The Story of Martin Luther and the New Reformation

"You Impious and Sensate Papist!"

Speaker

Dwight K. Nelson

Since 1983, Dwight Nelson has served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. He preaches on the “New Perceptions” telecast, teaches at the theological seminary and has written some books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.

Offering

Saturday, October 21, 2017
Program: 
Praise
Everlasting God • In Christ Alone • Your Name
Prayer
Sabine Vatel
Evangelism Feature
How to Share Your Faith and Give Bible Studies • Rodlie Ortiz
Tithes & Offerings
Put on Gladness, O My Soul • Johannes Brahms
Children’s Story
Worship in Music
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God • Duane Funderburk
Sermon
"'You Impious and Sensate Papist!': The Story of Martin Luther and the New Reformation" • Dwight K. Nelson
Connect Card
Onward Christian Soldiers • 612

More In This Series

"The Story of Martin Luther and the New Reformation:
'You Impious and Sensate Papist!'"

www.newperceptions.tv

  • The Reformer
    • December 10, 1520
    • Luther Against the Execrable Bull of Antichrist: "Peter said that you should give a reason for the faith that is in you, but this bull condemns me from its own word without any proof from Scripture, whereas I back up all my assertions from the Bible. I ask thee, ignorant Antichrist, dost thou think that with thy naked words thou canst prevail against the armor of Scripture?... O meticulous ignorance!... you impious and insensate [comatose] papist.... [A]s they excommunicated me... so I excommunicate them in the name of the sacred truth of God. Christ will judge whose excommunication will stand. Amen.” (Roland Bainton Here I Stand: A Life of Luther 125-126)
    • Luther: "Since they have burned my books, I burn theirs. The canon law was included because it makes the pope a god on earth. So far I have merely fooled with this business of the pope. All my articles condemned by Antichrist are Christian. Seldom has the pope overcome anyone with Scripture and with reason." (Bainton 128)
    • James Kittelson: "This focus on Christ could give even the most tormented soul absolute assurance. Where was the release from accusations of conscience or God’s law? 'Nowhere save from Christ and in Christ. For if some complaint should be registered against a heart that believes in Christ, and testify against it concerning some evil deed, then the heart turns itself away, and turns to Christ, and says, "But he made satisfaction. He is the righteous one, and this is my defense. He died for me, he made his righteousness mine and made my sin his own; and if he made my sin his own, then I do not have it, and I am free."'" (Luther the Reformer: The Story of the Man and His Career 95)

 

  • The Reformation
    • The Five Sola’s: Solus Christus—"Christ alone"  Sola fide­­—"faith alone"  Sola gratia—"grace alone" Sola scriptura—"Scripture alone" and Soli Deo gloria—"glory of God alone"
    • L. E. Froom: "Luther’s break with Rome was a spectacle equaling, if not surpassing, in moral sublimity any other scene unfolded in the Christian Era.... [I]t was evident that nothing in this old world is more powerful than a prophetic truth whose time has come. It has impelling force and power within it. Thus it was with the Reformation, which was really born of a twofold discovery—first, the rediscovery of and His salvation; and second, the discovery of the identity of and his subversions." (Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers 2:243)
    • Martin Luther’s understanding of Bible prophecy:
      • 1 John 2:18, 22—The Antichrist (GK: " Christ") is coming.
      • 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4—The man of lawlessness/the man of sin will assert himself to be on earth.
      • Daniel 7:25—The "little horn" power of Daniel 7 will speak against the , persecute the saints and change times and laws.
      • Revelation 13:3ff—Luther identified the beast of Revelation 13, the fallen woman in Revelation 17 and Babylon in Revelation 18 with the .
      • Not only Martin Luther, but subsequently William Tyndale, John Calvin, John Knox, John Wesley and a host of other lesser known Reformers saw in Rome the coming of the as prophesied in Scripture. (L. E. Froom 2:528-531)
    • "From Conflict to Communion: Lutheran-Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation    in 2017":
      • "1. In 2017, Lutheran and Catholic Christians will commemorate the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. Lutherans and Catholics today enjoy a growth in mutual understanding, cooperation, and respect. They have come to acknowledge that unites than divides them: above all, common faith in the Triune God and the revelation in Jesus Christ, as well as recognition of the basic truths of the doctrine of justification.” (http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/lutheran-...)
      • "16. What happened in the past cannot be changed, but what is remembered of the past and how it is remembered can, with the passage of time, indeed change. Remembrance makes the past present. While the past itself is unalterable, the presence of the past in the present is alterable. In view of 2017, the point is not to tell a different history, but to tell that history ."
    • John 17:17—"Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth."
    • Pew Research Center:
      • About half of U.S. Protestants (%) say both good deeds and faith in God are needed to get into heaven, a historically Catholic position. The other half (%) say that faith alone is needed to attain salvation.
      • U.S. Protestants also are split on another issue that played a key role in the Reformation: (%) say the Bible provides all the religious guidance Christians need, a traditionally Protestant belief known as sola scriptura. But (%) say Christians should look for guidance from church teachings and traditions as well as from the Bible, the position held by the Catholic Church.
      • Just (%) of all U.S. Protestants affirm both sola fide and sola scriptura. (http://www.pewforum.org/2017/08/31/after-500-years-reformation-era-divis...)
    •  Ellen White: "The Roman Church now presents a fair front to the world, covering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties. She has clothed herself in Christlike garments; but she is . Every principle of the papacy that existed in past ages exists today. The doctrines devised in the darkest ages are still held. Let none deceive themselves. The papacy that Protestants are now so ready to honor is the same that ruled the world in the days of the Reformation, when men of God stood up, at the peril of their lives, to expose her iniquity.... There has been a change; but the change is not in the papacy. Catholicism indeed resembles much of the Protestantism that now exists, because Protestantism has so greatly degenerated since the days of the Reformers.” (The Great Controversy 571)
    • "The Reformation did not, as many suppose, end with Luther. It is to be continued to the close of this world’s history." (148)
      • "There was a present truth in the days of Luther—a truth at that time of special importance; there is a present truth for the church today." (143)
      • "Those who present the truth for this time should not expect to be received with greater favor than were earlier reformers. The great controversy between truth and error, between Christ and Satan, is to increase in intensity to the close of this world’s history." (144)

Anybody left after Martin to take a stand one more time?

(Flyer, TV, Google search, name of person who invited you, etc.)
Free Bibles

The lost and found ministry at PMC has placed a table in the Main Lobby (Narthex) containing Bibles which have been in lost and found for more than a year and not been claimed. Some have names on them and some do not. You are welcome to take a Bible for yourself or a friend.  Please read and enjoy, For other lost and found item, there is a cupboard in the lower lobby welcome center where these items are kept. You can ask during the week for a secretary to help you check if your lost item is there.  After items have been in lost and found for more than three months they are sent to Neighbor to Neighbor so be sure and check on your items soon after you lose them.

Fellowship Dinner

There will not be a fellowship dinner this Sabbath.

Offering for March 30, 2024

Pioneer Operating Budget

I remember it like it was yesterday. I got a call from a close friend saying that they had gotten an incredible job in an incredible city that would be their dream come true. I celebrated with my friend, while also feeling the sting of pain from my own disappointment from recently being rejected from yet another job for which I was qualified, but not hired.

Disappointment and rejection can be hard things to deal with. One thing that God taught me and my family during that season of our lives was that though it may not be “my turn” for the blessing of my dream job, it is always “my turn” to serve God and those around me by doing my best, no matter what position I’m in.

One thing that has blessed me and many others during tough times is the support local churches offer to those who are struggling just to make it. I’ve been in small group Bible study where other members prayed for me and supported me in many ways, both with physical and spiritual needs. Today’s offering will go to support our local church budget, which supports ministries that are the heartbeat of our church all week long, not just on Sabbath. “The Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35, NIV).

By Heather Thompson Day

North American Division Stewardship Ministries

Strength to Keep Going: A Multilingual Worship Celebration

The Andrews University Haitian Association and the Groupe Francophone D'Andrews invite all to participate in a special, multicultural worship experience on April 13 in the Seminary Chapel. Sabbath School at 10:30 AM, divine service at 11:45 AM. Join us in praising God in English, French, and Creole! Children and families welcome, as well as language learners.

BSHS Non-Perishable Food Drive

Our Pioneer students from Berrien Springs High school are holding a non-perishable food drive, the proceeds of which will go directly to the Feeding America Charity to help people with food insecurity. Please visit PM church’s welcome desk on the second floor by the front entrance to the sanctuary from March 25-30 to donate your non-perishable goods to people in need.

RMES Kindergarten Parent Night and Kindergarten Visitor Day

Parents with students who will be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2024, are invited to come meet our Kindergarten teacher on April 2, tour the classroom and school, enjoy refreshments, meet other Kindergarten parents, etc. Kindergarten age children are invited to visit our Kindergarten classroom on April 3. They will enjoy singing and worship, physical education, Spanish and music class, along with outdoor play time. Please call us at 269-471-3225 to let us know you are coming!

The Center for Adventist Research Book Sale

The Center for Adventist Research Book Sale is back! The 2024 Spring book sale begins April 2 with hundreds of used Seventh-day Adventist books, pamphlets, periodicals, audio-visuals, and Ellen White books for sale. There are also many phonograph records for sale.

The books are competitively priced and will be less costly than at the various online sources for Adventist used books. We accept cash, checks, and credit/debit cards. The sale begins April 2 and will conclude on April 16. The sale hours will match the Center’s public hours: Monday to Thursday 9 AM to 7 PM, and Friday 9 AM to 1 PM.  For more information, you may call the Center at (269) 471-3209 or email car@andrews.edu.

Lebanon Mission

This week the PMC Youth Missions team has been conducting the week of prayer on two campuses in Beirut, Lebanon. They are sharing the theme "Faces Around the Cross" with students at Middle East University and Adventist secondary school in nearby
Bouchrieh. The team has presented 4 chapel services a day, starting at 7:30 AM. The 11-member team of Andrews students and PMC members has been learning a lot as they serve in this challenging mission field. Your prayers and support of PMC Youth Missions are indispensable.

Quiet Activity Bags for Kids in Church

Pioneer warmly welcomes young families! Quiet activity bags for children are available to borrow, enjoy, and return each Sabbath morning. Select a larger bag for 1 to 3 year-olds or a smaller one for 3 to 9 year-olds. Pick up a bag in the Narthex or the organ side front entrance lobby. Return as soon as finished so others can enjoy.

2nd Annual Community Messiah Sing

Community Messiah Sing - The Eau Claire SDA Church is celebrating the sacred glory of the Easter season by hosting a inter-faith Community Messiah Sing-Along. You are invited to this Christian sing-along in celebration of the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. We will sing the Easter portion of Handel's Messiah to the recorded “accompaniment” of a Baroque Chamber Orchestra featuring the type of instrumentation the original performance of Handel’s Messiah oratorio had. We will of course conclude the rejoicing with the "Hallelujah" Chorus. Come join us on Saturday, March 30 from 4-6 pm at 6562 Naomi Road in Eau Claire. Bring a Messiah score if you have one or one will be provided. Light refreshments will be served afterwards in the Fellowship Hall.

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