The history of the Church is perhaps one of the rockiest histories of any institution in existence. In the Bible it is recorded to have officially begun in Acts, when the Holy Spirit, being promised to come by Christ, is thought to have ascended on the believers. Although it can be argued that Church’s first roots lie in the coming of Christ, many scholars consider this gathering in Acts, the first church. Little would these believers involved know that in the coming future the foundations of the first church would take a journey that would bring transformation of this institution over and over again.

In the New Testament, the apostolic fathers are commissioned by Christ to spread the gospel. Thus, these early Church fathers set out to establish churches based on the gospel’s good news of grace. Perhaps the greatest example of this can be examined in the life of the Apostle Paul. In Paul's missionary journeys, he established a number of churches and continually worked to spread the gospel message. In many of his Epistles he emphasizes God's grace and the depravity of man. He is adamant that the old way of viewing the law, or the Old Testament, is based on misconception. The Jew

opponent, the capable Catholic theologian Johann Eck, forced Luther to move beyond the simple controversy of indulgences, to denying the authority of the pope and church councils (Cowie). As he was no longer able to tolerate Luther, the pope issued a ban against him. He hoped that the German people would rally around him and follow the edict of the ban. Furthermore, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, summoned Luther to Rome. It was in Rome that the Diet of Worms proceeded. Before the diet Luther was asked to explain his views and Charles ordered him to recant. Unable to accept this order, Luther refused and made the famous reply: “Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.” (Lee). Charles was outraged by Luther’s resistance and was thus made an outlaw within the empire. He managed to escape, however, and he was hidden away in a castle in Wartburg where he continued to develop his new church doctrines. However, after the Diet of Worms, in a more conciliatory effort, Luther wrote a letter to Pope Leo explaining the substance of his ideas. However, this letter was more arrogant then conciliatory, and thus, Luther was excommunicated from the Church. Luther now found himself, no longer trying to simply bring reform to the Catholic Church, but creating a new branch of church all together (Cowie).

The doctrinal theology of the Catholic Church was one that perverted the original foundations of the Apostolic Churches. They were not founded on the principle of salvation and righteousness through grace, but rather on a system of legalism and merit. They more closely reflected the Jewish system of legalistic righteousness, rather then the Christian idea of God’s free grace to repentant sinners. It can even be argued that the Catholic Church of time went beyond Jewish legalism in that they sold righteousness.

based on a return to the original message of the Bible, seemed to find favor throughout Germany. In city after city, the arrival of preachers presenting Luther’s teachings was often followed by public debate. Time after time, these preachers, presenting Luther’s doctrines on the Bible, prevailed. As a result, state authorities then instituted a reform of the church (Jacobs). However, change was much more difficult then Luther thought it would be. He faced many obstacles, including dissent among his own followers in Wittenberg. But in the end the Reformation transformed Christianity, and Luther created a spark that has echoed through other champions of the Reformation, such as John Calvin.

s of the time believed it was by following the letter of the law that one received righteousness, and that salvation was simply as Jewish birthright. However, Paul continually reminded Christians, and argued against the Jews, that righteousness and salvation is a gift from God, through Christ. The Church was founded on the principles of grace and Christ being a propitiation for sin. He is the mediator who preserves both, God’s justice and wrath, as well as, God’s mercy and love.

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