Protestant Key Doctrines Made Simple

Topic: What does it mean to be a Protestant-
Key Doctrines of the Reformation

Protestant Key Doctrines Made Simple

Dr Wilfred John Sundaraj

29 Oct 2017

Romans 3:24, 1:17 & Galations 3:11

Roms 3:22-24

 We can only be saved by Faith through Grace as a gift through the redemption in christ.
Roms 1:17 ,Gal 3:11. The righteous shall live by faith

1)Sola Scriptural
The Bible alone ,Scripture alone speaks authoritatively, and it speaks to all believers,independently of church leaders and councils,human interpreters and so-called spokesmen for God.

Biblical vs Earthly Authority 
We are to be governed by the bible as our ultimate authority.
Earthly authorities like laws of nature,experience,intellect,emotion,culture are only like scaffoldings to help us understand the bible better.

2) Sola Gratia
“Grace alone.” It is only by the unmerited favor of God that Christ went to the cross and paid the price for man’s salvation.Human Beings are by nature depraved by darkness,blindness,deaf,and heart of stone. He can never understand the gospel truth and need to be set free.
Therefore God’s grace is truly undeserved and amazing and God’s grace alone has the power to draw people to himself and open up our eyes,ears,and heart .
Only God can save us from the power of sin,death and attacks of the devil and set us free.

3)Sola Fide -Faith alone
Only total righteousness is acceptable to God,and that is found in christ,not in us.People can only accept Christ’s work by placing trust in him.

Faith is the confidence God puts in us to trust in christ and His promises in the Word of God.

Faith is knowledge based- refers to the content of faith, or those things we believe.

Faith also refers to personal trust.relationship and reliance to God through christ.
So knowing and believing the content of the christian faith is not enough,for even the demons can do that.
Faith is only effectual if, knowing about and assenting to the claims of Jesus,one personally trusts in im alone for salvation.Faith that saves and works are justified by faith in christ to do good works.

4)Sola Christus- Christ alone
Salvation is accomplished by christ alone,and mediated by christ alone - not by angels,saints,sacraments,priests,teachers,churches,or anyone or anything else.Christ alone was the perfect Savior,and he alone is the perfect prophet,priest,and king.
The Gospel is inclusive claim for all but exclusive claim in christ alone is salvation found.

5) Soli Deo Gloria (To God be the Glory)
God must be the center of our worship,praise,thanksgiving,works,home,and play.Worship is a  way of life and not just  a  church activity or performance.

Biblical theology
A)Law and the Gospel
The old laws in the old testament condemn us because we can never fulfill all the laws and achieve salvation by our own effort but Jesus came to fulfill the law by saving us from the condemnation of sins out of his mercy and Grace.So we are to thank God,praise God and worship Him for all Jesus has done for us.
So the old testament becomes our guide to do good works as a way of devotion and thanksgiving.

B) Sacraments - Baptism and Eucharist ( holy communion)
Both sacraments are holy practices and commands and promises from God.

Baptism is to to testify publicly ones repentance and acceptance of the salvation from christ jesus.
Eucharist or holy communion are to be practised to remember what christ has done for us at the cross for the forgiveness of our sins saved by grace not by works.

Reformation also restore the importance of family as the important part of the church.
Families is the small church at home and parents must not neglect the spiritual educations at home.

Reformation is an on going process whereby life are being transformed continuously for God’s glory and traditions needs to be refined to rid of any unhealthy practices that are not pleasing to God.
The church must preserved the spirit of unity amongst all believers in christ irrespective of denominations in the course of reformations.

Questions

1) Which of the key Doctrines of Reformation mentioned appeal to you more? Why?

2) What is one key lesson you have learnt from this sermon and how has that impacted your life?

Doctrine of God and Us

Romans 8:29-30

 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Jesus' Calling us to Himself

When did God first think of you ? 

When did God first call you ?

Ephesians 3:3-4

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

God chose us before the foundation of the world.

When God decided to call you ? 

2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Time is an earthly thing. God have us in mind before time, before earth was created. There is no years in eternity. 

God chose and calls you before time eternal, a long time ago. He thought about you. 

In the process of our time, we experienced that call of God.

God is actively calling. It is not our works to convince people to believe in God. It is God's call and works to save people.

Look How He lifted me

"Look How He Lifted Me"

[Verse 1:]

My world was shaken

My heart was broken

My hope was fading

The walls were closing in

But now I'm singing

Look how He lifted me

[Verse 2:]

My life was sinking

My days were numbered

The waves were crashing

The flood was coming in

Oh Hallelujah

Look how He lifted me

[Chorus:]

Look how He lifted me

His grace and mercy is my testimony

For every victory

I've got a song to sing

Look how He lifted me!

Whoa-o-oh

Whoa-o-o-oh

[x3]

[Verse 3:]

He turned my mourning

Back into dancing

He turned my weeping

Into a shout again

And now I'm singing

Look how He lifted me

[Verse 4:]

He rolled my sorrows

Away at calvary

He rose in triumph

Over the enemy

Oh Hallelujah

Look how he lifted me

[Chorus]:

Oh, look how He lifted me

His grace and mercy

Is my testimony

For every victory

I've got a song to sing

Look how He lifted me!

Whoa-o-oh

Whoa-o-o-oh

[x3]

[Bridge:]

When nothing else could help

Your love came down

Your love came down

When nothing else could help

Your love came down

And lifted me

[x2]

[Chorus:]

Oh, look how He lifted me

His grace and mercy

Is my testimony

For every victory

I've got a song to sing

[x2]

Look how He lifted me!

Whoa-o-oh

Whoa-o-o-oh

[x3]

Psalm 145

1 I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.

7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.

11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;

12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 40:2

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.

Psalm 18:16

16He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

Psalm 39:4

"Show me, LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

Psalm 3

1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Psalm 30

1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Psalm 20

1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

Psalm 51:17

Psalm 69:1-3

1 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

O Come to the altar

O Come to the altar

[Verse 1:]

Are you hurting and broken within

Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin

Jesus is calling

Have you come to the end of yourself

Do you thirst for a drink from the well

Jesus is calling

[Chorus:]

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

[Verse 2:]

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes

Come today there's no reason to wait

Jesus is calling

Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy

From the ashes a new life is born

Jesus is calling

[Chorus x2:]

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

[Bridge x2:]

Oh what a Savior

Isn't he wonderful

Sing alleluia, Christ is risen

Bow down before him

For he is Lord of all

Sing alleluia, Christ is risen

[Chorus x2:]

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

[Verse 3:]

Bear your cross as you wait for the crown

Tell the world of the treasure you've found

[Verse 1:]

Are you hurting and broken within

Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin

Jesus is calling

Have you come to the end of yourself

Do you thirst for a drink from the well

Jesus is calling

[Chorus:]

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

[Verse 2:]

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes

Come today there's no reason to wait

Jesus is calling

Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy

From the ashes a new life is born

Jesus is calling

[Chorus x2:]

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

[Bridge x2:]

Oh what a Savior

Isn't he wonderful

Sing alleluia, Christ is risen

Bow down before him

For he is Lord of all

Sing alleluia, Christ is risen

[Chorus x2:]

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

[Verse 3:]

Bear your cross as you wait for the crown

Tell the world of the treasure you've found

O come to the altar

The Father's arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Psalm 43:4

Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Prodigal father's open arms to welcome the son back home. God is intensely looking for him rather than condemning him.

Doctrine of God, Christ, Man, Salvation, Repentance, 

Philippines 3: and 

1Peter 1;19

but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 

Ephesians 1:17

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

Isaiah 61:3

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.