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Chapter 7 of 11

His Ninety Five Theses are as follows

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91 after him. We find here how to Rambam praised the noble qualities of prophet of God. Moses was also called the servant of God. Some theologians expressed their opinion that through Moses did the work of God it is not proper to call him “Chief” why because according to their opening God is the only Chief Moses was a human being likes any other and confirmed to the Old Testament only. So, the statement of Rambam about calling of Prophet Moses as chief of the prophets appears to be improper. It appears as it He was superior even to Jesus Christ of 1st century Prophet Mohammed

th of 7 century. Probably a several war was going on between the crusaders and Muslims and killing each other in his time. The situation must have prompted Rambam to use that chief to Moses in his writings And Apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews gave a suitable answer. “And Moses verily faithful in all his house as a servant but chief as a son over his own house” (Hebrew 3:5-6) “But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Luke 16:31)

Jesus affirmed that Moses prophesied about the coming of the Messiah and who was no other than Jesus Himself. But the non acceptance of Jesus (who is the Passover lame the yom Kippur goat who died for our sins the first fruit of them that sleep still actually gave the idea a day of the teachings of Moses. EIGHT - I believe with perfect faith that the whole law in our possession is the same that was given to Moses our teacher peace be unto him.

This is also a fine affirmation of the inspiration and veracity of the Old Testament. But we cannot whole heartedly accept this as whole Law without including the New Testament which is also called the fourth covenant of God. We may take it for granted the whole Mosaic Law called “Torah” which is really wonderful. The five books of Moses were also called Pentateuch of the Bible. But weeping prophet, Jeremiah spoke the truth about the New Testament, which is called new covenant of or fourth covenant or New law is to come.

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“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people”. (Jeremiah 31:31-33) NINE – I believe with perfect faith that the law will not be changed and that there will never be any other law from the creator blessed be His name.

As per statement said above it seems Rambam is going against the saying prophet Jeremiah in 31:31-33. He is making a declaration and the meaning of it is that he denied what God said Apostle Paul in the book of Hebrews emphasized that the Jewish nation was not under Joshua at that time nor completely entered into God’s final rest. Ram bam must have realized this fact in addition to the war that was going on between the crusaders and Muslims throughout His life. During that time the Jews were in minority in Cordova and in the war many were killed from both sides apart from that the Israel had not yet reached anything like approaching the millennial or heavily state of peace prosperity, security etc. Which God prophesized in (Isaiah 11:1-13, 66:5-24, Zechariah 12:14)

Let us to put together and consider the words of Isaiah in 11:6 it is said “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb”. But the fact is this has not happened and also did not happen at the time of Rambam except the war between the crusaders and Muslims all these events must have proper Rambam to pen his thirteen principles the external point is something has to be done or to happen in God’s ecclesiastical government of these words. Unfortunately such memorable events had not taken place during the life time of Rambam according to history it was the crucial time of the crusaders from 1096 to 1300 A.D. So, the suitable answer at this denature is that the believers have to keep in mind about Jesus, he is Messaiah and he is going to come again to anytime.

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93 TEN - I believe with perfect faith that the creator blessed be His name knows every deed of the children and all their thoughts as it is said it is He that fashions the hearts of them all who will listen to all their deeds.

In the book of Matthew 10:29-30 it is said that every sparrow falls and the even the hairs of our head are numbered before God here Rambam is quite correct in His statement but the problem is here is God knows everything like the doing of Children and men. In this concept a paul wrote in Romans 3:20 therefore by the needs of the law there shall know flesh be justified in His light for by the law is it knowledge of sign. He got who knows all things sees us as sinners and our limited good works and good needs cannot make us righteous before good. This is not new teaching but it is the plain teaching of the Old Testament for all who like sheep have gone astray. We have between everyone to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him inequity of us all and all our righteousness are like filthy rags (Isaiah 55:6, 64:6)

Here Apostle Paul agreed with the statement of prophet Isaiah and He said in Romans 2:13 for not the hearers of the law are justified doers of before God but the law shall be justified and also in Galatians 3:25 he explains therefore the law was our school master to bring us unto Christ that we be justified by faith. ELEVEN - “I believe with perfect faith that the creator blessed be His name He would give rewards to those that keep His commandments and punishes those that transgress them”.

This is true but different scholars gave them opinion on this topic according to the principle we are all sinners and be must to Jesus Christ the one who paid for sin by dying on the cross. There by we are made free from external damnation. TWELVE - I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah and through History. I will wait daily for His coming.

As maintained in the above passage must remain our Jewish friends that they must have faith in the words of the twelfth principle and in the

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words of their own rememorable master. Rambam in the book John 1:41 Andrews called his brother Simon Peter and declared we have found the Messiah. Having found the Messiah indicated they were looking for search a Messiah as fore told by the propherts. It is just some kind of Jewish tradition the enlightened modern tag rag people thoughts about the Rabbi Menacham Schmeeson was possibly the Messiah. He lived from 1092 to 1994 and he was the seventh Rabbi of the chabed lubaviter movement He born in Ukraine and after migration through Russia, Poland, Jermany and France due to Nazi persecution in 1941 and finally he immigrated to America tried maximum efforts for the unity of Jews worldwide and emphasized an aggressive movement to establish day, schools and synagogues throughout the world. He did many things to the honouring principle service to humanity is service to divinity. He was given memorable memories medals and citations and finally his name was put into the invited United States congressional records for his charitable works and world leadership. THIRTEEN - I believe with perfect faith that there will be a resurrection of the deed at the time when it shall please the creator blessed be His name and exalted be the remembrance of Him forever and ever.

Jesus Christ in his earthly ministrey affirmed many times regarding resurrection from the dead of event took place 1200 years after Rambam that is the resurrection and death.

Jesus consoled Martha and Mary when they were in grief over the death as their brother Lazurus. This incident made all the believers to have more faith on Him. Jesus loved that family too much and he was with them like one of the member of the family so when the sisters were crying Jesus also cried along with them He cried two times in His life when he looked Jerusalem he recollected that it would be destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans King Titus. That would take place about 40 years after death of Jesus Christ and He cried second time over the death of Lazarus. He thought it to be most appropriate occasion and proclaimed I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he covered yet shall he live that whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die (John 12: 25-26)

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9. REFORMERS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH

The Catholic Church was scandalized during 1500 AD. The main reason was the church had been granting indulgences (forgiving punishment for sin) in exchange for money. A huge amount of money was received by the church through this method. The result of this was, it reflected very badly and also the image and sacredness of the church was damaged. In such circumstances some reformers like Martin Luther, and after him John Calvin and William Cary came to limelight for the reestablishment and save the integrity of the churches, during their times. Among such people Martin Luther was the first one.

Martin Luther:

He was working as a priest in 1507 but later appointed as the professor of theology in the University of Wittenberg. He prepared some lectures and concluded that only God would give proper Justice to the sins of the people but not the church authorities. His belief was that only faith in Christ would save people from their sins. This understanding of God made him to interfere in the affairs of church and proclaim that the sins of the people would be forgotten only when they follow the rules of the church. In confirmation of this fact, Martin Luther nailed his famous Ninety Five Theses on the door of Wittenberg Church because of the invention of movable type printing press, His written message spread through Europe in a short time.

His Ninety Five Theses are as follows:

1)Our Lord and master Jesus Christ when He said pormitenteamajite

willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance

2)This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e.

confession and satisfaction which is administered by the priests

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3)Yet it means inward repentance only, were there is no inward

repentance which does not outwardly work divers’ mortifications of

the flesh.

4)The penalty (of sin) therefore, continues So long as hatred of self

continues, for this is the true inward repentance and continues until

our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

5)The pope does not intend to remit and cannot remit any penalties

other than those, which he has imposed either by his own authority

or that of by the canons.

6)The pope cannot remit any guilt except by declaring that it has been

remitted by God and assenting to God’s remission. Though to be sure

he may grant, remission in cases, he reserved to his judgment. It is

right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would

remain entirely unforgiven.

7)God remits guilt to no one, whom he does not at the same time humble

in all things and being subject to his vicar the priest.

8)The penitential canons are imposed only on the living and according

to them nothing should be imposed on the dying.

9)Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us because in his

degrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of

necessity.

Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those who in case of dying

reserve canonical penances varagatory.

The changing of canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory is quite

evidently one of the tares that were sown when the bishops slept.

In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not after but

after absolution as test of true condition.

The dying are freed by death from all penalties they are already died

to canonical rules and have right to be released from them.

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The imperfect health (of soul) that is to say the imperfect love of the

dying brings with it the necessity of great fear, and smaller the love the

greatest is the fear.

This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say nothing of other

things) to constitute the penalty of purgatory since it is very near to the

horror of despair.

Hell, purgatory and heaven seem to differ as do despair almost despair

and assurance of safety

With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow

less and love increase.

It seems unproved either by reason or scriptures that they are outside

the state of merit that is to say of increasing love.

Again it seems unproved that they are at best that all of them are

certain or assured of their own blessing, though we may quite certain

of it

Therefore, by full remission of all penalties pope means actually of all,

but only of those imposed by himself.

Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in errors, who say that

by the pope’s indulgences a man is freed from every penalty and saved.

Whereas he remits souls in purgatory, no penalty which according to

the canons they would have had to pray in this life.

If it is at all possible to grant anyone the remission of all penalties

whatever it is certain that remission will be granted only to the most

perfect that is to the fewest.

Therefore it must be needed that the greater part of the peoples are

deceived by that indiscriminate and high sounding promise of release

from penalty

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The power which the pope has in a general way over purgatory is just

like the power which way bishop or curate has in a general way within

his own daises’ or parish.

The pope does will wean he grants remission to souls, in purgatory

not by the power of the kings (which he does not possess) but by the

way of intercession

They preach man who said that also soon as the penny jingles into the

money box. The soul flees out (of purgatory)

It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money box gain and

avarice can be increased but the result of the intercession of the church

is in the power of God alone.

Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory which to be brought

out of it as in the legend of STS seven times and paschal.

No one is sure that his own condition is sincere much less he has

attained full remission.

Rare is the man that is truly penitent and also rare is the man who

buys indulgences such men are most rare.

They will be condemned eternally together with their teachers who

believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of

pardon.

Men must be on their guard against those who say that the letters of

pope’s pardon are in estimate gifts of God; by which man is reconciled

with him.

For those graces of pardon; concern only the penalty of sacramental

satisfaction, and those are appointed by men.

They preach no Christian doctrines who teach that contribution is not

necessary in those who buy souls out of purgatory or to buy

confessionalia.

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Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty

and guilt even without letter of pardon.

Every true Christian whether living or dead has part in all the blessings

of Christ and the church and it is granted to him by God, even without

the letters of pardon.

Nevertheless the remission and the participation (in the blessings of

the church) which are granted by the pope are in no way despised for

they are as I have said the decay despised for they are as I have said

the declaration of Devine remission.

It is most difficult, even for the keenest theologians at once and at the

same time to commend to the people, the abundance of pardons and

(the need of) true contribution.

The contribution seeks and loves penalty, but liberal pardons only

relax penalty and cause them to be hatred or at least furnish an occasion

(for healing them).

Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution but people may

falsely think about them preferable from other good works of love.

Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to

the needy does a better work than buying pardons.

Christians are to be taught that the people do not intend the buying of

pardons to be composed in any way the works of mercy.

Because love grows by works of love and becomes better and by

pardons man does not grow better only more free from penalty.

Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need and passes

him by and gives (his money) for pardons purchases not the indulgence

of the people but indignation of God.

Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need

they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families

and by no means to squander it on pardons

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Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of

free will and not of commandment.

Christian are to be taught that the pope in granting pardons needs and

therefore desires their prayers for him more than the money they bring.

Christians are to be taught that the pope’s pardons are useful if they

do not put their trust in them but altogether harmful if through them

they lose their fear of God.

Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the

pardon preachers he would rather that St. Peters church should go to

ashes than that it shall be built up with skin flash and bones of his

sheep.

Christians are to be taught that it would be the popes wish as it is his

duty to give his own money to many of these from when certain

haufeerers of pardons cazols money even though the church of St.

peters might have to be sold.

The assurance of salvation by letter of pardon is vain even though the

commissioner may, even though the pope himself to stake his soul

upon it.

There are enemies of Christ and of the pope who bid the word of God

be altogether silent in some churches in order that pardons may be

preached in others.

Injury is done to the word of God when in the same sermon an equal

or a longer time is spent on pardons rather than on the worship of

God.

It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons which are very

small things are celebrated with one bill, with single procession and

ceremony then the gospel which is the greatest thing and which shall

be preached with hundred bills, a hundred processions and hundred

ceremonies

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The treasure of the church out of which the pope grants indulgences

are not sufficiently named or known among the people of Christ

It is certain that they are not temporal treasures because many of the

vendors do not pier out such treasures so easily but only gather them.

They are not the merits of Christ and the saints for even without pope

these always work grace for the inner man and the cross death and

hell for the outward man.

St. Laurence said that the treasures of the church were the church’s

poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the world in his own

times

Without rashness we say that the keys of the church given by Christ’s

merit are that treasure

For it is clear that for the remission of penalty and of reserved cases

the power of the pope itself is sufficient

The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory

and of the grace of God.

But this treasure is naturally most odious for it makes the first to be

last.

On the other hand, the treasure of the indulgence is naturally most

acceptable for it makes the last to be first.

Therefore the treasures of the gospels are nets with which they now

fish for men of riches

The treasures of the indulgence are nets with which they now fish for

the riches of men.

The indulgences which the preachers cry as the greatest graces are

known to be tardy such in so far as they promote gain.

Yet, you are in truth, the smallest graces compared with the grace of

God ,and the piety of the cross

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Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commission arises of

apostolic pardons with all reference

But still more are bound to strain all their eyes and attend with their

ears lest they must preach their own dreams instead of the commission

of the pope.

He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons let him be

anathema and accursed

But he who guards against the last and license of the pardon preaches

let him be blessed.

The pope justify thunders against those who by any art continue the

injury of the traffic in pardons

But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use to

protect pardons to continue the injury of holy love and truth

To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man

even if he had committed an impossible sin, and violated the mother

of God that is madness.

We say on the contrary that the papal pardons are not able to remove

very least of the venerial sins so far as its guilt is concerned.

It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now pope could not bestow

greater graces, this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the

papal

We say on the contrary that even the present pope and any pope at

all has greater graces at his disposal to wit the gospel powers, gifts of

healing etc as it is in the 1 Corinthian

To say that the cross emblagened with papal arms which are set up (by

the preachers of indulgences) is of equal worth with the cross of Christ

is blasphemy.

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The bishop’s curates, and theologians, who allow such talk to be spread

among people, who have an account to render.

This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy matter even for

learned man to rescue the reverence due to the pope from slander or

even from the shrewd questionings of the laity.

To wit, why does not the pope empty purgatory for the sake of holy

love and of the dire need of the souls that are there if he redeems an

infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which

to build a church? The former reasons would be most just the lather is

most trivial

Again why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead continued

and why does he not return are permit the withdrawal of the

endovement on their behalf since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed.

Again what is new piety of God and the pope that for money they

allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory

the pious soul of a friend of God and does not rather it purchase sake?

Again why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact and

through disease abrogated and dead now satisfied by the gratin of

indulgences as though they were still alive and in force?

Again why does not the pope whose wealth is to day greater than the

richest build this just one church of St. Peter with his money rather

than with the money of the poor believers?

Again what is that the pope remits and what participation does he

grant to those who by perfect condition have a right to full remission

and participation.

Again what greater blessing would come to the church, than if the

pope were to do a hundred times a day, what he now does once and

bestow on every believer those remissions and participations

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Since the pope by his pardons seeks the salvation of souls rather than

money, why should he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted

here to fore since these have equal efficacy?

90)To repress those arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone

and not to resolve them by giving reasons is to expose the church and

the pope to the reeducate of their enemies and to make Christians un

happy

91)If therefore pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind

of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved may they

would not exist

92)Away then with all those prophets, who say to the people of Christ

“peace peace” and there is no peace

93)Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ “cross

cross” and there is no cross.

94)Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ

they had through penalties death and hell.

95)And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through money

tribulations than through the assurance of peace.

Martin Luther never said that his contribution was for the modern nationalism but he wished to point out the way of the life of Germans. He said they were selfish drunk, self centered and stupid. He tried to unite the Germans politically and culturally including language; the two hundred to three hundred little German states Luther contributed his mite for the breaking up of the Holy Roman Empire and the rule of the nationalism.

Secondly Luther did his best for the anti-Semitism because he was frustrated by the behavior of some Jews who did not accept the gospel. He attacked them by writing “Burn the synagogue and drive them out”. Yet this statement did not influence them much for two centuries. But in 1800 A.D. this anti- Semitism increased more and more. He unintentionally tried

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105 for the raising of social status for women in the society, especially at the time of marriage. He married a woman and he was proud of her because, she happened to be the treasurer, manager and administrator of a complex business.

Luther remained as a protector of music and singing of songs in the churches. It is only because of Luther using of musical instruments in the churches came into existence in all protestant churches particularly. And we hear this music in Lutheran churches today. Luther finally said that music is next to theology.

John Calvin:

He was the second important person to defend the faith of Protestantism and Martian Luther’s reformation issue. His famous book “Institute of the Christians religion” was the systematic presentation of faith held by the Protestants. Regarding the contents of the book the writer has dealt with four major aspects of the faith. They were, God the father, son Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit and the church. His strong belief was that even before creation God chose some people to be saved. His contribution for the Protestantism made him to be called “Father of Democracy”

The sixteenth century was a period of some radical changes in the church affairs. That was the retrospective effect of the medieval period churches and society and also political conditions. All these things joined together and proved the way to Martin Luther to work for reformation. Calvin understood Christianity as the embodiment of faith. He emphasized that the everyday activity of the ordinary Christian has deep religious significance it is really strange that those who wished to listen to him also wished to learn from him

William Carey:

IT was he who launched the modern Christian missionary movement Christian churches of various denominations today had their own historical back ground; how missionaries from different countries went to other

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countries where there was no Christianity and established their churches, with their own denominations. But all those wonderful changes took place only after the devoted efforts of William Carey. He launched this modern missionary movement in 1790s. So to say this was one of the most extensive religious movements in human history, which transformed christiantiy from local western European church to true world religions. His ability to establish broad program of Christian social educational and evangelistic activities in non Christian lands which brought him the title “father of modern mission”.

William Carey was born in a poor weaver’s family in 1761 in a village of paulerspery. He was almost self educated. Then he became an apprentice shoemaker and under the influence of a fellow apprentice abandoned the Anglican family background and identified himself with the non- conformists. He was baptized in 1783 and two years later became a pastor of a small Baptist church. As the church income was very small, he worked as a school teacher and also as journey non shoemakers. From his boyhood Carey was a voracious reader. In his study room there was a world-map and at times he used to look at the map and mark the countries which have not heard the word of God. And his future plan was to send the word of God through some means or other. It is said, “His heart burned incessently with a desire for the salvation of the heathens”. But only a few friends could share that burning zeal of William Carey, concerning the faith of the people who never heard of Jesus Christ

Then in 1788 Carey hatched a plan of publishing or printing pamphlet setting out his conviction as another means to preach the gospel to every creature so, he declared it as the bounden duty of the church in his time to bring the message of salvation in Christ to the whole world. His argument was that if the command of Christ to spread the gospel into every nook and corner of the world, then it is binding on the part of every believer to do his best. And also, if biblical prophesies were true who spoke about the purpose of God to extend the kingdom of His son among men and then all Christians must agree with God in promoting his glorious plan.

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