as a monk he felt that a sinner before God with a conscience he couldn’t believe it for his satisfaction. He hated the righteous God who punishes sinners. He felt that God could accept only righteous people, but people can try so hard to be and live righteous that they might and never become righteous through their efforts. He felt that the law given by God only seemed to heightened the awareness that they can’t live up to the standard of the law expected by God. God’s righteous he feels only

Luther pursued God out of desperation to find peace from the guilt of his sin (Judd, 2016). Frustrated trying to work within the authority structure of the Catholic Church to no avail, he dramatically presented his 95 Theses outlining salvation by grace alone, apart from the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church (Wilson, 2007). In this act, Luther freed himself from the authority of the Catholic Church by placing himself under the authority of a Higher Power: Jesus Christ.

Luther felt that the Law must be close by to bring a level of oppressive like balance and thereby control the believer with an ever present threat. His understanding and belief that righteousness applied to the new man was incomplete as best. It seems that his theological perspective did not mature to a level of understanding that embraced the Pauline understanding of the war within the flesh. Luther was still challenged with the some of the same arguments regarding the distinction between the Old Testament law and the law of liberty which is in Christ Jesus, which was so clearly articulated in Romans the 7th and 8th chapters. Paul’s inward man was always in a constant struggle between the desire to do good and the reality of his own inability to perform that which was in his heart. It was the power of what was being manifested in the heart that makes the gift of grace and its transformation relevant. Luther’s

Martin Luther was born at Eisleben in Saxony. Since his father was a miner, it was a great distress on him to send Martin to school and then to the University of Erfurt. There is where he earned his master's degree at the young age of twenty-one. (Erikson, 39) Although his father wished him to study law, Martin, after being terribly frightened in a thunderstorm, vowed to become a friar. In

Special revelation of the cross is what leads to true and saving knowledge of God. In his Galatians commentary, Luther states, “There is a twofold knowledge of God, general and particular. All men have the general and instinctive recognition that there is a God who created heaven and earth, who is just and holy, and who punishes the wicked.” For Luther, general revelation does not reveal God’s purposes for us or how he intends to deliver us from his sin. This is reserved for the special and ultimate revelation of Jesus Christ. In his critique on the hierarchical church of his day, Luther incorporated this dichotomy in his concepts of the “theology of glory” and the “theology of the cross.” For Luther, those who ascribe to the theology of glory exalt man and his own works and potential. This is the very thing that drives man erroneously to the Law and religion as the means to salvation. On the other hand, Luther’s theology of the cross sees the clearest expression of God in Jesus Christ crucified. For Luther, the theology of the cross, with its emphasis on the special revelation of the cross, put the sinfulness of man and the holiness of God in proper perspective. Only on the cross is man able to see the justice and mercy of God manifested, which is completely missed by the world’s wisdom and general revelation. This is

He comes across Proverbs 22:17-19 which reads, “Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips; so that your trust may be in the Lord. I teach you today, even you.” Martin has found a new light seems to bring new meaning to his life. He finds that faith in Christ comes by faith alone: not by good works- a concept that is a staple in the Catholic faith. This staple is known as an indulgence, which is a certificate granted by the Pope for a payment of fee to the Pope of the Church. (“Martin Luther”) The practice of indulgences is put into use during the Crusades due to conflict of belief; whether or not a soul enters straight into heaven or enters into Purgatory. Purgatory is a main reason that people will purchase these indulgences for the belief that if they pay for this, their time in Purgatory will be reduced or even cancelled. Indulgences are purchased for the believers who are still living or have already passed. In addition, these certificates are purchased to decrease punishments on Earth and in the spiritual realm. (O’Neill, 19) Once Martin finds this information that salvation comes by faith alone, he decides to raise his level of influence by gaining his doctorate and becoming a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg. Martin quotes, “Theology searches out the nut from the shell, the kernel from the grain, ad marrow from the bones.” (O’Neill, 16) Martin preaches the importance to search far deeper than the words on the page of the

Martin Luther’s personal interpretation of divine grace differed so greatly from that of other christians that it facilitated the splintering of a religion. Luther’s influential interpretation was formed on the basis of two claims made by St. Paul in his Letter to the Romans. First, “a justified Christian lives by faith alone,” and second “Christ is the end and the fulfillment of all commandments for those who believe in Him,” (Luther 22). Luther interpreted St. Paul’s words to mean that divine grace is bestowed through faith, that “Faith… will abundantly justify those who have it, such that they require nothing more to be righteous and pious,” (Luther 22). The idea of being saved through nothing but faith resonated with Luther, a man obsessed with his own repentance, to the point that he visited confession several times daily (Smith). The inherent nature of faith, as Luther viewed it, was quite