Luther and Calvin Reformatin Insights
Luther's and Calvin's reforming insightsThe early 1500's was a time of radical protest within the Church. The search for truth and the desire to escape the corruption of the popes and priests lead to the reformation movement. Luther and Calvin were two of the main reformers. We will concentrate on these two reformers because of their impact on Protestant churches.While both Luther and Calvin desired radical change in the church, their theology and personal experiences gave rise to different approaches. They agreed that the church was a Christian church but that it was in need of reform. Luther felt that reform should take place from within the church itself. He initially had no desire to leave the established church but only to reform it from within. Calvin on the other hand saw the existing church to be so corrupt that another church had to be established. Calvin cited two great ecclesiological maxims of Cyprian of Carthage: 'You cannot have God as your father unless you have the church for your mother', and 'Outside the church there is no hope of remission of sins nor any salvation'. (page 213) Calvin's church would be one of order and structure. His system of government for the church was the Consistory. Calvin wa
In both cases it is God that is doing the work. On the matter of grace, each held his own opinion. Luther taught that there are two kingdoms - Church and State, temporal and spiritual, worldly and spiritual. Luther held that one could rest on the assurance of salvation by the faithfulness of God to God's promise of mercy. Calvin stated that the only parts of the Word of God that should be permitted in the Church were the Law of the Prophets, and the writing of the Apostles. Salvation then lies outside the individual who is powerless to alter the outcome. Was God's grace not there for them?Luther's understanding was all about grace. When he was convinced that he had to challenge traditional views, he composed ninety-seven theses to be debated in academic settings. They both upheld the authority of scripture. They both attack the canon of the Catholic Church. However, by definition they differed on how the Bible was written. Thanks be to God for those he touched. These attacks put Luther in grave danger.
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Acceptance Essays
