How Did Martin Luther Contribute To The Reformation?

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It is my opinion that Martin Luther was the most influential person in the protestant reformation. His reformation was a fundamental shift in theology with the efforts to restore the original teachings (Sergent Unit 3 Notes). Luther added many great attributes to the reformation. I will now discuss these attributes Luther never intended his theoretical distinction between Christians and citizens to put religion and society asunder. He expected religious values to inform secular life to defend religious truth. Luther had no difficulty urging Christians to become executioners if they found such services needed to maintain worldly justice and government. As early as 1520 Luther instructed his followers to obey spiritual law and secular law (Ozment 268-9). Today, many people fight for religion and still are required to obey both laws.…show more content…
He turned against scholastic theology because his own study and experience convinced him that the teachings were false (ozment 235-6). In 1532 Luther confessed his unsuccessful efforts to live before god by faith alone. Although Luther’s theology demanded good works from the Christians, it also served every conceivable connection between these works and his salvation. Luther observed that people found it exceedingly unnatural to do good works simply out of thanksgiving to God and love of their neighbor, with no expectation of divine reward (Ozment 376). My pastor says we sin daily and asks for forgiveness daily. I believe my pastor feels the same as Luther in this aspect. Luther did not agree with Erasmus’s Greek New Testament about Jesus. Luther believed Jesus was more than an ethical example, Jesus was a redeeming sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The conflict with Luther changed Erasmus’s theology to be more free will (Ozment 291, 292-5). All Christians accept Christ as the savior and an ethical

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