Martin Luther and the Lutheran Reformation

Abstract

Luther's work, mainly the Lutheran Reformation, was primarily based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is the belief of the Christians that the Son of God died for the sins of the world, and because of his sacrifice, the Christians would not be punished for their sins at all. Luther believed that Salvation of mankind is only possible when the person completely submits himself to Jesus and God. It is a primary fact that no human being can guarantee the forgiveness of the other person except for God and His Son. This was why Luther said, “Christ alone!” throughout the Lutheran Reformation; the primary belief was that God's mercy is a gift and our only way to the right path of eternal happiness. He believed that one should trust in Jesus with full faith in order to achieve salvation and blissful mercy. Martin Luther was a religiously sound mind who knew that nothing in the world guarantees salvation except of submissiveness to God. According to Luther, salvation could only be achieved when one keeps firm believe in God and in Christ alone. He regarded the ill practices of the church as being misleading and thoroughly mistaken as a means to obtain permanent salvation.

Table of Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Discussion1

Luther and Lutheranism3

Lutheran Reformation7

Lutheranism in America8

Conclusion13

End Notes15

Martin Luther and the Lutheran Reformation

Introduction

The sixteenth century's tumultuous period of church reform known as the Reformation had major implications for European society, Christianity, and early modern politics and political theory. From Martin Luther (1483-1546) onward, one major question preoccupied Reformation political thought: What should be the nature and extent of the authority of a magistrate over the affairs of the church and the promotion of the faith? This prevalent question was predicated on a long and complex history of the intertwining of secular and church authorities in the middle ages. Reformation political thought was not merely an afterthought to theology; on the contrary, most reformers believed that without their political theories, their efforts to reform the church would quickly fail. But the support of secular authorities became a crucial and often deciding factor whether church reform would gain a foothold in a given territory. Thus, a major effect of the Reformation was the consolidation of secular power and the establishment of territorial and national churches.

Discussion

Among the important factors influencing the political theory of the Reformation was the structure of political authority. Though strong monarchies existed, most sovereigns were dependent on the cooperation of subordinate local princes who possessed a considerable degree of autonomy. This relationship was especially true in the Holy Roman Empire, where the Reformation first began; soon thereafter, the reformers relied on the patronage of German princes, who hitherto had a longstanding control over clergy and church property. The medieval debate over ecclesial authority was also a major influence. The church hierarchy jealously guarded secular incursion into what it considered properly ecclesial, such as the appointment of offices; where that line was drawn, however, was contested since the age of ...