Martin Luther

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We shall begin with one of the most well known of the reformers, MARTIN LUTHER, the founder of the Lutheran church. He was at one time a Roman Catholic Priest, who became convinced that salvation was by faith alone-which I also believe- and that we are justified by the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord and forgiven from all of our repented sins.

He also believed that the Papacy has fulfilled Biblical prophecy and has become the KINGDOM OF BABYLON. "Now after reading all the subtleties on which these gentry have set up their idol, I know that the Papacy is none other than the kingdom of Babylon, and the violence of Nimrod the mighty hunter. I therefore beseech all my friends and all the booksellers to burn the books that I have written on this subject, and to substitute this one proposition in their place: The Papacy is a general chase led by the Roman bishop, to catch and destroy souls." Quoted by J.H. Merle D'aubigne, History of the Reformation Vol. 1 p. 131.

In Selections from his writings, by John Dillenberger in 1961, Martin Luther stated more of the same, also from the 16th century: "If they do not abrogate their laws and traditions, restore proper liberty to the churches of Christ, and cause that liberty to be taught, then they are guilty of all the souls which perish in this miserable servitude; and that the papacy is identical with the kingdom of Babylon and the real Antichrist. For who else is the "man of sin" and the "son of Perdition" (II Thess. 2:3) than he who, by his doctrines and statutes, increases sin and multiplies the loss of souls in Christendom, while himself entroned in the church as if he were God? All of this has been done to excess for many generations by papal absolutism. It has extinguished faith, beclouded the sacraments, suppressed the gospel, decreed laws which are not merely impious and sacrilegious but even barbarous and ignorant; and it has mulitplied them without limit."

Also he said this about the PAPAL MASS: "The mass is a bad thing; God is opposed to it; it ought to be abolished; and I would that throughout the whole world it were replaced by the supper of the gospel. But let no one be torn from it by force. We must leave the matter in God's hands. His word must act, and not we. And why so? You will ask. Because I do not hold men's hearts in my hand, as the potter holds the clay. We have a right to speak; the rest belongs unto God. Were I to emply force, what should I gain? Grimace, formality, apings, human ordinances, and hypocrisy. But there would be no sincerity of heart, nor faith, nor charity. Where these three are wanting, all is wanting, and I would not give a pear stalk for such a result." D'Aubigne, History of the Reformation Book 9 Chapter 1.

From Mark 1:9 "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan."

Regarding the Papacy and the SECOND COMMANDMENT: Martin Luther said "Great, say they, is the power and authority of the church, since it dispensed with one of the ten commandments." martin Luther, Augsburg Confession, Art. 28 para. 9.

Although there is much more that he said about the Papacy and it's opposition to God's people, let's move on to another topic. Martin Luther also spoke about the subject of BAPTISM: "The second point in regard to baptism is that it is a sign or sacrament: an immersion in water, whence the name. For the Greek word Baptizo means "immerse", or "plunge", and the word baptisma means "immersion" ...as the moderns say, the sacrament has an effective significance." Selections from His writings. John Dillenberger. Anchor Books p. 298

Regarding the State of the Dead: "We shall sleep until He comes and knocks on the little grave and says, Doctor Luther, Get up! Then I shall rise in a moment, and be happy with Him forever." The Christian Hope p. 37