What’s the Difference? Part 2

In the first ThinkSpace of this series called “What’s the Difference? Part 1”, we opened doors 1 and 2 and took an unvarnished look at alternatives to believing in God that can lead away from Him – eternally. We find it easier to think about heaven than hell, but both are real, according to Scripture. It’s important to understand that God does not send people to hell, people choose to send themselves to hell by ignoring and rejecting His free gift of salvation. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.“ 

So now let’s open door 3 to learn about the choice that leads to God eternally. Like part 1, this is a BIG topic to tackle in a short amount of time. Let’s start with a bit of church history and go back to the Middle Ages. What can we learn from an event that happened over 500 years ago? A lot! 

We’ll see that even among “Christian churches” they are not all the same when we take a deeper look. 

In the 1500s in Germany, a division grew between a group of Reformers and the Catholic church that, as a result, launched the Protestant movement. It was actually begun by a Catholic priest!

On October 31, 1517 a Catholic priest, who was also a University professor, named Martin Luther posted a document of 95 Theses, or statements, on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. These statements were an open challenge to the authority of the Catholic church. Why? Because after studying Scripture himself in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin he could see that what God and Jesus were saying to the people was contrary to what the Catholic church was preaching and teaching. For example, things like sales of Indulgences, which were documents the Catholic church said allowed you to buy forgiveness for your sins. This was beyond a serious deception and a lie, as the Holy Bible says that only Jesus Christ has the ability to forgive sins. It is a gift that cannot be paid for with money or earned by works. (Read Ephesians 2:8-9).

Why bring this up and ruffle some feathers? Because of the critically important point it makes. To be a true believer in the God of the Bible means accepting His Word alone as the authority and source of truth to measure our lives by. Yet some churches don’t believe or teach this. They leave the door wide open for all kinds of opinions people may have and what they want to remove or add to what the Bible actually says. They’re also open to being influenced by culture. However, some churches believe that God’s Word stands alone in its authority and nothing is to be added to it. They believe what Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:18 (NIV), “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law, until everything is accomplished.” 

Let’s come back to the essence of the dividing point itself that is a test for any church. There are 5 “sola statements” that became a summary of Martin Luther’s teachings. “Sola” is the Latin word for alone or solitary.

Sola Scriptura      Scripture Alone

Solus Christus      Christ Alone

Sola Fide      Faith Alone

Sola Gratia      Grace Alone

Soli Deo Gloria      Glory to God Alone

How do these five statements affect your thoughts when you think of your own personal beliefs? 

• Do you agree with all of them without hesitation?
• Do you disagree with them?
• Do you see them through the filter of the church you were raised in?

These five points are the dividing point between ANY religion and what the Holy Bible teaches. 

I’m just the messenger here, but you may be surprised to know the beliefs of the Catholic church reject these statements. In doing my research, I found they even consider them heresy (search Sola Scriptura on Wikipedia.com). The Catholic church teaches that both Scripture and Tradition (things the Bible does not teach) are essential sources of divine revelation. Only the Magisterium (the Pope and bishops in communion with him) are responsible for authentically interpreting both Scripture and Tradition. A few days ago, I asked a friend who grew up in the Catholic church if she ever had the assurance that she would go to Heaven when she died and she emphatically said “No!” I also asked if she used to read her Bible and she also said no, that the priests read the Bible and interpreted it for everyone. This wasn’t hundreds of years ago, it’s the way it still is. The fact is, it doesn’t match what the Bible teaches.

Back to Martin Luther for one more true fact. He also translated the Bible into German so everyone could read the Word of God and form their own opinions themselves. I believe it was no coincidence that Gutenberg had just invented the printing press, a historical provision for people to finally have their own copy of the Holy Bible – whether Catholic or Protestant or any other religion on earth.

In conclusion, we must be very careful to examine what any religion teaches and hold their beliefs up to the light of God’s Word to expose any false teaching, even within the church. Sola Scriptura. The Holy Bible alone.

Jesus, the One and only Son of God says this in John 8:31-32:

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

RESET HIGHER: You were born into this world at a certain time, in a certain place. You had no say in the culture or family or belief system you grew up in. However, you DO have a say in what you choose to believe and decide about whether what God says is true. It’s the most important decision you’ll ever make. It will determine where your soul will go beyond this life. Choose wisely.