Acts 15:18 *Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world*.
*ASIDE SALES OF INDULGENCE: THE FIVE BIG TARGETS* (d)
Without Martin Luther's reformation, you and I may still be in bondage to fruitless religious traditions of the medieval Church. God used him to awaken believers from doctrinal slumber and to reposition the church on the apostolic path.
Many do not know that the current doctrinal framework on salvation, faith&grace were systematized during the protestant reformation. Though all reformers do not agree on the same thing but they had a point of convergence.
Aside speaking against indulgence, the fourth thing Martin Luther kicked against was:
IV.*Using works to earn salvation*
He kicked against using pilgrimages, relics, fasting, buying masses for dead as ways to earn God’s favour. Till date, some Roman Catholics still buy masses to earn God's favour or salvation in the after life.
Can salvation be bought? Can God's favour be bought? Let's examine scriptures.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says (TPT)
[8] *For by grace you have been saved by faith. Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the love gift from God that brought us to Christ*!
[9] *So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving*.
This is profound. If you buy masses, pay indulgence and do all sort of things under the name of religion, it won't save you. Do you know why? You cannot pay for what Christ's sacrifice has given freely.
Martin Luther's maxim for salvation was Sola Gracias + Sola fide. That is, grace alone and faith (in Christ) is what gives salvation not works.
*The worth of Christ's blood is priceless. No man on earth can pay for it. We can only accept what He did for us over 2000 years ago by faith. That is why we call it the finished work (not works) of Christ*.
To accept the burden of buying masses, buying relics or going for pilgrimage as a means of earning salvation can either be a display of ignorance or arrogance against the simplicity of the gospel.
In Acts of apostles, everyone that got saved and received the Spirit from Acts 2( the day of pentecost), Act 4-5, Acts10( Cornelius household) did not buy relics of saints, buy masses or go on pilgrimage. That tradition was not recorded in scriptures. So, where did it come from?
Again, do not put yourself under a yoke that Christ has not yoked you with. Stop labouring with your strength to earn what God has given freely.
To those under the yoke of religion seeking salvation through human effort, Jesus says:
[28] *Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest*.
[29] *Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls*.
[30] *For My yoke is easy and My burden is light*.”
You either choose the hard way of works which does not save or the Christ's way of grace which saves. I choose grace.