10/4/25 Only Christus
The month of October has historical baring in our faith set known as Christianity. Specifically the Protestant portion of the body of Christ, as on October 31, 1517 a small band of men from three different European countries protested the practices of the Roman Catholic church calling for a return to doctrine that is legitimately tied to the teachings of Jesus, then the apostles thereafter, then scripture born of Holy Spirit. On Oct. 31st, 1517, Martin Luther posted his ninety-five thesis on the door of the Wittenberg church. This move was known as the Protestant Reformation. The words are very active but lost as a title or label today potentially because we have a watered down understanding of where we came from.
Protestant derives from protest because they were protesting corruption in the church, the misappropriation and use of the sacred word of God that led to the exploitation and extortion of resources where the main benefactor would be the Catholic church.
Reformation is just what it sounds like, reforming. This was a quest to set things right. But it wasn’t until 12 years later from Luther taking the hammer to the nail upon the door that the term Protestant became a trend. This awakening set for the reforming of the theological understanding by those who opposed a corrupt church, who acted in counterculture declared their allegiance to God alone, not a government, not a loyalty to a governing figure such as an emperor.
Many of us may think this was 500 years ago, we are far passed that. But I ask has the protestant church, fallen for the same traps?
This series is going to challenge you, as it is mean to, to examine your understanding, your layers of foundation to examine if potentially you or someone you know, maybe even your denomination has. In the listing of the 95, Luther listed what is known as the 5 Solas. The Latin word sola means “alone” or “only.” Solus Christus or Sola Christo means through Christ Alone.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
This is about salvation as in being saved. Salvation is by one man, the Son of God & corruption in years past, even this generation as to through who being saved is through. In the Roman Catholic church tradition the emphasis was on the leadership, priests, bishops, popes as the intercessor between the common man & the Most High God. This discounts this verse which Jesus, here illustrates his role as the High Priest who is the only who can enter the Holy of Holies in the temple into the presence of God & represent the sacrifice for the purpose of covering our sins.
Christ intercedes for us also because he has a distinction that only he in the history of the High Priests has, Hebrews 4:15 teaches, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus is the One who offers access to God, not a human spiritual leader.
Why is this important? Back then Luther nailed the 95 Thesis to the door he was standing up to the corruption. The first portion of the corruption we are looking at is the corruption that you could buy your way into the Presence & favor of God.
The Catholics conflated this myth called purgatory & banked on it saying that only the righteous could enter the presence of God & the Lord could be swayed by how much you give to the church. These profits made the immaculate & ornate chapels in Europe worth millions & Millions of dollars. These chapels were funded by the deception that you could buy your way into the heavenly presence of the Lord after you died. Further, you could purchase the eternal fates of your family members & buy them out of purgatory or even hell if the price is right. Further the teachings of the catholic church are that you are to confess your sins not to God but to a man known as a priest & he would take that to God on your behalf, discounting the instructions from scripture.
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Peter spoke this, as an apostle has foremost authority to the truth of the Messiah alone & not being the methods of man. This verse, among others tell the truth of the main problem that we all face. The problem is the sin nature in us all. That is what prevents us from being overcome by the corruption of the flesh that shows forth in no matter what we do. The Pope was declared the Vicar of Christ by the church, not the Bible, bot by Jesus himself. Why? Because there were no popes and there is no biblical office as pope. This title of fiction also came with the mandate from the church that only the pope only release people of sin through penance.
Penance to those outside the Catholic system Penance (poenitentia) designates (I) a virtue; (2) a sacrament of the New Law; (3) a canonical punishment inflicted according to the earlier discipline of the Church; (4) a work of satisfaction enjoined upon the recipient of the sacrament. These have as their common center the truth that he who sins must repent and as far as possible make reparation to Divine justice. Repentance, i.e., heartfelt sorrow with the firm purpose of sinning no more, is thus the prime condition on which depends the value of whatever the sinner may do or suffer by way of expiation. https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/penance
There are major problems with this whole scenario, some of which we will address later in the series. But let’s deal with the sin issue. Sin is the opportunity seized by the enemy to open the door to the many forms of torment & even death that he longs to bring to us. This is done in heavenly court. The problem again with that is found in scripture. If the law that exposes us to death, was fulfilled by Jesus because He shed his blood for us.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
But this message is lost in a lot of Christians who are practicing condemnation for that which has been dealt with by the blood of Christ. If a follower of Christ has been truly cleaned by the blood, as in they are truly repentant for the sin they what right does anyone to bring it back up and hold it against them. Further, the modern church has caught the disease that is the love of $. This expands beyond the prosperity gospel.
This extends into denominations who do not pay their pastors a livable wage but have secretaries at HQ who do. The churches who put a spotlight on the major donors by providing them special favor, seating, gold plated name plates & priority access to clergy. Our promised land of milk and honey Became a land of filth and money. When will we learn to acknowledge it is in Christ alone. Here is the summary.
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
It is Christ alone. His works nothing else. The church does not save you, no when you are saved, you become part of that, because that is not a building, it is a body, the bride of Messiah. No person of authority in any denomination can or the pope can release people of sin through penance.
It was Jesus who took a look at your spiritual account and saw you were in debt.
He stepped forward as the lamb of God who died upon the altar willingly.
He saw that account & said in my righteousness you are going to be covered.
I will pay the dept, you will walk out of here debt free.
Anyone who calls you for debt relief services, tell them it has already been paid.
If anyone says you need to operate in the system of penance,
you can tell them that the man who was raised between two thieves died on a cross,
was buried in a tomb, then 3 days later got up and left the tomb.
Walked around this place for 40 days, had over 500 people see him.
Then he rose again and now intercedes for me at the right hand of God the Father
and destroyed any man made system
because salvation is by the Son of God, for there is no other name by which we are saved.
