The Sad and Strange Saga of Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias was the foremost apologist of the Christian faith. His insights were profound. He answered the questions of skeptics with reasoned, convincing  responses and arguments. I believe I had the privilege of interviewing him while I was doing the Issues etc. radio program back in the 80's. Ravi Zacharias died in May of 2020. Both Vice-president Spence and Tim Tebow spoke at his funeral, defining him as the foremost champion of the Christian faith.

Since his death, numerous accusation of sexual abuse and perversion have surfaced. The Board of the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries initially rejected the claims of atheist blogger Steve Baughman and articles that appeared in both World and Christianity Today magazines. After hiring a lawyer to investigate the claims, they concluded them to be accurate and affirmed that Zacharias had sexually abused numerous women. As a result, Zacharias has been labelled a pervert, a wolf in sheep's clothing and a liar. Harper-Collins has removed his books, and Lee Strobel has erased any reference to Zacharias in his forth-coming book.

I have never seen a situation where a Christian leader is so honored at his memorial service and so vilified shortly thereafter. It is strange. What is being accomplished? What is the purpose? I can certainly understand these revelations if Zacharias was still alive. He would be added to the list of fallen Christian leaders such as Ted Haggard, Bill Gothard, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart and Bill Hybels and rightfully so. But none of these revelations and consequences have any impact upon Zacharias himself since, of course, he's dead. The only ones suffering as a result are his wife and children.

While some have attempted to defend Zacharias, it is foolish to do so. His own ministry board has confirmed the facts and made their findings public. As many have accurately stated, the emphasis should be upon the women who were victimized, but this is problematic. They cannot face their abuser. Satisfaction for victims is achieved when the "big man of God" abuser is knocked off his pedestal, experiencing public disgrace and humiliation. Such satisfaction cannot be granted the victims of Zacharias' sexual abuse since, of course, he's dead.  They may be given financial remuneration for the pain they have experienced and be offered counseling. They may spit on his grave, but that accomplishes nothing.

Why didn't these victims come forward before Zacharias died? Some claimed they were afraid to do so. One victim did come forward and received a financial settlement and signed a non-disclosure agreement which she is now attempting to get out from under. The claims of atheist author and blogger Steve Baughman were virtually ignored and for obvious reasons. His objectivity was questionable. In addition, Baughman made a big deal over the fact that Zacharias' Doctor's Degree was honorary and not academic. Such honorary degrees are given for life achievements. Dr. Billy Graham graduated from Wheaton College with a degree in anthropology. His Doctor's Degree is honorary. Would anyone suggest he doesn't deserve it? So it is with Ravi Zacharias.  

Isn't the death of Ravi Zacharias sufficient satisfaction since, of course, the wages of sin is death? While many fine eulogies may have been offered at his memorial service, there is one thing that could have been said for certain about Ravi Zacharias, he was a sinner, therefore he's dead.  What more is there to say? 

Because Ravi Zacharias was an abuser of women does that mean the apologetic principles, methods and techniques that he espoused are invalid? Many have learned how to do effective apologetics in defense of the Christian faith from Ravi Zacharias. Should they renounce what they have learned? Obviously, not! His many books contain some valuable insights. Would it not have been better if Harper-Collins had announced that all proceeds from the sale of books by Ravi Zacharias would go to the victims of sexual abuse or to organizations who offer support rather than removing those books and losing the valuable insights contained therein?

One of the victims of Zacharias' sexual abuse stated that "he warned her not ever to speak out against him or she would be responsible for the 'millions of souls' whose salvation would be lost if his reputation was damaged."* Did Zacharias actually believe that people came to faith in Jesus Christ because of him? This is the height of arrogance. The efficacy of the preaching, teaching and defending of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with the person doing the speaking. God has promised that where the Gospel is proclaimed the Holy Spirit is at work creating faith in the hearts of those who joyfully and willingly hear the Good News of the forgiveness of sins and new life in Jesus Christ regardless of the moral character of the preacher or teacher. In the Old Testament, God opened the mouth of a jackass, and He continues to do so today.  

*See Report of Independent Investigation into Sexual Misconduct of Ravi Zacharias, page 5. (https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/rzimmedia.rzim.org/assets/downloads/Report-of-Investigation.pdf)

Lutheran or Erasmian?

 

    Many fail to realize that in sixteenth century Europe there were actually two reformations taking place. One, of course, was the Lutheran Reformation initiated and continued by Martin Luther who nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg calling into question the practice of selling indulgences.  While Luther originally challenged the practices of the church, as the Reformation continued theology came to the forefront, especially the issue of justification by faith. Luther taught and confessed that a person, dead in his trespasses and sin, is forgiven and made righteous solely by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. This "blew out of the water" the entire Romanish penitential system with its doctrine of purgatory, prayer for the dead, indulgences, and the sacrificial character of the Mass.

    The other reform was touted by the "Prince of the Humanists" Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. Erasmus is best known for his Greek text of the New Testament published in 1516 with other editions to follow, viewed by the church as an assault upon the Vulgate, the revered text of Jerome's late fourth century Latin translation. Erasmus called for a "middle way" reformation whereby the abuses of the church, the clergy and the monasteries would be corrected; the superstitions and meaningless rites and rituals eliminated; and the Bible would be placed in the hands of the common people so they could follow the simple "philosophy of Jesus." 

    Initially, Luther and Erasmus were in agreement but they soon parted company over Luther's polemical style in dealing with disputes. In response to Luther's Babylonian Captivity of the Church, King Henry VIII of England wrote his treatise In Defence of the Seven Sacraments, with the help of the noted humanist scholar Thomas More. Henry referred to Luther as "the little monk who spews out against the Pope." Pope Leo X was thrilled by the response and afforded King Henry the title of "Defender of the Faith." Luther quickly responded in 1522 with his treatise Against Henry, the King of England. Luther referred to Henry as the "king of liars" and his Defence made him look like a "livid whore on the street" and spoke of "stuffing such impudent falsehoods down his throat." Erasmus publicly took issue with Luther's style. He believed that disputes within the church should be handled in a brotherly manner. He desired a kinder and gentler Christianity..

    The final break between Luther and Erasmus was over the issue of the the role of the human will.  While Luther, in his famous Bondage of the Will, rejected the ability of fallen man to "will" his own salvation and the production of good works, Erasmus responded by claiming that human reason with a boost from the grace of God could perform meritorious good works and follow the simple "philosophy of Jesus" by studying the Scriptures.

  The reform of Erasmus was a real reform opposed by Roman Catholic traditionalists, but Erasmus refused to challenge the historic theology of the church. He contended that the historicity of the church's dogma demonstrated it's truth. Luther referred to Erasmus as a "slippery eel, only Christ could grab him." Yet, in must be said that Erasmus' desire to see Scripture put in the hands of the common people was praise-worthy.  Erasmus wrote, "Would that the farmer might sing snatches of Scripture at his plough and that the weaver might hum phrases of Scripture to the tune of his shuttle, that the traveler might lighten with stories from Scripture the weariness of his journey." In order to promote Bible study, Erasmus wrote a Latin Paraphrase of the New Testament which was translated into English. During the reign of Protestant Edward VI and Elizabeth I in England, the Paraphrases were placed in the pews along side the Book of Common Prayer. 

    It is interesting to note that the Reformation in England was primarily Erasmian in nature. Historian Roland Bainton writes that "England was the land where the influences of Erasmus was paramount at his death. The entire English Reformation has been characterized as Erasmian."  The noted Dutch historian H. A. Enno van Gelder in his work on the two reformations in the sixteenth century defines the Erasmian humanist Reformation as the “major” Reformation and the Lutheran Reformation as the “minor” reformation.

    The distinction between Luther and Erasmus is a classic example of the theology of the Cross versus the theology of glory. Lutheran theologian Gerhard Forde puts it like this: "Theologically speaking it (a theology of glory) operates on the assumption that we are not seriously addicted to sin, and that our improvement is both necessary and possible. We need a little boost in our desire to do good works…. But the hallmark of a theology of glory is that it will always consider grace as something of a supplement to whatever is left of human will and power."  This is Erasmus in the nutshell.

    Luther, on the other hand, in his Bondage of the Will clearly sets forth the biblical truth that we are dead in our trespasses and sin and can accomplish nothing, no meritorious good work, worthy of salvation. For Luther, the theology of the Cross demanded the preaching of Law and Gospel. It was the Law that stripped man of any pretense of holiness.  The Apostle Paul stated that he was put to death by the Law. Having been convicted of his sin, man is prepared to hear the Good News of the Gospel offering the full forgiveness of sins and the perfect righteousness of Christ. The proclamation of Law and Gospel is the means whereby faith, which grasps the benefits of the Gospel, namely the forgiveness of sins, life and eternal salvation, is produced by the Holy Spirit. From faith proceeds all manner of good works. 

    Those who attend church (or view the worship service on television) should be sensitive to distinguish Erasmianism from Lutheranism, (By Lutheranism I do not mean the specific denomination but the Reformation teaching of Martin Luther as opposed to the teaching of Erasmus.) I suggest that much of the proclamation in Protestant churches today is more Erasmian than Lutheran. The teaching of principles for living based on the example or teachings of Jesus, the marginalizing of key doctrines that define churches of the Reformation, and the desire for unity by compromising truth depicts the teachings of Erasmus.   

    In his introduction to a new English translation of Luther’s Bondage of the Will, published in 1959, J.I. Packer writes: "We are forced to ask whether Protestant Christendom has not tragically sold its birthright between Luther’s day and our own. Has not Protestantism today become more Erasmian than Lutheran? Do we not too often try to minimize and gloss over doctrinal differences for the sake of inter-party peace? Are we innocent of the doctrinal indifferentism with which Luther charged Erasmus? Do we still believe that doctrine matters? Or, do we now with Erasmus, rate a deceptive appearance of unity as of more importance  than truth?"

    Luther's characterization of Erasmus as a "slippery eel" is quite accurate. While deceptive, the teachings of Erasmus do have an appeal. How can anyone be critical of a Bible class or sermon geared to encourage the listeners to follow the simple teachings or philosophy of Jesus: to love as Jesus loved, to forgive as Jesus forgave, to be humble as Jesus was humble, to give sacrificially as Jesus gave of Himself for us? Erasmus contended that human reason, informed by the teachings of the New Testament, could willingly, with a ‘boost’ from the grace of God, follow the example of Jesus. Does this not characterize much of the church's teaching and preaching today of principles for living by following the simple "philosophy of Jesus?" Erasmianism is alive and well!   

What is this thing called faith?

As was true at the time of the Reformation, it is also true today.. There is much confusion in the minds of people concerning the nature of faith.  What is this thing called "faith."

While the Greek language has many words to define the nature of love, this is not the case with "faith." There is a single word that is defined as faith or faithfulness. The verb form means "to believe." Sometimes you hear Christians defined as men and women of "great faith" as if faith is a quality which somehow enlarges the individual. Hebrews 11 lists the great heroes of faith who trusted the promises of God. While this is a beautiful chapter which defines faith as the "substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen," it might leave the impression that "faith" cannot be equated with certainty. So when asked the question, "are you going to heaven when you die?" one might respond, "I sure hope so." This is not what is defined as "saving faith."

There is a "general faith" in God. Most today would assert, "I believe in God." The adherents of Judaism have a general faith in God, meaning they believe that God exists and that he rewards those who keep his laws and obey his commands. Our government speaks of the activities of those religious groups who perform good deeds as being "faith based" organizations. This definition can be applied to any religious organization that acknowledges God. Martin Luther distinguishes between fiides generalis (general faith) and the fides specialis (special faith) or personal faith by which an individual is saved. Our national motto "In God We Trust" and when the President concludes his speeches with the phrase "God bless America" is demonstrating a "general faith" in God. 

When we speak the words of the Apostles' Creed, with the exception of the phrase "the forgiveness of sins" we are expressing historical faith or fides historica. Faith in this context identifies the articles which we accept as true. The devil also believes the historical events in the life of Jesus. The Augsburg Confession states:

Men are also admonished that here the term “faith” does not signify mere knowledge of the history (such as is in the ungodly and the devil), but it signifies faith which believes not only the history but also the effect of the history, namely, this article of the forgiveness of sins — that is, that we have grace, righteousness, and forgiveness of sins through Christ. (Tappert: The Confession of Faith,"  2 XX 23)

Some years ago on Issues etc. I was interviewing a noted archaeologist who was providing evidence for the historical facts in the life of Jesus. A woman called in and said, "I don't need any evidence. I believe these things by faith." While the historical events in the life of Jesus; his death and resurrection, comprise the body of truth that we confess, these events are facts of history. I do not accept the historicity of these events by faith no more than I accept the facts of the Civil War by faith. These events are facts of history based on eye-witness testimony. Faith embraces the effects of these historical events. Our faith is founded on facts.

The Formula of Concord precisely identifies the nature of saving faith.

That faith’s sole office and property is to serve as the only and exclusive means and instrument with and through which we receive, grasp, accept, apply to ourselves, and appropriate the grace and the merit of Christ in the promise of the Gospel. (Tappert: 2, III, 38)

Faith justifies solely for this reason and on this account, that as a means and instrument it embraces God’s grace and the merit of Christ in the promise of the Gospel. (Tappert: 2 III 43) 

Facts about Faith: 

1. Saving faith is a gift of God produced by the hearing of Law and Gospel. The person who is convicted of sin and stands under the judgment of God and hears the Good News of the Gospel whereby sins are forgiven through the shed blood and perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is at work creating faith.

2. This faith is not a mere general faith in Jesus nor a faith that simply believes the historical events in the life of Jesus.  Saving faith receives, apprehends and personally appropriates the benefits offered in the preaching of the Gospel so that the person is assured of their forgiveness and their eternal life.

3. Faith is both passive and active: passive because it is the work of the Holy Spirit and active because it actively appropriates the benefits offered in the Gospel.

4. Faith needs to be continually strengthened by the hearing of the Gospel, the pronouncement of Absolution and receiving the body and blood of Jesus in the Sacrament. The devil is at work to destroy faith. It is a grave error to suggest that the Gospel is to be preached to unbelievers while Christians should be taught how to live. 

5. The Christian is not saved on account of or because of their faith but rather because of the shed blood and perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. 

6. Faith and promise are inseparably linked. Martin Luther wrote: "Promise and faith belong together naturally and inseparably. For what is the use of making any promise if there is no one to believe it? On the other hand, what would be the advantage of faith if there should be no promise? (Lectures on Genesis: 12:4)  To claim by faith "health and wealth" is presumption since God has not made such a promise.

7. We are saved by faith alone. Good works are not an addition to faith but are the results of faith. Good works spring spontaneously from a daily relationship with Jesus who is the Vine and we are the branches.

In her classic little treatise The Lamentation of a Sinner, Queen Katherine Parr (1512-1546), the sixth and final wife of the infamous King Henry VIII, succinctly  describes and defines the nature and result of saving faith: .

This esteem of faith does not disparage good works, for out of this faith springs all good works. Yet, we may not impute to the worthiness of faith or good works our justification before God; but ascribe and give the worthiness of it totally to the merits of Christ's passion; and declare and attribute the knowledge and perception of those merits to faith alone. The very true and only property of faith is to take, apprehend, and hold fast the promises of God's mercy, which makes us righteous; and causes me to continually hope for the same mercy; and, in love, to do the many good works ascribed in the Scripture, that I may be thankful for the same. Thus, I feel myself to come, as it were, in a new garment before God; and now, by His mercy, to be declared just and righteous: which before, without His mercy, was sinful and wicked; and by faith to obtain his mercy, which the unfaithful cannot enjoy.  

Note: The Augsburg Confession and The Formula of Concord are confessional documents of the Evangelical Lutheran Church found in the Book of Concord.

Those interested in acquiring a copy of Katherine Parr's The Lamentation of a Sinner can do so at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1549731572  

Miracle in Two Parts:

During His three-year ministry Jesus performed many miracles, but the one that is the most unique is recorded in Mark 8:24-26:

When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked. The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.” Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly. 

It is generally believed, according to the witness of the early church, that Mark wrote his gospel first, based upon the remembrances of Peter.  Matthew and Luke must have had access to Mark's gospel because they follow the same general outline, adding their own unique remembrances and research. It is interesting that neither Matthew nor Luke chose to include this particular miracle, because it appears that Jesus did not get it right the first time. This is the only miracles where Jesus seems to be adding a correction and possibly for this reason, they did not include it. Yet, of all the miracles, this is the only one confirmed by, of all things, medical science.

In his book An Anthropologist on Mars (Vintage Books, New York, 1993), popular author Oliver Sachs dedicates a chapter to a man he named Virgil. Virgil was a middle-aged man who had been virtually blind since childhood, but he was able to delineate light and darkness. At the insistence of his fiancé’ Amy, Virgil was convinced to see an ophthalmologist.  Upon examination, it was discovered that there was nothing wrong with his eyes, but they were covered by large cataracts and the removal of the cataracts was not a difficult procedure. So, he underwent surgery, first on the one eye that was in the worst condition. When the bandages were removed, it was a miracle. For the first time in forty-five years, Virgil could see, but there was a problem. Sachs explains:

But when Virgil opened his eye, after being blind for forty-five years – having had little more than an infant’s visual experience, and this long forgotten – there were no visual memories to support a perception, there was no world of experience and meaning awaiting him. He saw, but what he saw had no coherence. His retina and optic nerve were active, transmitting impulses, but his brain could make no sense of them. He was, as neurologists say, agnostic. Everyone, Virgil included, expected something much simpler. A man opens his eyes, light enters and falls on the retina: he sees. It is as simple as that, we imagine. And the surgeon's own experience, like that of most opthamologists, had been the removal of cataracts from patients who had almost always lost their sight late in life--and such patients, do indeed, if the surgery is successful, have a virtually immediate recovery of normal vision, for they have in no sense lost their ability to see. And so...there was little discussion or preparation for the neurological and psychological difficulties that Virgil might encounter. (p. 114-115) 

After visiting with Virgil, Sachs further comments:

Further problems became apparent as we spent the day with Virgil. He would pick up details incessantly—an angle, an edge, a color, a movement—but would not be able to synthesize them, to form a complex perception at a glance. This was one reason the cat, visually, was so puzzling: he would see a paw, the nose, the tail, an ear, but could not see all of them together, see the cat as a whole. Amy had commented in her journal how even the most obvious connections—visually and logically obvious—had to be learned.  Thus, she told us, a few days after the operation “he said that trees did not look like anything on earth.” (p.121)

I’m quite certain that if the blind man from Bethsaida, after receiving his sight, had been further studied, his experience would be the same as Virgil’s. While his eyes were functioning and images were being transmitted to his brain, his brain was unable to make sense of what he was seeing. “He saw men as trees walking.” So, Jesus touched his eyes again, but this time his brain was adjusted so that he could see things clearly.

Obviously, in the first century there was no understanding of the relationship between what the eyes perceived and what the brain interpreted, but Jesus understood it. The interaction between Jesus and the blind man of Bethsaida is so brief that Mark records, based upon the recollections of Peter, no further conversation between Jesus and the blind man. Jesus, the Divine ophthalmologist, asks the man the question, “Can you see anything?” This is unique! In no other miracle Jesus performed did he ever ask the recipient, “Did it work?” But Jesus, understanding the situation, asks the question and since the brain of the blind man was not interpreting what his eyes were seeing, Jesus touched his eyes again and he saw clearly—a miracle in two parts.

This is irrefutable evidence that a miracle took place at Bethsaida, and if we are to believe this miracle based on the evidence of medical science, why would we doubt any of the other miracles performed by Jesus. 

(Note: I cannot take credit for discovering this unique comparison. Author Keith Mano wrote regarding the similarity between Virgil and the miracle at Bethsaida in the National Review about twenty years ago.)

The Devil Made Me Do It.

Flip Wilson, a popular comedian in the 70's, made famous the line "the devil made me do it." There are many Christians who blame the devil for all their problems, moral failures, and desires to sin. This is a convenient excuse. It is not my fault. The devil made me do it. It is not my purpose to deny or minimize the work of the devil or Satan but to seek to understand his work in the life of the Christian. Most certainly, he is active, but how does he work and what is his purpose in tempting believers?

There is a difference between the devil and demons. The King James version can be confusing when it refers to Jesus casting out devils. The devil or Satan or Lucifer is, according to Isaiah 14:12, a fallen angel. "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!" There is one devil or Satan, but there are a host of fallen angels or demons. The intellectually elite will denigrate those who believe in the existence of the devil, claiming it to be a medieval myth, even at that, fifty-seven percent of Americans believe in the reality of the devil and demons.

I found it interesting when I discovered some years ago the absence of the devil in the Old Testament. Certainly he is in the Garden of Eden, defined in Isaiah and takes center stage in the story of Job, yet amidst the manifold sins of the Patriarchs, Moses and wilderness-bound Israelites, the Judges and Kings, the devil is not mentioned as tempting them to sin. There is only one reference. In 1 Chronicles 21:1 we read: "Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." The parallel verse in 2 Samuel 24 ascribes David's act of pride to the anger of the Lord. It reads: "Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, 'Go and number Israel and Judah.'" Zechariah 3 does have a reference to Satan: "And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, 'The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee.'"

The reason for the absence of the devil in the Old Testament is really quite simple. After Adam and Eve were tempted to sin, their nature changed. They became sinners by nature and did not require the temptations of the devil to fall into sin. They could do it very well on their own. The devil could take a vacation. For example, the devil did not tempt David to commit adultery with Bathsheba. David's own lust of the sinful nature caused his fall.  He could not say, "The devil made me do it." He had to say, "It is my own fault." James writes, "But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed." (1:15)

But as soon a Jesus entered into the world and heard the beautiful affirmation at His Baptism, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased,” (Matt. 3:17) The devil shows up. Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The first temptation was prefaced with the words, "If you are the Son of God...? (Matt. 4:3)  The devil questioned the Word of God.

The same is true in the Garden of Eden. God had told Adam and Eve not to eat from the true of the knowledge of good and evil. The devil tempted Eve with the words, " Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'”

The primary purpose of the devil in the life of the believer is to raise doubts and questions about the truth of God's Word. The devil is out to destroy your faith. Christians are called upon to take a stand upon God's Word and promises. 1 Peter 5:8-9 encourages the Christian to stand firm:"Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith." In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul speaks of the armor of the Christian engaged in spiritual warfare. He says: "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes... so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand....Stand firm then." (Eph. 6:11, 13-14) The purpose of spiritual warfare is not to "take ground" so to speak but to stand on the "ground" that has already been taken through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus.  We take our stand upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ which declares to us the full forgiveness of sins, the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, and the confident assurance of our eternal life in heaven. The purpose of the devil is to destroy our faith and push us off the position or the "ground" that Jesus has taken for us.

There are multitude of so-called baptized "good Christians" who attend church Sunday after Sunday, gather around the Lord's table, yet never take a stand. You ask them the question, "If you died tonight would you go to heaven?" they respond with "I sure hope so," or piously affirm, "That is really up to God." Such individuals are harmless as far as the devil is concerned. They will not experience temptation, because they do not believe anything. They have not taken a stand or occupied a position from which the devil will seek to push them. So, if you don't want to experience the deceptive temptations of the devil, don't believe anything or firmly assert the words and promises of God.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he responded to each of the devil's schemes by quoting the Word of God. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6 refers to the Word of  God as the "sword of the Spirit." In the same way, when confronted by temptation, we use the Word of God.

While there are many truths and promises of God that are a part of His Word, I believe, based on my own experience, that there are five basic truths specifically targeted by Satan. Consider the truth, the purpose of the devil, and the Bible verses you can use to sharpen your sword and combat the temptation.

1. You are a sinner, and your human nature has been totally corrupted by sin. 

Temptation: "You are basically a good person who has lived a good life." The purpose of this temptation is to take away your need for the redemptive work of Jesus on the Cross:

Sharpening Your Sword:
Romans 3:23: " For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
Ephesians 2:1:"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins," 
Psalm 51:5: "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."
James 2:10: "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it..
Romans 7:18:  "For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."

2. Because of the shed blood of Jesus on the Cross, your sins are totally forgiven by God.

Temptation: "This does not apply to you. It is too simple of a solution. God is a just God and you will have to pay the penalty for your sins." The purpose of the temptation is to cause you to doubt the efficacy of the shed blood of Jesus on the Cross leading you to think that the shed blood of the Divine Son of God is not sufficient to forgive you. Martin Luther said that denying that your sins are forgiven is a great blasphemy since it denies the promises of God.

Sharpening Your Sword:
1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Ephesians 1:7: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of his grace."
Acts 10:43:"To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Romans 8:1: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 9:13-14: "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctified to the purifying of the flesh:How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
1 John 2:2: "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

3. God has given to you the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. You have been justified and made right with God.

Temptation: "How can you possibly say that you are perfectly righteous before God. Who do you think you are? No one is perfect. You are as big a sinner as everyone else. You have not perfectly obeyed God law." The purpose of the temptation is to deny the most important truth of justification by grace through faith. Yes, we remain sinners but at the same time we are totally righteous. In and of ourselves, we are sinners, but in Christ Jesus we are totally righteous.

Sharpening Your Sword:

Romans 3:24-26: "And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Philippians 3:9: "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"
Galatians 2:16: Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified."
Romans 3:20: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

4. God has promised to work all things in your life for good. If God is for you, who can be against you. If he spared not his own Son, will he not keep and preserve you.

Temptation: "How can you say God loves you when you are going through such difficulties. God has turned his back on you and really doesn't care about your sufferings." The purpose of the temptation is to raise doubts about God's love for you when you are passing through trials.

Sharpening Your Sword:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4::"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Romans 8:18: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:31-32: " What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"
Romans 8:37-39: "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
2 Timothy 1:12: "For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."

5. Because God has forgiven your sins and made you right with Him, you are going to heaven when you die. This is a certainty.

Temptation: "How can you be so arrogant to say you know for sure you are are going to heaven. No one knows that for sure. It is up to God.." The purpose of the temptation is to raise doubts about God's promise of eternal life in heaven. To say "I am going to heaven" is not pride or arrogance but faith. Those who claim that you cannot know for sure are not being humble. They are unbelievers.

Sharpening Your Sword:

John 3:16:"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 14:6: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'"

John 5:24: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

1 John 5:13: "You who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life."

During these difficult days of the pandemic most Christians have been unable to gather together with their fellow believers, hear the promises of God's Word, and gather around the Lord Table to be strengthened in their faith. It is a perfect time for the devil to work and raise doubts in our minds concerning the truths of God's Word. So, sharpen the sword of the Word of God and stand firm upon His Word and promises!

The Mormon Abomination

It is exceedingly difficult to compose a succinct definition and description of the Mormon or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints beliefs and practices since they are rather strange and incredulous. Mormons attempt to be identified as a part of mainstream Christianity, but anything can be further from the truth. While today they are placing great emphasis upon Jesus Christ to demonstrate their “Christian” identity, the Jesus of Mormonism is not the Jesus of the Bible.

Regarding the sources for their beliefs, Mormons identify the King James Version of the Bible, the Book of Mormon which was “translated” by Joseph Smith and published in 1830. Smith claimed it is the “most correct book” on earth. Doctrine and Covenants, containing a collection of modern revelations, and The Pearl of Great Price, which clarifies teachings that were lost from the Bible.There are about fourteen million Mormons worldwide.

Joseph Smith Jr. (1805–1844) was born in Sharon, Vermont. By 1817, he had moved with his family to the burned-over district of western New York. He claimed that while praying in a wooded area near his home in 1820, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and told him his sins were forgiven and that all contemporary churches had "turned aside from the gospel." The event would later grow in importance to Smith's followers, who now regard it as the first event in the gradual restoration of Christ's church on Earth.

 In 1823, Smith claimed the angel Moroni directed him to a buried book of golden plates in the hills of Palmyra, New York describing the Judeo-Christian history of the ancient American civilizations of the Nephites and the Lamanites. In 1830, Smith published what he said was an English translation of these plates called the Book of Mormon, named after Mormon, a so-called ancient prophet–historian who allegedly compiled the book. He had given it to his son Moroni who appeared to Joseph Smith as an angel. There were three witnesses who claimed to have seen the angel and the golden plates, each one exhibiting a bizarre spirituality.

There are many conflicting views of the source of the Book of Mormon. Some say Smith wrote it. Some claim it was collaborative effort Other say it was plagerized from a fictional work written by Solomon Spalding, a retired Congregational minister,

That same year Smith published his book, proclaimed his visions, gained followers, and organized the Church of Christ, calling it a restoration of the early Christian church. Members of the church were called "Mormons.” In 1838, Smith announced a revelation renaming the church as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

One thing for sure, the Mormons were a people on the move. They settled in Kirkland Ohio, moved to western Missouri where they were ousted by order of the Governor.  In late 1839, they bought the small town of Commerce, Illinois and renamed it Nauvoo, derived from the traditional Hebrew with an anglicized spelling meaning “beautiful.” They settled and built a temple. By 1844, the population of Nauvoo's had swollen to about twelve thousand due to Mormon influx, rivaling the size of Chicago.

On June 27, 1844, in Carthage, Illinois, Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed by a mob who began burning homes and threatening members of the group. A full-scale battle ensued, and Mormons were forced to flee from Nauvoo. Two years after their expulsion, their temple was set ablaze by an arsonist. It was destroyed in 1867. Because Hyrum Smith was the logical successor, the deaths of the brothers caused a leadership crisis, and Brigham Young assumed leadership over the majority of Mormons. Believing they could find no peace among their neighbors, they trekked west and finally settled in Salt Lake City.

Through the early years of the Christian Church there have been many views cited regarding the person of Jesus Christ and His relationship with God, but no group has ever perverted, distorted, and blasphemed God more than the Mormons. They are polytheists and have many gods. They reject the Doctrine of the Trinity and claim that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three gods. God the Father has not always been the Supreme Being of the universe but attained that status through righteous living and persistent effort. Mormons believe that God the Father has a “body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s” While Jesus and the Father have physical bodies, the Holy Spirit has a spirit-body. God resides on a planet called Koleb and is married to his goddess wife and produces spirit children. God the Father was once a mortal who lived on an earth. He died, was resurrected, glorified, and grew into his deified status. According to Joseph Smith, there is a “God above the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Jesus is the literal son of god born of his mother Mary. He is the first of the many spirit-children born of his parents, father and mother god. He is the brother of Lucifer. Jesus is the Yahweh or Jehovah of the Old Testament and is the creator of many worlds He was the spiritual "first born" Son of God in the preexistence. "Every person who was ever born on earth was our spirit brother or sister in heaven. The first spirit born to our heavenly parents was Jesus Christ, so he is literally our elder brother" Mormons claim they know more about Jesus than any other Christian Church.

God sent his pre-existent spirit children to earth to receive physical bodies and grow and develop into exalted “godness.” They are born basically good and are "gods in embryo." But they were deceived and sinned requiring Jesus to come to earth to suffer and die and atone for their sins and put them back on the right path. After his resurrection, according to the Book of Mormon, Jesus appeared to the Nephites in America.

Jesus' atonement provided immortality for all people. Exaltation (godhood) is available only to Mormons through obedience to Mormon teachings: faith, baptism, endowments, celestial marriage, and tithing. "Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God- wherefore, all things are theirs" Exalted people will live eternally in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They will become gods and will have their righteous family members with them and will be able to have spirit children who will have the same relationship to them as we do to our Heavenly Father. They will be an eternal family. They will have everything that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have - all power, glory, dominion, and knowledge. The Mormons state: "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become."

Mormons have three levels of eternal life.

Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom for faithful Mormons where people may become gods or angels.

Terrestrial Kingdom for righteous non-Mormons; They are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men. These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fullness.

Telestial Kingdom for wicked and ungodly (not hell); "These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers . . . who suffer the wrath of God on earth."

While all Mormons attend church in their local congregation or services at the Tabernacle, only a select group who fulfill all the rules of Mormonism receive a Temple recommend. Adult males are ordained into the Melchizedek Priesthood. Temple recommends are usually issued by a bishop who is responsible as a "judge in Israel." The one who attends the Temple enjoys the spiritual atmosphere and participates in baptisms for the dead.

Baptism for the dead is an Important Mormon practice carried out in the Temple. Baptism is an essential requirement to enter the Kingdom of God. Mormons are asked to trace their family trees and discover the names of ancestors who died without learning about the so-called “Mormon Gospel.” These relatives from past generations are baptized by proxy in the temple. For Mormons, genealogy is a way to save more souls and strengthen the eternal family unit. Jews have strongly objected to the Mormons baptizing by proxy the names of Jews, especially holocaust survivors.

About 2.4 million rolls of microfilm containing two billion names that have been traced are locked away behind fourteen-ton doors in the Granite Mountain Records Vault, a climate-controlled repository designed to survive a nuclear blast.

 The practice of baptizing for the dead is based upon one verse of the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15:29), although the meaning of that verse is esoteric. The early church viewed the practice as being unique in Corinth and an outgrowth of the heresy of Gnosticism and forbid it.

One of the strange practices of Mormons is the wearing of “sacred underwear” by those who have received a temple recommend and have participated in the endowment or initiation ceremony. Mormons compare this practice with the practice of other religions who wear sacred garments, except Mormons wear those sacred garments as underwear. Joseph Smith described Mormon underwear as “the most sacred of all things in the world, next to their own virtue, next to their own purity of life.”

The promises made in the endowment ceremony are similar to the promises made in Masonic ceremonies. There is a distinct relationship between Mormonism and the Masons. Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon movement, as was true of his older brother Hyrum and possibly his father, were Freemasons while the family lived near Palmyra, New York. Smith introduced a temple endowment ceremony including a number of symbolic elements that were very similar to those in Freemasonry. Smith remained a Freemason until his death.

Regarding the primary issue of salvation, Mormons teach that one attains heaven not by grace alone through faith, but by faith together with obedience to the Law and ordinances of Mormonism.

Mormonism is an abomination. It distorts everything we as Christians hold dear, believe and teach. Their doctrine of God is blasphemous. Their understanding of Jesus is contrary to Scripture. While the Bible teaches one God in three persons, the Mormons are polytheists, believing in the existence of many gods. Mormons who are exalted can themselves become gods leading authors Ed Decker and David Hunt to title their expose’ of Mormonism The God Makers.

Christians can confront Mormons on many levels:

We believe there is one God in Three Persons, Mormons believe there are many gods. Mormons are polytheists.

To suggest that God would hide golden tablets near Palmyra, New York intending to restore the true church to be discovered in 1828 is ridiculous. If such golden tablets presented possible truth they would have been unearthed in archaeological digs in Israel, not Palmyra, New York.

The geographical location, the “burned over” section of upstate New York, presented the perfect environment to create a fanciful religion

The Bible says no one has seen God at any time (John 1:18) yet Joseph Smith claims that God the Father and Jesus appeared to him in 1820.

Jesus told the woman at the well that God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:25). Mormons teach that God has a physical body.

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God from all eternity not the product of a sexual relationship between, father and mother god.

To suggest that Jesus is the brother of Lucifer and Jehovah (Yahweh) in the Old Testament is pure invention and contrary to Scripture.

The Bible says we are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26) not the pre-existent spirit-children of father and mother god.

According to archaeological evidence, there is no trace or record of Nephites and Lamanites ever existing in so-called Mesoamerica. Dr. Raymond T. Matheny, a Brigham Young University professor, after working in the area of archaeology for twenty-two years, reported that the scientific evidence simply does not support the existence of the peoples and events chronicled in the Book of Mormon, be it in Central America or anywhere else in the western hemisphere. There is manifold historical and archaeological evidence supporting the truth claims of the Bible.

Mormons teach that the truth of the Book of Mormon will be affirmed to the seeker through a “burning in the bosom.” The truth of the Bible is confirmed by multitudes of ancient documents, historical and archaeological discoveries.

Summary:

In thinking about the Mormons I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul  said about the Jews in Romans 10:2-4:

For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

 Mormons are not Christians and will be judged for their distortion of and additions to the Word of God. When confronting them, probing questions and a clear witness to the Gospel must be presented with humility and compassion. They have been deceived.

Roman Catholic Issues

There are many issue that divide Lutherans and Romans Catholics, but the doctrine of justification and the role of good works in salvation is the key issue. Regarding justification, the Lutheran Reformation taught, based on Scripture (Romans 3:28, 4:5, 5:1; Galatians 2:16, 2:21; Philippians 3:9), that God imputes the righteousness of Christ to the sinner who, by faith receives the benefits. Rome teaches the infusion of the righteousness of Christ at Baptism as a deposit that must bring forth good works that are necessary for salvation. The  Council of Trent (1545-1563), meeting to deal with the issues of the Reformation, flatly rejected the truth of justification by faith without the works of the Law and condemned those who believed it. Canon XI of Trent states: "If any one saith, that men are justified, either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ, or by the sole remission of sins, to the exclusion of the grace and the charity which is poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and is inherent in them; or even that the grace, whereby we are justified, is only the favor of God; let him be anathema." (anathema means one who is cursed by ecclesiastical authority)

In 1999, the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification made headlines. The document was created and agreed to by the Catholic Church's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Lutheran World Federation. As a result of extensive ecumenical dialogue, the document states that the churches now share "a common understanding of our justification by God's grace through faith in Christ.”

Agreement between Rome and Lutherans over the doctrine of justification, the doctrine by which the church stands or falls, as Luther put it, is not possible since there are two totally different systems whereby a sinner becomes righteous before God. While both Lutherans and Catholics will say that we are “saved by grace through faith,” the terms are defined differently. For Lutherans, grace is the undeserved favor of God who sent Jesus into the world to bear our sins in exchange for His perfect righteousness. We are righteous before God because of the forgiveness of our sins and perfect righteousness of Christ not because of any inherent righteousness or good works on our part that gain Divine merit. For Rome, grace is infused (gratia infusa) into the person at Baptism as an investment which produces good works that merit salvation if the person remains joined to the church, free of mortal sin, and participates in the Sacraments. Faith means to trust the merits of Christ, in addition to the merits of the Virgin Mary and the saint in heaven. The process whereby the person become holy before a holy God is completed in purgatory.    

The primary difficulty that arises when discussing issues with Romans Catholics is the issue of authority and the source of truth. No meaningful discussion can take place if each party begins with a different understanding of the source of truth.  Lutherans teach all truth is derived from Scripture Alone. Rome teaches that Scripture plus sacred tradition, church councils, and Pope are the source of truth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church #88 states: "The Church's Magisterium exercises the authority it holds from Christ to the fullest extent when it defines dogmas, that is, when it proposes, in a form obliging the Christian people to an irrevocable adherence of faith, truths contained in divine Revelation or also when it proposes, in a definitive way, truths having a necessary connection with these."

To prove their point, Romans Catholics quote 1 Timothy 3:15: “But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” By “church” they mean the Church’s Magisterium (Pope, Councils, etc.) while the Apostle Paul is referring to the fellowship of God’s people (Gk: ekklesia – the called out people of God) who gather around the Word of God which is the “ground of truth.” For Rome, the “Church” is the priests, cardinal and Pope which exists apart from the people. Luther taught the “priesthood of all believers” and defined the Church as the people gathering around Word and Sacrament.

Within Romans Catholicism there is a development of dogma, that which must be believed. Lutherans believe revelation ceased with the Scripture and there are no new truths that will emerge and must be believed. According to a Wikipedia article regarding Rome: "However, new dogmata can be declared through the ages. For instance, the 20th century witnessed the introduction of the dogma of Assumption of Mary by Pope Pius XII in 1950. However, these beliefs were already held in some form or another within the Church before their elevation to the dogmatic level. And a movement to declare a fifth Marian dogma for Mediatrix and Co-Redemptrix is underway." Dogma cannot be changed and that is a DOGMA. Therefore, Rome does not nor cannot change.

Is the Pope the Anti-Christ? Luther stated:: "It is eminently true that all who preach human doctrine make a human being into a light, lead the people away from this light to themselves, and put themselves in the place of this true light, as the pope and his followers have done. For this reason, he is also the “Anti-Christ”; he is against this true light.” Luther, M. (1999, c1974). Luther's Works, Sermons II (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (Vol. 52, Page 69). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.  By these words, Luther is referring to the Office of the Papacy.

Rome teaches a Marian Theology (theology regarding Mary, the mother of Jesus) that is not based upon Scripture.

1)  Mother of God: Mary is the theotokos or “God-bearer.” Lutherans also acknowledge that Mary is the Mother of God because she gave birth to the Son of God according to both His human and divine natures which cannot be divided.

2)  Perpetual Virginity: While it is true that Martin Luther believed in the perpetual virginity of Mary and some Lutherans hold to that view, yet Scripture indicates that Jesus had brothers and sisters, Matthew 1:24-25: “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” Matthew 13:55-56: “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” James, the head of the Church at Jerusalem is referred to as the “brother of our Lord.” (Galatians 1:19)

3)  Immaculate Conception: Pope Pius IX issued his Apostolic constitution, Ineffabilis Deus, in which the Immaculate Conception of Mary in the womb of her mother Anne was defined as a dogma on December 8, 1854. On December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated. Many Romans Catholics will mistakenly apply the immaculate conception to Jesus rather than to Mary. Jesus was not immaculately conceived. He was incarnated, meaning “the Word became flesh.”

4)  Bodily Assumption: On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII solemnly declared in his Apostolic Constitution titled  Munificentissimus Deus (Most Bountiful God): "By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”

Lutherans respond to the Immaculate Conception and Bodily Assumption by accurately stating that these “truths” are not found in the Bible. For Rome, this makes no difference. The Pope has the authority to define dogma that must be believed.

5)  There are popular Marian teachings that are presently taught as traditions such as Mary is the Co-Redemptrix. She participated with Jesus in the redemption of the world. In time, this distortion of the Gospel will become a dogma of Rome.

The Romans Catholic Sacrifice of the Mass, or Sacerdotalism, claims that sacrifices for sin requires the intervention of a priest.   The Council of Trent taught that the Mass is the same as Calvary, "only the manner of offering being changed" from bloody to unbloody. On the altar, Jesus is again sacrificed for the sins of the world.  Luther wrote: “The Mass in the papacy must be regarded as the greatest and most horrible abomination because it runs into direct and violent conflict with this fundamental article. Yet, above and beyond all others, it has been the supreme and most precious of the papal idolatries, for it is held that this sacrifice or work of the Mass (even when offered by an evil scoundrel) delivers men from their sins, both here in this life and yonder in purgatory, although in reality this can and must be done by the Lamb of God alone.” Tappert, T. G. (2000, c1959). The Book of Concord (The Smalcald Articles: 2, II, 1). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.  

Purgatory is a necessary dogma for Rome. It is the state or place of purification or temporary punishment by which those who die with non-mortal sins and so in the state of grace are made ready for the Beatifici Vision in heaven. By rejecting justification by faith and believing that one must be purified before entering heaven, purgatory is a necessary addition to Rome’s understanding of the basis of salvation. Those who fail to attain purified righteousness here on earth, are doomed to purgatory. Luther wrote: “Consequently purgatory and all the pomp, services, and business transactions associated with it are to be regarded as nothing else than illusions of the devil, for purgatory, too, is contrary to the fundamental article that Christ alone, and not the work of man, can help souls. Besides, nothing has been commanded or enjoined upon us with reference to the dead. All this may consequently be discarded, apart entirely from the fact that it is error and idolatry.” Tappert, T. G. (2000, c1959). The Book of Concord (The Smalcald Articles: 2, II, 12). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

In Rome, sainthood is reserved for those who have entered heaven. There is a process leading to canonization or sainthood. Step one is to wait five years after the death of the potential saint. The individual must be defined as a “servant of God” or Venerable and his life must show proof of “heroic virtue.”  Finally, two verified miracles must be shown because of praying to the potential saint.

In 2019, Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801 – 1890) an English theologian and Cardinal was canonized. Two miracles were ascribed to him. In 2001, Jack Sullivan, an American deacon from Marshfield in Massachusetts, attributed his recovery from a spinal cord disorder to the intercession of Newman. The miracle was accepted by Rome. The approval of a further miracle at the intercession of Newman was reported in November 2018: the healing of a pregnant woman from a grave illness. Thus, Newman was declared a saint, because he must be in heaven and thereby able to intercede for those on earth who pray to him. Luther responds to this definition of a saint by saying, “Scripture calls us holy while we are still living here on earth, if we believe. The papists have taken this name away from us and say: ‘We should not be holy; only the saints in heaven are holy.’ Therefore, we must get the noble name back. You must be holy. But you must be prepared not to think that you are holy of yourself or on the strength of your merit. No, you must be holy because you have the Word of God, because heaven is yours, and because you have become truly pious and holy through Christ. This you must avow if you want to be a Christian. For it would be the greatest slander and blasphemy of the name of Christ if we refused to honor Christ’s blood for washing away our sin or refused to believe that this blood makes us holy. Hence you must believe and confess that you are holy, but by this blood and not by reason of your own piety. Therefore, you must be willing to surrender life and all possessions for this and to face whatever may be your lot on this account.” Luther, M. (1999, c1967). Vol. 30: Luther's Works: The Catholic Epistles (1 Pe 1:3 (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.).  Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House.

Regarding the invocation of the Saints or trusting in the merits of the saints for salvation, Luther wrote: “Our opponents teach that we should put our trust in the invocation of the saints, though they have neither a Word of God nor an example from Scripture for this. They apply the merits of the saints in the same way as the merits of Christ and thus transfer to the saints the honor that belongs to Christ. Therefore, we cannot accept either their ideas about venerating the saints or their practice of praying to them. We know that we must put our trust in the intercession of Christ because only this has God’s promise. We know that the merits of Christ are our only propitiation. Because of them we are accounted righteous when we believe in him, as the text says (Rom. 9:33), “He who believes in him will not be put to shame.” We must not believe that we are accounted righteous by the merits of the blessed Virgin or of the other saints. Tappert, T. G. (2000, c1959). The Book of Concord: (Apology of the Augsburg Confession: 1, IX, 31). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.Luther:

The Sacraments:

What is a Sacrament?  The word “sacrament” is not in the Bible. It means an action or practice that has sacred and mysterious significance. Jesus mandated two such rites or practices that impart the forgiveness of sins and are defined as means of grace: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. In each case, there are physical elements involved: water and bread and wine.

Rome identifies Seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Confession, Communion, Marriage, Ordination, Last Rites (Sacrament of the Sick).

There is a major difference between Roman Catholic and Lutheran theology regarding the efficacy of the Sacrament, particularly the Lord’s Supper. Roman Catholics believe the Sacraments are effective regardless of the condition of the recipients. This is defined in Latin as Ex Opere Operato (for the sake of the work performed.)

Lutheran theologian C.F.W. Walther writes regarding a worthy recipient of the Lord’s Supper: "He, therefore, who would receive the Lord’s Supper worthily and for his benefit must previously have come to repentance and faith, must previously have obtained grace and have become a true Christian. Partaking of the Lord’s Supper is in and by itself not beneficial; rather the benefit depends on how one partakes. It does not work ex opere operato. It is not like a medicine which one need merely swallow to have the benefit. It is rather like a treasure house whose treasures can be taken, grasped and held only with the hand of faith." CFW Walther, Pastoral Theology, as quoted in Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, III: p.382,

Rome teaches that in Baptism original sin is removed but concupiscence, the tendency to sin, remains. Lutherans teach that after Baptism original sin remains but a new life in Christ has been imparted so that the Christian is simul justus et peccator (at the same time, a saint and a sinner). In the Council of Trent, Rome rejected this position since the righteousness acceptable before God is a personal and inherent righteousness, not the alien righteousness of Christ. The Lutheran significance of Baptism is that old sinful nature is daily put to death so that the new life in Christ is manifest. From the perspective of the Apostle Paul, his sinful nature remained even after Baptism. He wrote: “If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” (Romans 7:16-18)   

Regarding the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion, Sacrament of the Altar, Eucharist) Rome teaches transubstantiation, the substance of bread changes into the Body of Christ and the substance of wine changes into the Blood of Christ.  This leads to the “adoration of the Sacrament.” The bread is actually the body of Christ and is to be adored as such. Lutherans teach Real Presence, that in, with and under the bread and wine the Body and Blood of Christ is present in the eating and drinking. In 1 Corinthians 10:16 the Apostle Paul indicates that the cup remains the cup and the bread remains the bread. “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?”

Summary:

The differences between Lutherans and Roman Catholics are not merely cosmetic or of minor significance. While we believe that Roman Catholics who are informed by Scripture and believe in Jesus are Christians and may be surprised after death when they find themselves in heaven rather than in purgatory, the system of Roman Catholicism is opposed to and of a different nature than the theology that emerged in the sixteenth-century Reformation. The tragedy of Roman Catholicism is that the millions of adherents are ignorant of the Word of God, especially the Good News of the Gospel, and are trusting their membership and participation in “mother church” as the basis for their salvation.

Lutheran Christians should know and understand the distortions taught by the Romans Catholic Church and be willing and able to engage their Roman Catholic neighbors in friendly discussion.

I recall some years ago teaching an adult information class for prospective members of the congregation. After presenting a session on the significance of the Gospel with a specific emphasis on justification by grace through faith, I noticed that a woman in the back of the room was crying. Speaking with her after the session, she was relieved to hear the Good News of the Gospel since she had never been certain of her eternal salvation.

This is a typical response when Romans Catholics are confronted with the Good News of what Jesus accomplished for them through His shed blood and perfect righteousness.