Is the sin of Heresy even possible?

[steve_b]

I understand the distinction between material and formal heresy and its important to make, but in this thread I’m specifically talking about the SIN of heresy, so formal heresy in this context. It’s just a confusing scenario because let’s consider this question:

Was Martin Luther a formal heretic?

If Martin Luther sincerely came to believe that the Catholic Church was not the true Church and that certain teachings were false and came to oppose them, how can he be a formal heretic?

here is what Luther admitted,

(emphasis mine)

“We concede–as we must--that so much of what they [the Catholic Church] is true: that **the papacy has God’s word **and the office of the apostles, and that **we have received Holy Scriptures, **Baptism, the Sacrament, and the pulpit from them. What would we know of these if it were not for them?” (Sermon on the Gospel of John, chaps. 14-16 (1537), in vol. 24 of Luther’s Works, [St. Louis, Mo.: Concordia, 1961], p. 304).”

This ALSO demonstrates IMV, Luther knew and intended to do what he did and remain in what he did.

that’s my :twocents: