The essential doctrine of Martin Luther (AD 1483-1546) and the Reformation that he founded stemmed from a missionary visit to Rome in 1510-11. Luther was appalled by the decadent and sinful conditions that he found there. Because the Catholic Church needed money it was forced to raise funds by the sale of indulgences (absolution granted by the pope for sins). This was shocking to Luther who believed that one achieved salvation through faith rather than works. He posed a direct challenge to the Church when he posted at Wittenberg a list of arguments against indulgences that denied the pope any right to forgive sins.

During the first half of the 16th century Martin Luther made every effort to challenge and question the established Church. His most vehement point questioned the belief in transubstantiation (that the Communion wafer and wine turn into the flesh and blood of Christ) during the Eucharist. Europe would never be the same again. The far-flung effects of the Reformation not only challenged the established religion and Church but radically altered the relationship between Church and people. Like any successful missionary Martin Luther possessed the amazing power of kindling in others the power of his own convictions. His Augsburg Confession of 1530 marked the culmination of the Reformation in Germany.