Is the Protestant Reformation Over?

In 1999, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation, in an effort to resolve 500 years of conflict since the Protestant Reformation, signed a joint declaration on the doctrine of justification.

I'm really not trying to spit rhymes here. The statement claimed that the two bodies are now able to articulate a common understanding of our justification by God's grace through faith in Christ. A Methodist council later adopted the declaration in 06, and a communion of Reformed churches adopted it in 2017.

The Reformation Debate and the Joint Declaration

Many have pointed to this and other ecumenical partnerships and said, see, the Protestant Reformation is over. But is it really? Do those churches now submit to the primacy of the Pope? Well, Rick Warren, uh….

Our new Pope. No, we're still supposed to be protesting. The Catholic Church has not changed its position on justification. They've said that if a person believes in justification by faith alone, they are cursed to hell.

If a person rejects the Pope's teaching, they're cursed. If they've not been baptized or attend a Catholic church, they're cursed. The Catholic Church says a person is saved by faith and works. But the Bible says that a person is saved by grace through faith and not of works.

The Gospel of a Different Religion

Roman Catholicism is a different gospel. The Bible says if anyone teaches a different gospel, they are cursed. We are not fellow workers on the mission field. They are the mission field. Now being Protestant doesn't just mean we protest the Pope.

Protesting False Teaching by the Wisdom of God

We protest any teaching contrary to the wisdom of God in the Bible. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God when we understand the text.