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Justification
Sacraments
- a. Justification= start for Protestant doctrines
- b. Sacraments also refined since good works downplayed
- i. No longer merit-earning works= divinely established signs signifying the promise of salvation
- 1. Based on interpretation of scriptural authority, Luther kept only 2 of 7 sacraments—baptism and Eucharist
- a. Baptism= rebirth
- b. Lord’s supper= Luther denied transubstantiation, but insisted on real presence of Jesus’ body and blood in bread and wine given as testament to God’s forgiveness of sin
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Emphasis on Scripture
- a. Emphasis on importance of Scripture led to rejection of Catholic belief that authority of Scripture supplemented by traditions and decrees of the Church
- i. Word of God in Bible was enough authority
- 1. Hierarchy of priesthood unnecessary since all followers of God’s word are their own priests
- a. “priesthood of believers”
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Luther and True Church
- a. Luther considered true church an invisible entity, but difficulties of establishing reformed church led to belief that a tangible, organized church was needed
- i. No church hierarchy= reliance on princes or state authorities to organize and guide new Lutheran reformed churches
- 1. Secular authorities played important role in church affairs
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1530
- i. 1530: German states that converted to Lutheranism: both princes and city councils appointed officials who visited churches and regulated worship
- 1. Lutheran churchesà territorial or state churches in which state supervised and disciplined members
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Religious services
- i. Aside from church, he made new religious services to replace mass that featured vernacular liturgy with focus on Bible reading, preaching the word of God, and song
- 1. Following his own denunciation of clerical celibacy, he married a formal nun, Katherina von Bora in 1525
- a. Model of married and family life
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