What did the Lord say to Martin Luther?
Thesis: I Martin Luther heard the Lord tell me that it’s by faith alone, Grace alone, Christ alone and Scripture alone that we experience and have a relationship with Him.
Texts: Martin Luther’s two favorite passages.
Romans 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith!"
Psalm 72:1-20
1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
2 He will,judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.
5 He will endure, as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
8 He will rule from sea to sea
and from the River,to the ends of the earth."
9 The desert tribes will bow before him
and his enemies will lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba
will present him gifts.
11 All kings will bow down to him
and all nations will serve him.
12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.
16 Let grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;let it thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.
This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.
Introduction:
Martin Luther is one of the most influential church leaders of the last 550 years. He was a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. He encountered the Lord after years of being trapped in religiousity. His religion gave him no peace, no hope, no love and no personal encounter with the Lord. In his pit of fear and despair caused by a religion of bondage. Luther had a personal encounter with the Gospel and with the Lord.
He elaborated about this revelation by stating that when he had read Romans 1:17 and spent days and nights meditating on it, the light bulb clicked on. He said he finally understood what the gospel was all about. He stated, "I began to understand that the righteous person shall live by faith," ... "This immediately made me feel as though I had been born again and as though I had entered through the open gates into paradise itself. From that moment, I saw the whole face of Scripture in a new light" (20).
To understand his dramatic conversion lets listen to few of his most famous quotes. In these quotes we can see a individual who had changed from a fearful religious man to a man who had encountered the living loving Jesus Christ.
On the Bible:
"The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.¨
"I would like all my books to be destroyed so that only the sacred writings in the Bible would be diligently read."
On Church Practices:
"A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above the pope or a cardinal without it.¨
On human nature:
"Nothing is easier than sinning."
"Human nature is like a drunk peasant. Lift him into the saddle on one side, over he topples on the other side."
On marriage and family:
"Think of all the squabbles Adam and Eve must have had in the course of their nine hundred years. Eve would say, "You ate the apple",and Adam would retort, "You gave it to me."
On music:
"The devil should not be allowed to keep all the best tunes for himself."
On Prayer:
"Oh, if only I could pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish, or hope."
On Himself:
"If I rest, I rust."
T.S. Lets look at what the Lord could have said to Martin Luther back in the 1500’s on that day in his study when he was in despair and he discovered divine hope.
I. "Martin I want you to understand that I have called you to preach that Scripture alone is to guide my church."
a. Martin heard this command from God and plainly addressed this in his famous 95 Theses.
i. In his writings and lectures he confronted the corruption of mankind and how man’s fallen condition required him to have a source which was not corrupt.
1. This source of truth is the Bible- God’s Words are to direct mankind.
ii. He assaulted the issue of manmade doctrines which did not align with God’s Word. He argued that Scripture alone is the guide for the Christian church. Notany other source!
iii. He focused on the many errors in the current church and that these errors did not find affirmation in Scripture.
1. Luther’s goal in the beginning was to help the church see it’s errors and change. He wanted the doctrine corrected and the focus placed back on the authority of Scripture.
iv. He focused especially on the corruption of the church with it’s Doctrine of Indulgences promoted by Tetzel and Pope Leo the X.
1. Tetzel went around selling people salvation and forgiveness for a price. If they gave so much money to the current church building project they would then get a paper specifying that they were right with God.
2. Luther despised Tetzel’s catch phrase, "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs."
3. The message from Tetzel inspired by Pope Leo X was none other than commercialism of the gospel. Tetzel would prey on the fears of people and tell them they could spring their dead loved ones from purgatory by giving to the church. They could also for themselves gain spiritual forgiveness for their sins by giving money to the church.
v. Martin focused on how the papacy without the use of Scripture was not representing the Lord God Almighty and in fact distorting the Gospel.
1. His great quote is, "A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above the pope or a cardinal without it."
2. He penned off many writings dealing with the errors of the church and the papacy. When he was confronted at the ¨The Diet of Worms" he said he could not recant what he said. His exact words were, "So long as Christ is merciful, I will not recant a single jot or title." He added, "Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Scriptures or with open, clear, and distinct grounds of reasoning" then I cannot and will not recant, because it is neither safe nor wise to act against conscience." Then he probably added, "Here I stand. I cannot do no other. God help me! Amen!" (16).
3. VIDEO CLIP OF LUTHER AT THE DIET OF WORMS!
b. What do we learn from the example of Martin Luther in regards to Scripture alone?
i. Scripture alone was to be our guide in living for the Lord Jesus Christ. It was given to us by God to be read, to be studied and to be lived by.
1. He became so frustrated with his church at one point for not studying the word on their own that he went on strike and did not preach for awhile to make them study for themselves.
ii. Scripture alone is the only safe and sure guide to follow throughout our lives. It has proven for over 2,000 years and to billions of the people that the principles in God’s Word are true and trustworthy.
iii. They are the firm foundation for success in God. Without them you will fail. We must base our faith and life after them or we will suffer the consequences.
iv. Martin is still preaching to us today! "Read the word of God for yourself. Memorize it!"
1. He himself memorized most of the Bible. He also wrote a German translation and had it published so the common people of the day could read God’s Word for themselves.
2. He wanted them to experience what he experienced by reading and studying the Bible. A living loving God!
v. Today we take for granted that we have the Bible right at our finger tips. It’s there to be studied, and read so we learn great spiritual truths. Yes it’s always been a best seller but it is also one of the most neglected books of our day.
1. Barna’s statistic on reading the Bible. Only 22% of Born Again Christians read their Bibles on a daily basis. (A 1991 statistic)
vi. Note 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
vii. Note Ezra 7:10:25, 26 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. 25And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates, all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
* We need to be like Ezra and Luther and learn the Word.
T.S.- The Second item the Lord spoke to Luther about was the truth of faith alone!
II. "Martin tell my people it’s by faith alone that they are saved."
a. Martin proclaimed this message everywhere and every time he could because this truth is what transformed his life. It set him free from the bondage of religion and introduced him to freedom in Christ.
i. His life transformation came from this realization.
ii. He had a revelation one day in his study in a pit of despair. The Lord told him Martin it’s by faith alone that you are saved. It’s not by your good works. You can never be good enough to get to Heaven.
1. So forget the works and embrace faith in me and be free.
iii. The faith alone revelation that clicked on in his head was, "I’m saved by believing on Jesus Christ and accepting him as my personal savior." That’s it! It’s not about works it’s about Jesus’ sacrifice and me believing on it and in Him.
iv. His teaching on faith alone combated the current church’s doctrine of you are saved by works, by giving the church money, by penance, by repetitious prayers, by worship of relics, by worship of dead saints, by following all the manmade rules and regulations created by church hierarchy.
b. What do we learn from our hero of the faith Martin Luther in regards to God’s faith alone teaching.
i. We have to come back to were our salvation comes from. We become saved by putting our faith in the Lord.
1. We become Christians not because of what we may have done or not done, but because we believe in Jesus Christ so much that we have surrendered our life to him.
ii. We understand that we cannot make ourselves holy. Remember last weeks message?
iii. We will never be able to in our own strength or goodness to get ourselves in Heaven. It comes by faith in Jesus Christ. Not by our good works!
1. In our strength we will always come up short.
iv. What is faith? Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true. Since it is true I decide by the assent of my will to believe it and follow this truth all my life.
1. Phil. 1:27: Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
2. 2 Thess. 2:13: But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
a. Its primary idea is trust.
b. It’s defined best by the statement, "Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he offered to us in the Gospel." (Bryant, 229).
T.S.- The third truth God spoke to Martin Luther was about Grace alone.
III. "Martin tell the oppressed people that it’s all about Grace. Grace alone is what opens up a relationship between me and my people."
a. Martin’s life was also set free when he discovered this Biblical truth from God.
i. Understanding grace gets rid of the guilt and condemnation that most lived under from the church in Martin’s era. Grace is what makes the gospel a gospel of freedom and not a teaching of bondage.
1. Luther had endured years of self-torture because he did not experience the grace and love of God. He thought God was out to get him as a matter fact he was so full of fear prior to his encounter with God that at his first communion service as a priest he dropped the elements on the floor because he was shaking from the fear that God would strike him down.
2. Note 2 Cor. 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty."
3. A religion without the concept of Grace is not something from God. God is a God of grace, mercy and love.
ii. When Martin grabbed a hold of this truth he held onto it the rest of his life. In his mind God changed from a bully to a lover. From a redneck to a loving father.
1. This realization transformed a man of fear into a man of faith.
a. Prior to Luther’s revelation he was always confessing his sins and thinking that God was going to strike him down. His spiritual mentor at one time told him to go really sin since his so called sins were nothing.
b. Martin taught us another valuable lesson we must soon not overlook it’s all about Grace alone.
i. Grace is:
1. Swindoll- defines grace best when he states, "To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who does not deserve it and can never earn it."
2. Barnhouse’s view of grace is, "Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace."
3. Grace is commonly defined by many as condescending favor from one person to another.
4. Philip Yancey defines grace this way, "Grace makes its appearance in so many forms that I have trouble defining it. I am ready, though, to attempt something like a definition of grace in relation to God. Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more-no amount of spiritual calisthenics and renunciations, no amount of knowledge gained from seminaries and divinity schools, no amount of crusading on behalf of righteous causes. And grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less-no amount of racism or pride or pornography or adultery or even murder. Grace means that God already loves us as much as an infinite God can possible love." (70).
a. GRACE has been defined this way also:
i. G = God’s
ii. R = Riches
iii. A = At
iv. C = Christ’s
v. E = Expense
5. It’s imperative in our Christian walk that we understand the importance of having a mindset and a focus on grace. We need to see the field of grace.
a. I Timothy 1:2,12-14
i. To Timothy my true son in the faith:
ii. 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
b. II Timothy 1:2, 8-10
i. 2To Timothy, my dear son:
ii. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life; not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
c. In these two passages of Scripture the Apostle Paul speaks about grace with great passion and focus. But if you have ever read through the New Testament writings of Paul you see a common theme in his writings to the church and us. He always opens his books talking about God’s grace to you. He always started talking about grace-he focused on grace and he always finished his books referring back to grace.
i. Paul the apostle wanted us to know grace, live grace, experience grace, breath grace, show grace, act grace, and focus on grace. You could say that Paul was obsessed with grace. Have you ever met a person who is obsessed with something?
6. Martin Luther was obsessed with Grace like the apostle Paul because he was delivered like Paul from a religion that only lead to bondage and not freedom in Christ!
a. Martin Luther experienced and preached about his deep sense of man’s sinfulness and God’s merciful grace.
i. It was always so refreshing for Luther to preach and teach about the grace of God.
T.S.- The fourth truth revealed to Martin Luther was it’s all about Christ alone!
IV. "Martin proclaim to the church that it’s because of Christ alone that the church is saved and that it exists."
a. Martin understood and saw how the Lord was being pushed out of his rightful position in the church of his day.
i. He knew that the focus of the church needed to be fixed on Christ Alone.
ii. It was not to be fixed on patron saints, or the Mother Mary or any other person. It was to be fixed on Jesus Christ and Him alone.
iii. In his early years when he was pursuing a legal career a bolt of lighting hit beside him on the road and he called out to Mary for help. But in later years he knew Mary could not help him only the Lord God almighty could. After his personal encounter with the Lord he never looked to Mary or dead saints for help only Jesus
iv. Jesus is the one who died on the cross for the sins of mankind and he is the only who rose from the grave so he therefore is to be the focus of our worship, of our prayers, of our attention.
1. It’s all because of Christ that we have a right relationship with God. It’s not because of Mary or any other saint.
v. Luther addressed the church on its idol worship and dead saint worship and cried Christ alone!
b. His same message rings true today. It’s because of Christ alone that we are saved and delivered. He is the one we are to pray to for guidance. No one else!
i. In Revelation 2:4 Jesus addressed the church of Ephesus and told them they had forsaken their first love and they needed to repent and come back to him before he removed their lamp stand.
1. Many need to hear this message still today.
2. Many have forsaken their first love Jesus for man made traditions, idols, saint worship, forsaking of the Bible as their only guide in life and thinking man is good enough to get himself into heaven.
a. None of these lies are true. The only way to find true freedom is in focusing on Luther’s main teaching points.
i. Scripture alone
ii. Faith alone
iii. Grace alone
iv. Christ alone.
ii. Luther brought the focus back to Jesus for the church and like Paul he is still saying, "Fix your eyes on Jesus!"
Conclusion:
The result of Martin Luther’s transformation was astounding. His divine call and his acceptance of that call changed European Christendom forever. He challenged the church and the people to get their lives back on track with Jesus. But the main line church of the day refused and therefore there was a revolt and the church split.
The Reformation lead by Luther brought the founding of a new church and the results were amazing: Lets look at the results of Luther’s encounter with the Lord:
1. Worshiping in the common language of the people became the norm in the new church.
2. Justification by faith alone led to a de-emphasis of external rituals and focused on the inner spiritual life. The stress was placed on a personal relationship with the Lord!
3. Authority of Scripture replaced the authority of the pope and medieval tradition. The Bible became the basis for the new church. All doctrine and teachings were pulled from and guided by the Bible.
4. Preaching even by lay preachers, became more important. The Body of Christ became the focus of the new church. Preaching and teaching rose in the lay people as they studied the word for themselves.
5. Monasticism as the ideal of holiness was replaced by the priesthood of all believers. Each person’s calling was considered an area of divine service. This fostered a church where the people were expected to minister in their area of gifts. People were expected and exhorted to be God’s ministers were ever God had placed them.
6. The significance of the sacraments was re-evaluated and the sacraments were now considered only two: baptism and communion.
7. The liturgy was redesigned to accord with the Scriptures. The emphasis in the new church was toward readings from the Word of God. Sermons based directly from the Bible.
8. The new church brought worship back to the lay people. Congregational worship remains one of Luther’s most enduring legacies. The new church brought back the common practice of the people singing and worshipping God. The people were taught to worship and experience the presence of God in worship.
9. The family began to be seen as a household of faith. Martin and Katherine Luther became an example of the Protestant home. A Christian role model for the family unit was emphasized in the church.
(Adapted from Christian History Vol. XII).
The lessons for New Life Community Church: Martin Luther is a great role model today for the church and millions have been affected by this monk’s spiritual transformation. He stressed that the body of Christ needs to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus Christ! It’s Christ alone who we are to follow! Not only are we to focus on Christ alone. But we need to understand that works will not save us. We are saved by faith alone! The third thing we must recall in our relationship with the Lord is it’s because of Grace alone. The Father chose to give us the gift of eternal life out of Love and mercy. None of us ever deserved the gift but it was given from a heart of love. The fourth teaching and lesson to be learned is we must base our walk with the Lord on Scripture alone. It’s been given to us by God to direct and guide our lives. So lets do it!
Closing song: Christ Alone!
