500 YEARS OF REFORMATION 1517 – 2017
Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola Fide (faith alone), Sola Gratia (grace alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone), Soli Deo Gloria (to the Glory of God alone)

Series HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION with Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A.

Speaker: Pastor Kurt Piesslinger
In his childhood he lived on a farm in 1000m at the foot of a mountain of 3000m in the Alps in Austria;
Teacher for History and Geography; He studied Theology in Austria and Great Britain
Pastor of the Seventh-Day-Adventist Church in Austria; he loves studying the Bible and History.
He is looking forward to the time of Jesus return, when we will be delivered into the universe.
He is married, two daughters, who are professional musicians.

 

 

Introduction – THE BIG FIVE
The Heirdom Of The Reformators

John Huss in Bohemia, John Wycliff in England, Martin Luther in Germany, John Calvin in the French part of Switzerland and Ulrich Zwingli in the German part of Switzerland are the big figures of the Reformation. Their influence is still alive. They have made an impression on the world because of their devotion to Christ.

Matthew 22:37 – Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (KJV)

 

 

1.THE EARLY CHURCH
A Stony Path

The Waldenses possess the Holy Scriptures like the early Christians and spread the true Gospel through Europe during the Middle Ages. The Roman-Catholic Church persecutes them in a brutal way. Despite all campaigns against them, they continue talking of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins on the cross.

Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (KJV)

 

 

2.THE MORNING STAR OF THE REFORMATION
John Wycliff And The Reformation In England

Being gloat over the serious sickness of Wycliff, some monks show up in his bedchamber, telling him, as one on the brink of the grave, to revoke his critical statements about the Church of Rome. Wycliff`s answer: „I shall not die, but live and declare the evil deeds of the friars.“ The monks rush in astonishment and confusion from the chamber. As Wycliff had foretold so it came to pass.

2 Peter 1:19 – We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. (KJV)

 

 

3.THE MARTYR 
John Huss And The Reformation In Bohemia

On the 6th of July 1415 John Huss is burned on the stake in Konstanz, Germany. As Professor of Theology in Prag, he has spread the teachings of John Wycliff about the Gospel through Europe. The Council is helpless because of the steadfastness of the Reformer, who is not afraid of the flames. Huss dies with confidence and firm belief in the resurrection from the dead.

John 8:31.32 – Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (KJV)

 

 

4.THE CHANGE 
Martin Luther – From Anxiety To Joy

The student Martin Luther is taken by surprise in a heavy thunderstorm. He fears to be killed by a lightning and makes a vow to become a monk in order to survive. He enters the cloister, fulfilling his vow. The student of law moves on to become a student of the Bible. Later on he will reform the Christian world.

Romans 1:17 – For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (KJV)

 

 

5.THE 95 THESES
Martin Luther And The Reformation In Germany

On the 31st of October 1517 ninety-five theses are fixed by Martin Luther on the Castle-Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The lies of the Roman-Catholic Church are made publicly. Indulgences cannot help a single soul. They only increase the finances of the Church. The doctrines of the Church of Rome are shaken.

Jeremiah 23:29 – Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? (KJV)

 

 

6.THE DIET OF WORMS
Martin Luther And The Rulers

April 18th, 1521: Martin Luther, standing in front of the rulers of Germany, is told to revoke his reformatory statements against the Roman-Catholic Church. He is on the brink of the stake. Luther`s answer: „Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.“ From this hour onwards the religious landscape of Europe is changed.

Isaiah 41:10 – Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (KJV)

Matthew 10:17-19 – But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. (KJV)

 

 

7.THE WARTBURG
Martin Luther And The German Bible

On the Diet at Worms Martin Luther is made an outlaw. Anyone may kill the Reformer without being punished for murdering. Therefore Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, orders Luther to be taken captive. Actually he is brought to the Wartburg to be in safety. In this Castle Luther translates the New Testament into the German language.

Isaiah 55:8.9 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV)

 

 

8.THE PROTEST OF THE LANDLORDS
Princes Help Protestantism To Get Started

The Emperor wants to force five protestant princes of Germany to adopt Roman-Catholicism again. These princes risk their lifes when protesting against the Emperor’s will, but are protected by the Almighty. Since then the members of the Lutheran Church are called protestants.

Acts 5:29 – Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (KJV)

 

 

9.THE REFORMATION IN SWITZERLAND
Ulrich Zwingli

Ulrich Zwingli is the reformer of Switzerland. His sermons convince the councillors of Zurich to destroy all the images of the town. God`s law is restored. In the decalogue it is written: You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth benaeth or in the waters below. You shall not bow to them or worship them.

In 1531 there is a battle near Kappel in the southwest of Zurich between a huge Roman-Catholic army and a small Protestant army. Zwingli, doing his duty as a pastor, is praying with a dying soldier when a foe from behind throws a big stone on his head. Zwingli is the shepherd of his flock till the last minute of his life.

Exodus 20:3-6 – Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (KJV)

Revelation 2:10 – be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (KJV)

 

 

10.JOHN CALVIN AND REFORMATION IN THE FRENCH PART OF SWITZERLAND

Calvin is a student in Paris, when he is about to be burned on the stake because of his Protestant belief. In the very last moment he succeeds in climbing down the wall of a house with some sheets. For years he is hunted by the authorities of the Roman-Catholic Church, because he preaches the Gospel without fear. In Geneva he finds his working place.

Geneva is reformed by Calvin. But a group of nobleman, the Libertines, do not like Calvin`s practical reforms and live a low moral standard. Nevertheless they want to share in the Lord`s supper in arms, but Calvin risks his life by refusing their participation.

Matthew 8:20 – And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Matthew 26:26-28 – And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

My God bless you today and always.