Protestantism
The Reformation began when Martin Luther nailed his ‘95 Theses on Indulgences’ to the church door at Wittenberg, however, his appeal before the Diet of Worms gave the world a monument of faith that will never die. The emperor, Charles V, occupied the throne, surrounded by the most illustrious personages in the empire. No man had appeared in the presence of a more imposing assembly to answer for his faith.
Luther was conducted to a position directly in front of the emperor’s throne. His books were spread on a table before him. An imperial officer arose and pointing to Luther’s writings, demanded the Reformer answer two questions: were the writings his? and would he retract them?
To the first question Luther answered in the affirmative, but to the second he asked for time to consider. The next day he was to give his final answer. During the night the Reformer pleaded with God for wisdom and strength. “O Lord, help me! Faithful and unchangeable God, in no man do I put my trust… Stand at my side, for the sake of Thy well-beloved Jesus Christ, who is my defense, my shield, and my strong tower.” D’Aubigne bk7. Ch8. The Great Controversy p155.
When he was again ushered into the presence of the Diet, his countenance bore no trace of fear or embarrassment. Calm and peaceful, yet grandly brave and noble, he stood as God’s witness among the great ones of the earth….
“Since your most serene majesty and your high mightinesses require from me a clear, simple, and precise answer, I will give you one, and it is this: I cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the councils, because it is clear as the day that they have frequently erred and contradicted each other.
Unless therefore I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture or by the clearest reasoning, unless I am persuaded by means of the passages I have quoted, and unless they thus render my conscience bound by the word of God, I cannot and I will not retract, for it is unsafe for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand, I can do no other; may God help me. Amen.” D’Aubigne bk7.ch8. The Great Controversy p160.
Those who stubbornly closed their eyes to the light, determined not to be convinced of the truth, were enraged at the power of Luther’s words. The Reformer had been victorious over Papal cunning, and Satan was defeated.
Some years later, the Christian princes of Germany stood before the Diet of Spires to answer for their faith.
At the Diet, King Ferdinand announced to the elector and his friends that the edict “was about to be drawn up in the form of an imperial decree”, and that the only remaining course for the princes of Germany “was to submit to the majority”.
Immediately the king withdrew from the assembly, giving the Reformers no opportunity for deliberation or reply. A deputation was sent to the king to return, but his reply was, “It is a settled affair; submission is all that remains.” D’Aubigne bk13. Ch5. The Great Controversy p202.
If the Reformers had relied on the power of man, they would have been powerless. But though weak in numbers, they appealed to a greater Power, Jesus Christ, King of kings, and Lord of lords, and in His strength drew up a solemn declaration to be brought before the national council.
“We protest by these present, before God, our only Creator, Preserver, Redeemer, and Saviour, and who will one day be our Judge, as well as before all men and all creatures, that we, for us and for our people, neither consent nor adhere in any manner whatsoever to the proposed decree, in anything that is contrary to God, to His holy word, to our right conscience, to the salvation of our souls.” D’Aubigne bk13.ch6. The Great Controversy p20.203.
Once again the Papacy was silenced.
“The courage, faith, and firmness of those men of God gained for succeeding ages liberty of thought and of conscience. Their Protest gave to the reformed church the name of Protestant; its principles are ‘the very essence of Protestantism’.” D’Aubigne b13.ch6. The Great Controversy p197.
Satan was furious with these testimonies, but he had a plan. If he could seduce those who followed the Reformers to cling to the teachings of the leading Reformer, he would gain a victory.
Sadly, this is what took place, and the Reformation, instead of moving forward to the enlightenment of all truth, progressed slowly.
“I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go at present no farther than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw… and the Calvinists you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented….” History of the Puritans. D Neal. Vol 1. p269. The Great Controversy p292.
When the Christians in England began reforming, they were hunted, persecuted and imprisoned for their faith. Some were determined to seek refuge elsewhere, and eventually many made their way to the New World.
In his farewell speech, Pastor John Robinson said, “Brethren, we are now erelong to part asunder, and the Lord knoweth whether I shall live ever to see your faces more. But whether the Lord hath appointed it or not, I charge you before God
and His blessed angels to follow me no further than I have followed Christ. If God should reveal anything to you by any other instrument of His, be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth of my ministry; for I am very confident the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth out of His holy word.” The Great Controversy p291.292.
Sadly, the Protestant churches stopped reforming and became like the ill-fated city of Sardis, having “a name that thou livest, and art dead.” Revelation 3:1.
As a result they retained many doctrines that had been formulated by the Roman Catholic Church, and because they refused to advance, the time came when God had to designate them daughters of Rome, for they were no longer Protestants. Revelation 17:5.
The Lutheran Church still holds to the Catholic view. A pastor stated that the Son “always was”, and that “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost are eternally one, according to the creeds and the Scriptures.” The “Nicene creed is repeated by the congregation” every Sunday, affirming the stand made at Nicaea and confirmed at Chalcedony. Lutheran Pastor in Rural Victoria. Australia.
The Baptist Church “teaches the same as the Catholic Church. The only difference from mainstream is that we are self-governing and the people are the guide.” Baptist Union Office representative, Australia.
A spokesman from the Churches of Christ in Australia said, “We have no credal position due to the divisive nature of creeds… Most members believe in the Trinity by default more than research.” Representative Churches of Christ, Australia.
An interviewed Presbyterian minister said plainly, “We are orthodox; Chalcedon of the 5th century, and always have been. We are one of the churches of the Reformation and stand on Nicaea.” Telephone conversation, Melbourne, Australia.
The Uniting Church Moderator said, “We follow the doctrine of the Trinity in the tradition of the churches… God reveals Himself in three ways: God the Creator and Father; God the Son, Jesus Christ; and God, the Holy Spirit.”
When asked if this was Modalism, or one God in three modes, the Moderator said, “No, there are three co-equal, co-eternal, co-existent, consubstantial Persons. They are separate, but somehow all present within each other.” Uniting Church [which is the united Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian churches in Australia] Moderator, Melbourne, Australia. (Note the word ‘consubstantial’ – homoousian in Latin. Modalism is the belief that the Father became Jesus, who then became the Holy Spirit)
A theologian from Ormond College said, “There are not three Beings in the Trinity, that is Tritheism, which is three Gods. But it is correct to say there are three Persons in the Trinity.” Ormond College, Uniting Church college.
An Assemblies of God representative stated that they are Trinitarian, “the same as main-stream – Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans. We have always believed in the Trinity since we first started in 1906.” Assemblies of God Office spokesperson.
The Anglican Church has retained the Catholic view of the Trinity, and at particular services, “the Creed of Saint Athanasius is appointed to be read.” Book of Common Prayer p48, under Morning Prayer.
In other words, the so-called Protestant churches are indoctrinated with the beliefs of Rome on the doctrine of God, believing that the Son is “eternally begotten of the Father”. This makes Him in actual fact - unbegotten. Therefore it is appropriate to ask:
Who says God has no Son?
Protestantism
Who Says God has No Son?
Section 6
Who Says 1
Who Says 2
Who Says 3
Who Says 4
Who Says 5
Who Says 6
Who Says 7
Who Says 8