Reformation SundayOctober 31st

1517

2004

Young Martin

Born November 10, 1483in Eisleben, Germany

Father a Successful Miner 1501 University of Erfurt 1502, B.A. in Philosophy 1505, M.A. in Law

A Change of Plans Nearly Struck by Lightning

“St. Anne, save me! I’ll become a monk!”

Enters Augustinian Monastery Discovers a Bible,

Studies “Greedily” Experiences Pronounced

Conviction of Sin Consoled by Staupitz

Luther’s Tower Experience

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.’”

“All at once I felt that I had been born again and entered into paradise itself through open gates. Immediately I saw the whole of Scripture in a different light. “

Medieval Fundraising

Pope Leo Abuses Indulgences to Raise Money for St. Peter's

John Tetzel Preaches Indulgences in Wittenberg and Vicinity“As soon as the coin in the coffer rings,

a soul from purgatory springs!”

Luther’s 95 ThesesA Disputation on

the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences16. There seems to be the same difference between

hell, purgatory, and heaven as between despair, uncertainty, and assurance.

27. There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of the purgatory immediately the money clinks in the bottom of the chest.

28. It is certainly possible that when the money clinks in the bottom of the chest avarice and greed increase; but when the church offers intercession, all depends in the will of God.

90. These questions are serious matters of conscience to the laity. To suppress them by force alone, and not to refute them by giving reasons, is to expose the church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christian people unhappy.

1521 Diet of Worms Luther Questioned on Contents of

Three Books and Challenged to Recant

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Holy Scriptures or by evident reason-for I can believe neither pope nor councils alone, as it is clear that they have erred repeatedly and contradicted themselves-I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. (Here I Stand. I can do no other.) God help me. Amen.”

Pillars of the ReformationThe Five “Solas”

Sola GratiaSola Fide

Sola ScripturaSolus ChristusSoli Deo Gloria

Sola Gratia = “Grace Alone” GRACE means unmerited favor. Christ's work of redemption

the basis of God's grace for us. We do not earn, nor do we deserve, his favor.

". . . justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Rom. 3:24 ESV)

 

" So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise, grace would no longer be grace." (Rom. 11:5-6 ESV)

Sola Fide = “Faith Alone” FAITH means believing the promise of God.

. . . ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’ Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. . . ." (Rom. 4:1-5 ESV)

Faith follows grace . . . those who through grace had believed" (Acts 18:27 ESV) " For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“ (Eph. 2:8,9 ESV)

Grace & Faith humble man “. . . What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?“ (1 Cor. 4:7b ESV)

Sola Scriptura = Scripture Alone

One Source of Special Revelation

“All scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17 ESV)

Solus Christus = Christ Alone

One Mediator “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. . . “ (1Tim. 2:5 ESV)

One Infallible Head " And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.“ (Col. 1:18 ESV)

Soli Deo Gloria = “To God Alone be Glory”

"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.“ (Ps. 29:2 ESV)

God Shows Mercy for His Own Glory “. . . in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?” (Rom. 9:23,24 ESV)

Why Commemorate Reformation Sunday?

Unity in truth and love, not love alone (love alone is license for error)

Disregard for history will lead to error “I would not see by another man’s candle, I would sooner remain in the dark!” –Charles Spurgeon “The value of reading old books is not that they do not make mistakes, but that they do not make the same mistakes we make.” --C. S. Lewis

We must pray and work toward reformation, just as revival Revival without Reformation can spread error Reformation without Revival can spread hypocrisy Revival with Reformation is the ideal

Recommended Reading/Viewing On Martin LutherHere I Stand by Roland Bainton

Heroes of the Faith: Martin Luther by Barbour Books

Martin Luther (1953, VHS/DVD), starring Niall MacGinnis

Luther (2003?, VHS/DVD), starring Joseph Fiennes, Albert Molina, Sir Peter Ustinov

On ReformationThe Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Reformation & Protestantism by James Bell,

Tracy Macon Sumner, Alpha Publishers On RevivalReligious Affections by Jonathan Edwards

Revival & Revivalism: The Making and Marring of American Evangelicalism by Iaian Murray, Banner of Truth Trust

Tell the Truth by Will Metzger, Intervarsity Press