Luther: Reformation treaties

Issue of good teachings

Issue of reformation centred round the role of good works in process of salvation.
Luther believed good works without faith were useless.
Problem lay in Curch's teachings.

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In Church sacraments were seen as vehicles of grace.
Luther believed faith came by the direct grace of God, not through sacraments. claimed sacraments were just symbols of participation.

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Church believed a Priest's ordinations gave him power to convert bread and wine in the mass into the body the body of Christ, set him apart.
Luther's believed any true believer was a priest in God's eyes as he had direct access to Christ through prayer.
Luther believed Bishops and Archbishops held order but their appointments were not through divine grace.
`To the christian nobility of the German nation` was an appeal to all Christian Lords and princes to carry out reforms needed to create a truly Christian society.
`On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church` defined sacraments as divine promises rather than vehicles of grace.
number of sacraments reduced from 7 to two.

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Luther argued Christs body and blood was not physically present during mass.
By removing Transubstantioation Luther removed Priests' status as miracle workers.
Faith in Christ gives people an inner freedom from all spiritual perils- not earned by good works.
Teaching appealing to generation brought up to strive to be good enough for God.

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