There will be a fellowship dinner, following the second worship service in the commons on the lower level.
The Story of Martin Luther and the New Reformation
"You Impious and Sensate Papist!"
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonSince 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
More In This Series
"The Story of Martin Luther and the New Reformation:
'You Impious and Sensate Papist!'"
- 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?
Pioneer Operating Budget
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:42-45, ESV).
In one of my first years as a professor, I had a student who clearly did not like me. Every day she came to class with a negative attitude. One day, as I was leaving, I felt the Holy Spirit impress me to give her money. It seemed like an odd thought, so I brushed it away. Later that week, I felt God saying once again to give her money, but now He had doubled the amount.
As we left the classroom, I asked her to stay, and I mumbled through an explanation about why I was giving her money. I watched as she burst into tearsand explained that she had had no idea how she was going to get diapers for her baby.
That experience is a reminder of our call as Christians, to give. We never know the far-reaching impact of our financial gifts. Today’s offering is for our local church budget. Let’s partner with our church to expand our ability to help those around us in need.
By Heather Thompson Day
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
The activity bags have been a big hit with Pioneer kids. Please help us replenish missing items and make more bags by buying items of our Amazon Wish list or by labeling an offering for "Kids Church Bags". Thank you for your support in bringing kids to church!
We would like our community to know that effective Sunday, September 1, 2024, Neighbor To Neighbor will only take donations Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Being found on the premises after hours will not be allowed and will be considered trespassing. Thank you for your understanding.
Something In Common SS presents Don’t Give Up by Kyle Idleman
When you are hanging by a thread, losing faith and short on strength, what you need is real encouragement—a battle cry, a call to action, marching orders to push back the darkness. Stand up straight. Face your fears and enemies. And remember that you are not alone.
Join us weekly from August 24-September 21, Sabbath Mornings at 10:30-11:30, in PMC room 141.
Pioneer Memorial Church is delighted to announce the selection of Jacob Gibbs as a new Associate Pastor. Pastor Jacob was introduced to Pioneer on July 27, 2024, although his official start date was July 18, 2024. Pastor Jacob will serve as Associate Pastor at Pioneer Memorial Church and an Associate Chaplain with the Center for Faith Engagement at Andrews University.
Pastor Jacob Gibbs felt a call to ministry when he accepted Jesus as his Savior in 2002. Over the next nine years, he pursued his purpose and training at Mission College of Evangelism and Andrews University—gaining experience as a Bible Worker and Literature Evangelist. Pastor Jacob graduated from Andrews University in 2011 with a Bachelor's in Art and Theology. He later returned for his Master's Degree in Pastoral Ministry.
During his undergraduate years, he met his wife, Emily Knott, and they were married in 2012. Pastor Jacob has served in the Michigan Conference for 13 years, starting with a three-church district in the central part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and most recently as the Senior Pastor of the Cedar Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church at Great Lakes Adventist Academy. Pastor Jacob's passions in ministry include hobby-based outreach, small groups, applied arts, and personal Bible studies. Pastor Jacob and Emily have two daughters, Eva and Avianne. They look forward to starting this new chapter of their lives by serving the communities of Andrews University and the Pioneer Memorial Church.