Martin Luther And The Rule Of Faith

Martin Luther considered the reading of God's word to be his primary task as a theologian, a pastor, and a Christian. Though he is often portrayed as reading the Bible with a bare approach of sola Scriptura—without any concern for previous generations’ interpretation—the truth is more complicated. In this New Explorations in Theology (NET) volume, Reformation scholar Todd R. Hains shows that Luther read the Bible according to the rule of faith, which is contained in the church's ancient catechism of the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Apostles' Creed. Hains carefully examines Luther's sermons to show how Luther taught the rule of faith as the guard and guide of Bible reading. This study will helpfully complicate your view of Luther and bring clarity to your own reading of God's Word. Featuring new monographs with cutting-edge research, New Explorations in Theology provides a platform for constructive, creative work in the areas of systematic, historical, philosophical, biblical, and practical theology.

When lobbyist Faith Lockhart stumbles upon a corruption scheme at the highest levels of government, she becomes a dangerous witness who the most powerful men in the world will go to any lengths to silence in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller. In a secluded house not far from Washington, D.C., the FBI is interviewing one of the most important witnesses it has ever had: a young woman named Faith Lockhart. For Faith has done too much, knows too much, and will tell too much. Feared by some of the most powerful men in the world, Faith has been targeted to die. But when a private investigator walks into the middle of the assassination attempt, the shooting suddenly goes wrong, and an FBI agent is killed. Now Faith Lockhart must flee for her life--with her story, her deadly secret, and an unknown man she's forced to trust...

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "A Treatise on Good Works" by Martin Luther. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

One of the most important texts of Martin Luther. Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount is a very rich text in biblical and illuminating knowledge about Chapter 5 of Matthew, one of the most beautiful biblical passages and the beautiful expression of Christianity.

Did Martin Luther wield his hammer on the Wittenberg church door on October 31, 1517? Did he even post the Ninety-five Theses at all? This collection of documents sheds light on the debate surrounding Luther's actions and the timing of his writing and his request for a disputation on the indulgence issue. The primary documents in this book include the theses, their companion sermon ("A Sermon on Indulgence and Grace", 1518), a chronoloical arrangement of letters pertinent to the theses, and selections from Luther's Table Talk that address the Ninety-five Theses. A final section contains Luther's recollections, which offer today's reader the reformer's own views of the Reformation and the Ninety-five Theses.

Among the dizzying array of approaches to reading the Bible, the oldest, most revered interpretive tool rises above the rest: the Rule of Faith. Faithful interpretation of Scripture in the postmodern context has much to learn from this ancient principle. Deeper engagement with the sacred text flourishes with the assistance of the Rule of Faith. That engagement in turn renews the Body of Christ. This book explores the interpretive practices of great reformers and renewers of the church, including Luther, Calvin, and Wesley, who kept up a lively dialogue with the ancient authors of the Christian movement. In that dialogue, they discovered a dynamic guide to better exegesis. Robert C. Fennell provides a compelling account of faithful interpreters from the past whose example inspires contemporary readers as they seek to understand the Bible.

Much is said in praise of the 'great reformer' Martin Luther, but there is another side to the story, which is rarely discussed. This book gives 'the rest of the story.'From his beginnings as a scrupulous monk, Luther's history of apostasy is traced through to the end of his life. Let us consider this: ""FAITH alone," Luther teaches, "works justification; and a man is saved, and his sins are forgiven by confidently believing." Later on, he wrote to Melanchthon: "Be a sinner and sin boldly; but more boldly still believe and rejoice in Christ, who is the conqueror of sin, death and the world. Sin is our lot here below. This life is not the abode of justice; but' we expect,' says Peter, 'a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells justice.' It is sufficient that by the riches of God's glory we acknowledge the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world; sin cannot deprive us of him, even if in the same day we were to commit a thousand adulteries or a thousand murders." In one of his sermons he exclaimed: "Provided one has faith, adultery is no sin!" Such a doctrine was without doubt very welcome to libertines and robber-knights; and we are not at all surprised to find the monk of Wittenberg soon a boon companion of Ulrich von Hutten, Francis of Sickingen and other monsters of immorality."And let us consider Luther's attitude towards the Bible: "WHILE Luther proposed the Bible as the only source and rule of faith, he undermined its authority by his prefaces to the different books of his version. His translation, as Doellinger very ably shows, is so worded as to fit his own system of belief. He adds and rejects words without the least scruple whenever he finds it advantageous to his new doctrine. About the four gospels he remarks: "The first three speak of our Lord's works rather than of his oral teaching; that of St. John is the only sympathetic, the only true gospel, and should without doubt be preferred to the others. In like manner the epistles of St. Paul and St. Peter are superior to the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke." He does not recognize the epistle of St. James as "the writing of an apostle." "Compared with the epistles of St. Paul, this is, in truth, an epistle of straw; it contains absolutely nothing to remind one of the style of the gospel." Nor is he satisfied with the whole of St. Paul's writings; speaking of the Letters to the Hebrews, he says: "It needs not surprise one to find there bits of wood, hay and straw." Of the Apocalypse he writes: "There are many things objectionable in this book.""

Martin Luther's treatise Concerning Christian Liberty is one of the most powerful and concise presentations of the Christian life ever written - a true gem among Reformation writings. Here you will find the essence of Reformation spirituality distilled into a guide for practical, biblical living. With the bold authority of a true prophet, Luther directs his message to the average Christian in clear, simple language. The doctrine of justification by grace through faith in Christ is the heart and soul of Luther's message, founded upon a firm conviction in the authority of Scripture.