95 Thesis

While it is argued Luther was faith only, his own thesis was not faith only. He believed one must be genuinely sorry for sin to the point of hating self, and submit to the priest.

He taught that repentance was from faith and was a life long command.

His first 4 tenents in his thesis,

1. When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, "Repent" (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.

2. This word cannot be understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, that is, confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.

3. Yet it does not mean solely inner repentance; such inner repentance is worthless unless it produces various outward mortification of the flesh.

4. The penalty of sin remains as long as the hatred of self (that is, true inner repentance), namely till our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

7. God remits guilt to no one unless at the same time he humbles him in all things and makes him submissive to the vicar, the priest.

Luther continued to believe in the authority of the priesthood over believers, and said forgiveness was dependent upon submission.

My question for Luther, are submission and repentance works. I believe so. He simply re-categorized terminology.

God has granted repentance unto life.

The main point of Luther, priests have power but repentance does not require penance beyond that stated in the New Testament. Repentance was ultimately guided by scripture and not the priests whim.

In former days, the canonical penalties were imposed, not after, but before absolution was pronounced; and were intended to be tests of true contrition.

Those penalties imposed by priests after absolution are not valid is his opinion.