We are skipping ahead a few years to the 1500’s and looking at an individual who helped shape what is known today as the Protestant Reformation – Martin Luther. There are several historical items concerning Luther's life that you may not have known about:
· He was born in Eisleben, 120 miles south of modern day Berlin, Germany.
· He studied at the University of Erfurt when he was only 13-year old.
· He was called into ministry at the age of 21 while fighting a thunderstorm and a lightening bolt struck near him. He cried out, “Help me St. Anne! I will become a monk!”
· In 1521, while he was in ministry, he was called to an assembly at Worms, Germany, to appear before Chales V, Holy Roman Emperor. He quickly discovered that he was called for his own trial to recant his views – Show video clip
· He translated the Bible into German.
· He composed the song, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
· He was labeled as an “anti-Semitic,” especially towards the end of his life.
· He was also known to have a bad temper and a foul-mouth.
All of these things considered, what Luther is most known for is what we know today as the Protestant Reformation. This came about because of Luther's struggle with the Catholic churches abuses of indulgences and the connection they made of indulgences to faith and salvation. In 1517 Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Church as a means of presenting questions for open debate.
What Luther discovered after reading from Romans 1:17, what this, that man is saved by faith alone. Luther understood that through God’s grace and sheer mercy we are pardoned through faith in Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf. Our actions and deeds have nothing to provide for us or for God's expectation of a sacrifice in order to pay the necessary price for our sin.
Luther's teaching on faith and salvation alone raised the attention of the Catholic church, especially when he began to point fingers at the Pope, accusing him of leading the Catholic church down a road that was unscriptural. Luther argued that indulgences did not remove guilt, and gave a false sense of eternal security. His understanding of salvation was transformed from an attempt at winning personal salvation, to receiving salvation on the merit of faith. He understood what Paul meant when he write the Roman Christians, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe" -- Romans 3:22 (NIV)
Luther understood that our ability to bring about spiritual cleanliness was completely taken care of through Christ and offered to us unconditionally through faith in him. This message turned the Catholic church on its ear and created what we know today as the Protestant Movement (the Protesters), and spring boarded the church into a new way of thinking and worshiping.
Luther would tell you that this discovery was not new, but was a return to the original message of the Apostles and a return to the very foundation of the church.
If you would like to read more on Luther visit www.ccel.org.
Randy
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