Martin Luther and Justification by Faith
Martin Luther and justification by faith sparked the Protestant Reformation in 1517 when Luther posted his 95 Theses condemning the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences, and proposed that salvation comes through faith alone, not good works, with the Bible as the only religious authority. In Pengi Social Studies (Grade 7), Chapter 9: The Renaissance and Reformation, students explore how Luther's ideas fractured Christianity and founded Lutheranism.
Key Concepts
In 1517, a German monk named Martin Luther sparked the Reformation. He was outraged by the sale of Indulgences —documents sold by the Church that promised to forgive sins. Luther posted his 95 Theses on a church door in Wittenberg to debate this practice.
Luther went further, rejecting the Catholic teaching that "good works" were needed for salvation. Instead, he proposed Justification by Faith : the idea that salvation comes from faith in God alone. He also declared that the Bible was the only source of religious truth. This led to the founding of the first Protestant church, Lutheranism .
Common Questions
Who was Martin Luther and what did he believe?
Martin Luther was a German monk who in 1517 challenged Catholic Church practices, especially the sale of indulgences. He believed salvation came through faith in God alone (justification by faith), not through good works or Church rituals.
What were Luther's 95 Theses?
The 95 Theses were a list of arguments Luther posted in Wittenberg in 1517 criticizing the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences. They became the catalyst for the Protestant Reformation.
What is justification by faith?
Justification by faith is the Protestant doctrine that a person is saved (justified before God) through faith alone, not through good works, sacraments, or Church authority. Luther proposed this based on his reading of the Bible.
Where is Martin Luther and the Reformation covered in Grade 7 social studies?
Martin Luther and the Reformation are covered in Pengi Social Studies (Grade 7), Chapter 9: The Renaissance and Reformation.