1. Martin Luther: The Protestant Reformation
To outline Martin Luther’s life & theological views
To reflect on the Catholic Church’s response in the Council of Trent
Does Faith save, or good works? To evaluate the doctrine of justification

2. What impression do you get of Martin Luther as a person?
Read the biography.
What impression do you get of Martin Luther as a person?
Positive characteristics
Negative characteristics
What were the issues he fought on?
Was he justified in causing a split in the Church and forming the Protestant “Lutheran” Church?

3. Monk
Penitent
Scholar/ Professor.
Sola fide.
Indulgences
95 theses
3 trials – Augsburg. Rome.Worms.
Excommunication.
Marriage, Lutheran Church.
Re-tell Luther’s biography, using the pictures/ prompts

4. Luther’s Theology of Justification
Sola fide : Justification by faith alone:
through faith in Christ, a gift from God: NO WORKS contribute. Only response we can make, is faith.
Without justifying grace, nothing we can do, no good work, can be pleasing to God, as we remain under His wrath for our sinful nature. A non-believer can never be pleasing to God.
God “declares” a sinner justified “forensic justification”
Our righteousness is an alien righteousness: we receive Jesus’ righteousness, in a legal exchange: in return for which, he bore our sins on the cross. Righteousness really belongs to Christ, but is imputed to us.
A “legal fiction”? No – 2 views:
No: the person is still a sinner on the inside…justification is “extrinsic” – God’s decree. “simul justus et peccator”
No: the person’s sins are really cancelled by Jesus’ death
“Once saved always saved”…receiving salvation is a “one time event”. Nothing can threaten the salvation of the elect, if justified by God.
A person with justifying faith will ,by this grace, live a repentant life, free of serious sin.
If they sin mortally, that shows they did not receive justifying grace (evangelicals believe that even if they do sin, they still remain saved, as it is God’s decision whom to save).
Luther’s Theology of Justification

5. Sola fide : Justification by faith alone: God justifies through faith in Christ, good works cannot contribute to salvation
Forensic Justification: God “declares” a sinner justified - we receive Jesus’ righteousness, in exchange for our sins, which he bore on the cross.
Legal fiction: that God declaring a sinner justified does not reflect the reality, as people still remain sinners.
Simul justus et peccator: a person is both justified by God’s decree, but remains a sinner while living
“Once saved always saved”: salvation is a one-time event - once justified, nothing can take away a person’s assurance of salvation
Alien righteousness: a person is imputed the righteousness of Christ, as if it was their own, but really, it is Christ’s righteousness that makes them justified.
No “merit theology” – no good works can win God’s grace or favour. To give grace, is God’s free decision.
Quiz Quiz Trade 1. Write your allocated term on your whiteboard, definition on opposite side 2. Ask your partner to explain their term – if both correct, swap 3. ask a partner to explain YOUR term. If both correct, swap

6. Council of Trent 1545 Catholic Response to the Reformation
Met over 8 years, 25 sessions (3 papacies).
Issued decrees and condemnations that embodied the Church’s response to the Protestant challenge
the Catholic “Counter-Reformation”.
Read your Group’s concluding Canonical statements of the Council of Trent.
pick out the issues on which Trent is responding to something in Luther’s theology
What is Trent saying that contradicts Luther?
Does the document suggest that Catholic Church teaching changed in any way?

7. Which view is Catholic? Protestant?
Grace
Faith
Deeds
SALVATION
Contribute to, but do not merit
Catholic view:
Justification is an undeserved grace from God, but our good deeds, aided by grace, can contribute to our salvation. A true faith will result in good deeds. But good deeds can be pleasing to God, even without faith in Christ…by God’s grace they may lead to faith.
Protestant view:
Justification is an undeserved grace from God, nothing we can do can contribute to our salvation. A true faith will result in good deeds. Without faith, good deeds will not please God, as the person remains an unjustified sinner.

8. M.C. Quiz on Martin Luther & Trent
By yourself
Then check with a partner/ group

9. Sort the NT quotes according to those that suggest that justification is by faith alone, or by faith AND works
Could either view win out?
How could EP Sanders research change the power of the Pauline quotes against “works” as good deeds?
Faith vs. Works
Sola fide – justification by works alone
Luther’s addition of “alone”
No works of any sort, can contribute to salvation
No-one can be saved just by living a good life
Luther argued that his view was based on the authority of Scripture.
He rejected the Letter of James, which seemed to contradict his view as “a right strawy epistle”.
Was he right? Is justification on faith alone?
E.P Sanders
What sort of “works” was St. Paul against, in the letter to the Romans?
Was he really opposed to doing good deeds as a means of righteousness?
Sanders researched Jewish writings on what faith is, and what Jews meant by doing “the works of the Law”. He concluded “works”meant specifically Jewish acts, which make a person Jewish - “badges of identity”. For Paul, it is doing such actions, ie to be more Jewish, that are not necessary for salvation. Paul is not arguing doing good deeds.

10. “We are justified by faith alone
“We are justified by faith alone!” “We are not justified by by works of the Law!” (St Paul, Letter to Romans/ Galatians)
Luther understood “works of the law” to mean “good deeds”
EP Sanders’ research showed that by “works of the law” St Paul meant works that give Jewish identity. But you do not have to become a Jew to be saved by Christ!! (this was St.Paul’s whole battle, with the other apostles)
So St Paul is NOT against doing good deeds – only against thinking you must do Jewish things to be saved.
Luther misunderstood…

11. Luther on Trial: Faith vs. Works
You are going to present a case against Luther, or to defend him.
Read the info. & organise speeches
to present
primary arguments
secondary arguments including response to objections (there will be a pause after you hear the opponents views)
Concluding points
Luther on Trial: Faith vs. Works
Protestant View
Sola fide, God’s declaration. Cannot merit justification in any way
Paul’s letter to Romans, Galatians
Understanding of grace as “being in God’s favour” that we need only believe in
Catholic View
Justification 2 step: Faith and inner sanctification
God is just and will reward for good works
Letter to James, plus others
EP Sanders re-interpretation of Paul
Understanding of grace as a power that transforms us, that we work with