I have a very vivid image of a girl coming up to me and saying “Sarah, I am going to ask Jesus in my heart one more time because I am not sure I did it right the first time. This girl now has declared that she doesn't want anything to do with Christianity and is living a life that is far from God. Unfortunately, this story has yet to have a conclusive ending. But one thing I know, is that she has not come to the realization that salvation is a free gift that we just have to accept. It is not something we can earn or bring about on our own. Do you personally feel that you are living a life that is getting you nowhere? Do you have trouble feeling forgiven or that nothing you do is good enough? Martin Luther struggled with these concepts and came to some powerful conclusions. He grew up in a Catholic background, and later in life when feeling like he was facing death in a storm, he called on St. Anne to intercede for him and if she did so he would become a monk. Martin got through it and stayed to his word. He became a monk and worked vigorously and faithfully in the lifestyle. However, he had one large problem that he couldn't feel peace about...some call it the cycle of despair. For, Luther believed we are called to love God with everything, but in order to love God fully you have to feel loved. In order to feel loved you have to feel forgiven, and being human, we can never feel forgiven on our own, by works. For, sin is always in the way and no matter how hard you might work, we can't attain perfection. Therefore, Luther started studying scripture and eventually came to the realization that...salvation is gift! He realized that works righteousness is passive rather than active. The main phrase that helped coin the intent of the reformation is “justification through faith.” God as a just God, forgives us and gives us the grace we need for salvation. We just need to accept that gift. Luther held to Sola Scriptura, in scripture alone is the final authority. The Catholic view that he was so familiar with was a double and equal source of works (tradition) and Scripture. However, Luther said that Scripture holds the final authority. So, when we today are trying so hard to earn God's favor and grace, we will forever be unfilled. For, as Luther believed, we are not able to do anything except by the grace of God. Therefore, with my friend, until she realizes that salvation is nothing she can obtain on her own or manipulate receiving, she is not going to find that perfect peace. Until she believes that the righteous live by faith and in this faith that the power of God is given; that we are justified. Romans 1:16-17 speaks boldly on this: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, 'the righteous shall live by faith.'” (Romans 1:16-17)
Just because we can do nothing apart from the power of God, does this mean that we sit and do nothing? That we don't bother trying? Or because we can never earn our righteousness and are under grace does that mean that we do whatever we want? By no means. We should all the more strive to live a life sold out for God, but the difference is that we do it in faith, using His help. In Romans 6:15 Paul says: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves laves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” When Luther experienced the enlightenment of justification through faith, he boldly proclaimed the gospel as told to do in Romans 1:16, even facing excommunication by the Pope. For, Luther felt burdened by the practices of indulgences, penance and purgatory in the Roman Catholic church. These sacraments were being abused and ultimately, not giving God the final authority or power. For, with penance, the church ordered different disciplines, acts of service, fasting, etc. all with the intention of helping people be restored. If people refused to obey and go through the restoration process given by the church, they would face severe discipline. Also, purgatory was also about being cleaned multiple times to be prepared to enter salvation. And indulgences were payments that people could give to the church to help “pay” their loved ones out of purgatory or at least help them be released more quickly. All of these practices were leading people astray from the grace of God and putting the focus on works. Luther spoke out against this, wrote three treatises and nailed 95 thesis on the wall of the church. His goal wasn't to rebel against the church but to cause reform. The Papal Bull threatened excommunication within 60 days if Luther would not recant. However, Luther stood fast in his beliefs and boldly kept on in his work. He had the perfect peace of God from knowing forgiveness to keep him going. Do you have this perfect peace? I urge you to live a life sold out for God...to strive to love Him with heart, soul and mind. The Bible promises us in Matthew 7:7: “"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Live a life worthy of your calling but do it because you have received the grace the Lord has given us and do it in His power.
Just because we can do nothing apart from the power of God, does this mean that we sit and do nothing? That we don't bother trying? Or because we can never earn our righteousness and are under grace does that mean that we do whatever we want? By no means. We should all the more strive to live a life sold out for God, but the difference is that we do it in faith, using His help. In Romans 6:15 Paul says: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves laves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” When Luther experienced the enlightenment of justification through faith, he boldly proclaimed the gospel as told to do in Romans 1:16, even facing excommunication by the Pope. For, Luther felt burdened by the practices of indulgences, penance and purgatory in the Roman Catholic church. These sacraments were being abused and ultimately, not giving God the final authority or power. For, with penance, the church ordered different disciplines, acts of service, fasting, etc. all with the intention of helping people be restored. If people refused to obey and go through the restoration process given by the church, they would face severe discipline. Also, purgatory was also about being cleaned multiple times to be prepared to enter salvation. And indulgences were payments that people could give to the church to help “pay” their loved ones out of purgatory or at least help them be released more quickly. All of these practices were leading people astray from the grace of God and putting the focus on works. Luther spoke out against this, wrote three treatises and nailed 95 thesis on the wall of the church. His goal wasn't to rebel against the church but to cause reform. The Papal Bull threatened excommunication within 60 days if Luther would not recant. However, Luther stood fast in his beliefs and boldly kept on in his work. He had the perfect peace of God from knowing forgiveness to keep him going. Do you have this perfect peace? I urge you to live a life sold out for God...to strive to love Him with heart, soul and mind. The Bible promises us in Matthew 7:7: “"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Live a life worthy of your calling but do it because you have received the grace the Lord has given us and do it in His power.
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