Faith Alone

January 20, 2004

Title: Faith Alone

Call to Worship: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes....For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16 –17).

Text: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Introduction:

October 31, is an important date in history. On that date, in1816, Scottish Missionary Robert Moffat, sailed off to South Africa, where he was sent by the London Missionary Society. He boldly began evangelizing dangerous, savage, and cannibalistic tribes. One of the first men he won to Christ was a man named Afrikaner, who was the most notorious outlaw in the south of Africa.

Robert and Mary Moffat had a remarkable missionary career, and it was their ministry that inspired David Livingstone, who may be the most famous missionary.

George Muller, a German who spent his youth committing crimes, was converted to Christ on October 31 in 1852. He went on to become one of the most effective humanitarians and evangelists of the nineteenth century. He is especially noted for his ministry to orphans.

October 31, 1896, marks the birthday of Ethel Waters who overcame incredible odds to become one of the most popular African-American jazz singers in the United States. She is best remembered, however, for her conversion to Christ and her signature song at Billy Graham’s Crusades. When she sang “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” many were blessed and others had their hearts made ready for the preaching of Mr. Graham.

On October 31, 1517, a 31-year-old German monk named Martin Luther nailed to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg a list of 95 theological points he wished to debate, touching off the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther was not only a great reformer, Bible translator, political leader, preacher and theologian--he was also a musician. He was born in a small village that was known for its music, and he grew up listening to his mother sing. He himself joined a boys’ choir that sang at weddings and funerals. He became proficient with the lute, which is an instrument that we call a recorder, and very often his volcanic emotions erupted in song. When the Protestant Reformation began, Luther determined to restore worship to the German church. He worked with skilled musicians to create new music for Christians that would be sung in a language they understood, instead of Latin. He helped revive congregational singing and wrote a number of hymns. Luther once wrote: “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. It controls our thoughts, minds, hearts, and spirits....A person who...does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God...does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs.” Well, that’s a little strong, but I believe that music adds to any worship experience. Luther’s most famous hymn is “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” It is based on Psalm 46, and it reflects Luther’s awareness of our intense struggle with Satan. When he faced difficulty and danger, Luther would often resort to this song, saying to his associate, “Come, Philipp, let us sing the 46 th Psalm.”

We can see that a lot happened on October 31, but I believe that for us, the most important event happened when Martin Luther took a stand against the excesses and corruption that was in the church of his day. His first act began the movement that is called the Reformation. He listed 95 objections to the theology and morality of the clergy and nailed the document to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. The great message that he stated publicly was Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone, and Christ alone. That’s not only the great theme of the Reformation; it is the theme of this passage in Ephesians, Chapter 2.

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)