Aside from the Bible, perhaps the single most significant document written by someone is the 95 Thesis by Martin Luther. Although initially written to address a local need, the impact mushroomed beyond what anyone could have imagined.

<p>Aside from the Bible, perhaps the single most significant document written by someone is the 95 Thesis by Martin Luther. Although initially written to address a local need, the impact mushroomed beyond what anyone could have imagined.</p>

Adam Ramdin

Lineage: Season 1

Episode 1- Constantine: Compromise & Controversy

Episode 2- Scotland’s Braveheart

Episode 3- Holy Island

Episode 4- The Tide Turns

Episode 5- Dinooth & Columbanus

Episode 6- Waldenses: People of the Valleys

Episode 7- The Waldenses: A Mission Movement

Episode 8- The Waldenses: Lux Lucet In Tenebris

Episode 9- The Albigensian Massacre

Episode 10- Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom

Episode 11- John Wycliffe: The Morning Star

Episode 12- Bohemian Reformation: Huss & Jerome

Episode 13- Bohemian Reformation: Trial of Huss & Jerome

Episode 14- Bohemian Reformation: Burned for Their Faith

Episode 15- Bohemian Reformation: Hussite Wars

Episode 16- John Wycliffe: Worldwide Witness

Episode 17- The Press Behind the Reformation

Episode 18- Martin Luther: Discovering The Word

Episode 19- Martin Luther: The Just Shall Live By Faith

Episode 20- Ulrich Zwingli: The Swiss Reformation

Episode 21- Martin Luther: The 95 Theses

Episode 22: The Papal Bull & Martin Luther

Episode 23: Martin Luther - Here I Stand

Episode 24: Martin Luther - Captured To A Castle

Episode 25: Martin Luther - Protest of the Princes

Episode 26: John Calvin - Early Years in France

Episode 27: Placards and Protest in France

Episode 28: John Calvin - The Work in Geneva

Episode 29: Geneva - International Hub of Reform

Episode 30: Scandinavian Reformation

Episode 31: William Tyndale

Episode 32: George Wishart - Scotland’s Forgotten Forerunner

Episode 33: John Knox - Scotland’s Greatest Reformer

Episode 34: John Knox - Showdown At Holyrood

Episode 35: The Waldenses Meet the Reformation

Episode 36: Ridley And Latimer Light A Candle

Episode 37: Thomas Cranmer - Cowardice and Courage

Episode 38: Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Episode 39: The Spanish Armada

Episode 40: Guy Fawkes & The Gunpowder Plot

Episode 41: The Mayflower

Episode 42: Martin Luther- The Protest Is Not Over

Episode 43: The Waldenses- Massacre at Castelluzzo

Episode 44: Marie Durand- Righteous Resistance

Episode 45: John Wesley- The Origins of Methodism

Episode 46: John Wesley & George Whitfield

Episode 47: Mary Jones & World Mission

Episode 48: Is the Reformation Over?

Lineage Journey


[♪ music ♪ From 1512 to 1517, Martin Luther's life had been engaged mainly in preaching and teaching, but it was destined to change forever when John Tetzel came to town. The Pope at that time was Pope Leo X, as Pope Julius II had died about 4 years previous. He was eager to proceed with the erection of the great Church of St. Peter, which his predecessor had left unfinished. In order to raise funds to complete the church, rigorous methods of fundraising needed to be resorted to, and so the Pope issued indulgences with that in mind.

He decided not to resort to this tactic in Spain, France, and England, but in Germany the responsibility for selling the indulgences was given to a salesman by the name of Tetzel. [♪ music ♪ As Tetzel came into a town, a messenger would go before him proclaiming, The grace of God and of the Holy Father is at your gates. People welcomed this false preacher as he proposed a rather easy way to paradise. He promised to pardon all the sins which the purchaser would commit from here on out, and that not even repentance was necessary. In addition to this, he promised that the indulgences had the power to forgive not only the living, but also the dead as well.

Tetzel's famous quote was, as soon as the money clinks against the bottom of the chest, the soul escapes purgatory and flies to heaven. These type of messages produced 2 responses. Firstly, a band of Scotters who wondered why if the Pope had the power to release people from purgatory he didn't do it as a matter of charity. And secondly, a stronger and deeper opposition was people who asked what the Bible said about forgiveness. [♪ music ♪ Luther was, at this time, still a priest of the church and still had to hear people's confessions.

A problem arose when some of his parishioners produced tetzels pardoned for their sins and Luther refused to accept them, declaring them nothing but a big fraud. Around this time also, Luther preached a powerful sermon entitled, Indulgences and the Grace of God, and he also sent a detailed protest to the archbishop and local bishop. It was amidst These events that on the Festival of All Saints, Luther posted on the university church door, right here behind me, his 95 Theses or doctrinal statements about this debated question. This event was a turning point, and the publication of the 95 Theses created a great deal of excitement amongst the German people. They were read and reread and repeated far and wide.

Luther was in awe at what he had done, opposed the mightiest power on earth, and it was not long before he was summoned by Rome to appear to answer for his teachings. Never before had 1 man, who had such a huge following of people already, opposed Rome on his own. At this time the people were sick of the corruption of the church, and many people were thankful that someone was saying something about it, though not everyone was bold enough to take a stand with him at the time. Let us never underestimate the power of remaining true to God's Word and to our convictions. While Luther didn't understand the whole Bible or understand even the whole gospel, he did share and stay true to what he did know.

He had accepted the principle that the Bible should be the sole interpreter of faith, and this 1 principle would light a spark that would eventually go around the whole world and light the foundation of Protestantism, that the Bible is to be the interpreter of our faith. May we be true to God's Word and faithful in sharing the message God has given to us wherever in the world that we are. ♪♪

Series

Lineage: Season 1

Episode 21- Martin Luther: The 95 Theses

Description

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Other Teachings in Series

Episode 1- Constantine: Compromise & Controversy

4m

Episode 2- Scotland’s Braveheart

5m

Episode 3- Holy Island

4m

Episode 4- The Tide Turns

4m

Episode 5- Dinooth & Columbanus

5m

Episode 6- Waldenses: People of the Valleys

4m

Episode 7- The Waldenses: A Mission Movement

4m

Episode 8- The Waldenses: Lux Lucet In Tenebris

4m

Episode 9- The Albigensian Massacre

5m

Episode 10- Magna Carta: The Foundation of Freedom

4m

Episode 11- John Wycliffe: The Morning Star

4m

Episode 12- Bohemian Reformation: Huss & Jerome

6m

Episode 13- Bohemian Reformation: Trial of Huss & Jerome

5m

Episode 14- Bohemian Reformation: Burned for Their Faith

2m

Episode 15- Bohemian Reformation: Hussite Wars

5m

Episode 16- John Wycliffe: Worldwide Witness

3m

Episode 17- The Press Behind the Reformation

4m

Episode 18- Martin Luther: Discovering The Word

5m

Episode 19- Martin Luther: The Just Shall Live By Faith

5m

Episode 20- Ulrich Zwingli: The Swiss Reformation

5m

Episode 21- Martin Luther: The 95 Theses

4m

Episode 22: The Papal Bull & Martin Luther

4m

Episode 23: Martin Luther - Here I Stand

5m

Episode 24: Martin Luther - Captured To A Castle

3m

Episode 25: Martin Luther - Protest of the Princes

4m

Episode 26: John Calvin - Early Years in France

5m

Episode 27: Placards and Protest in France

5m

Episode 28: John Calvin - The Work in Geneva

4m

Episode 29: Geneva - International Hub of Reform

4m

Episode 30: Scandinavian Reformation

5m

Episode 31: William Tyndale

5m

Episode 32: George Wishart - Scotland’s Forgotten Forerunner

5m

Episode 33: John Knox - Scotland’s Greatest Reformer

4m

Episode 34: John Knox - Showdown At Holyrood

4m

Episode 35: The Waldenses Meet the Reformation

4m

Episode 36: Ridley And Latimer Light A Candle

5m