the whole life of the faithful to be an act of repentance.
The Gospel According to Historic Christianity
factor in salvation. Catholicism began to place more and more emphasis on sacramental works. Then monasticism, sacerdotalism, and Romanism eventually eroded the organized church's understanding of salvation. The prevailing view of redemption came to be an unbiblical notion that people must perform meritorious works to earn favor with God. Celibacy, solitude, and selfflagellation were seen as some of the means to appease Him. The Dark Ages descended on the world, all but obscuring the light of the true gospel.
When the Reformers rediscovered the truth of justification by faith, the darkness was finally dispelled. The Reformers began to teach again that divine sovereignty, not man's will, is the determining factor in salvation. The heart of their doctrine was the truth that faith, not works, is the instrument through which sinners obtain salvation. That truth freed multitudes from the religious slavery that Romanism had imposed on Christendom.
But did Reformation theology allow for a brand of faith that does not produce practical righ teous ness? Certainly not. The clear conviction of all the leading Reformers was that true faith inevitably manifests itself in good works.
The incident that symbolically marked the beginning of the Reformation was Martin Luther's posting of his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in 1517. The first four theses show clearly what Luther thought of the necessity of good works:
1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in saying "Repent ye, etc.," meant the whole life of the faithful to be an act of repentance. 2. This saying cannot be understood of the sacrament of penance (i.e., of confession and absolution) which is administered by the priesthood. 3. Yet he does not mean interior repentance only; nay, interior repentance is void if it does not externally produce different kinds of mortifications of the flesh. 4. And so penance remains while self-hate remains (i.e., true interior penitence); namely right up to entrance into the kingdom of heaven.7
Luther also wrote:
When we have thus taught faith in Christ, then do we teach also good works. Because thou hast laid hold upon Christ by faith, through whom thou art made righ teous, begin now to work well. Love God and thy neighbour, call upon God, give thanks unto him, praise him, confess him. Do good to thy
7. Ibid., 186.