OCTOBER 31st 1517: LESSONS FROM REFORMATION HISTORY Pt.10

Have you ever asked why the church handed down by the apostles became cold, lukewarm and filled with human traditions centuries after they left? The answer is not far-fetched. When the Spirit of God is not allowed to lead and the authority of scriptures is not regarded, what befell the medieval church can still happen to us.

At a time, the bishops in the medieval church took pride in building cathedrals at all cost. They sacrificed truth for prestige. They sold indulgence, relics and did all sort because they were greedy for gain. They measured success by luxury, buildings and asset yet they had no testimony of transformed lives.

There was a discussion between Pope Innocent II and Thomas Aquinas. While counting a large sum of money, the Pope said, “You see, Thomas, the church can no longer say, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” Thomas answered, “That is true, Holy Father, but neither can she still say, ‘Arise and walk."

The medieval church lost its power. That was the import of Thomas Aquinas' response. In the days of the early apostles, their pride was not in silver nor gold but in the power if thr Spirit but those medieval bishops took pride in mundane things only.

The fifth thing Martin Luther kicked against was the seven sacraments.

v.*He cut sacraments to two*

In Martin Luther's time,  Catholic Church had 7 sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Confession, Marriage, Holy Orders, Last Rites.

Luther believed only two out of these seven sacraments are commanded explicitly in scriptures: Baptism and Holy Eucharist/ Lord's Supper.

Matthew 28:19 says, *"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, BAPTIZING THEM in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit*"( NLT).

In the early church, they did not joke with these command from the master. Why? Baptism is a sign of repentance and turning unto the Lord. Though baptism is not what saves yet it is important for the saved as a physical proof of their identification with Christ.

Baptism is symbolic of our death, burial and resurrection with Christ. It is an identification with all that Christ suffered for our sins and his victory over sin and death in resurrection. Isn't that something worth doing?

Romans 6:3 says, *"Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? [4] For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives*"( NLT).

Another sacrament Jesus commanded is the Lord's supper or holy Eucharist. He commanded we do it in remembrance of Him to remind us of His body that was broken and His blood that was shed for our sins.

Luke 22:19 says, *"Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.*"

If you observe these two sacraments carefully, they point to the cross and the finished work of Christ that saves, heal and deliver mankind. The death, burial and resurrection must ve in our consciousness always not just during easter.

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