On October 31st , 489 years ago, a man’s simple act of posting his 95
Thesis to the castle church door ushered in one of history’s greatest
changes.
Martin Luther, a German monk, took a stand against the doctrinal errors of
the Roman Catholic Church. He stated that truth comes solely on what the
Scriptures say. In spite of what theologians, priests, or even popes teach,
their words cannot be placed above God’s Word. His declaration before all
men was Sola Scriptura – Only Scripture. His passion was to put the
focus back on God’s Word instead of man’s word.
One day while studying the Book of Romans, he read, “For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just
shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17). All he had known was what the Church
taught, that man had to suffer like Christ to really know salvation. He had
been taught by the Church that God was an angry and revengeful God and yet he
saw in the Scriptures a contradiction. He began to question the teachings and
actions of the Church.
Martin Luther hungered to be right before God. Fellow monks feeling sorry
for Martin Luther’s efforts to justify himself before God through suffering
gave him an assignment to keep him busy. It was called the “Chair of the
Bible” with specific instructions to teach at the local college the books of
Psalms, Romans, and then Galatians. After a few years he began to realize the
truth of God’s Word concerning salvation.
Romans 3:22 & 24:
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto
all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus:
Romans 10:9:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
From the Scriptures, Luther concluded that people could not earn salvation
by what they do, but rather, they gain salvation through believing in Jesus
Christ.
Martin Luther once said, “A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be
believed above a Pope or a Council without it.”
When he was brought before Europe’s Emperor Charles V, and before the
great Church and political leaders of his time, Luther was asked to recant his
writings. He stood firm and resolute with the response: “My conscience is
captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go
against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do other
wise. God help me. Amen.”
Martin Luther never wanted a denomination named after him. He wanted no
credit. His attitude is best described by saying: “Who is Luther? This is
not my doctrine. I have not been crucified for anybody. How did a poor,
stinking bag of worms like me come to have the children of Christ called by
his name? Do not do this my friends. Let us wipe out the partisan name and
call ourselves Christian after him whose teachings we follow.”
Philippians 3:9:
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith.
