“Martin Luther” – wasn’t he the black civil rights leader who was assassinated in the sixties?

No, that is not a joke from “Hey, Hey It’s Saturday”!

It’s serious, because I have heard responses like this from teens on more than one occasion.

Quite simply, too many Christians have never heard of the white German academic preacher/teacher/pastor, Martin Luther.

He belonged to an historical period in Europe (16th Century) that was called the Reformation. It helped shape the freedoms you enjoy today. How?

The 3 great principles of the Reformation were as follows:
1. God’s Word of authority was to be the final authority (not the church).
2. Man is saved by grace alone; it cannot be earned – it must be of faith only in what Jesus has done.
3. Every believer a priest; all have access to God through Jesus.

The question now, for us in the 21st Century is this: does the Reformation really matter now? It happened so long ago so is it such a big deal that we learn about old dead people like Martin Luther?

Yes it does because some things never really change!

Luther’s diagnosis of the disease of Christian Europe was that it was suffering from a spiritual disease. Basically, people had been “working” for God’s pardon. They were trusting in their own ability; therefore, the true gospel of grace had been dangerously overlaid in the space & time. Also, there were certain practices within the church which were clearly unscriptural e.g. exclusive clergy as priests – interceding to God for Christians (not to mention indulgences).

The Reformers, of which Luther was only one, weren’t so much innovators as renovators. They wanted to return to Biblical Christianity where true freedom lay. So, for example, Luther burnt the Pope’s ban on him at Wittenburg in public and stood his ground against the Emperor. Christianity needed no pope.

Luther wrote many books, preached and taught. He translated the Bible into German (this was a huge step to freedom) and wrote many hymns. He inspired others in their faith, notably a number of evangelical princes in 1529. Martin Luther was THE initiator and THE sustainer of the German Reformation.

Martin Luther’s theology and faith.

Luther clearly taught that sinners are justified and saved only by their faith in Christ (Rom 5:1). There are no works involved at all in these processes of God (Eph 2:8 - 9). He also stated that “a Christian man is free from all things” and those in Christ are free indeed. Luther obviously personally discovered the valuable truth which had saved him from his ‘works based religion' (John 8:32).

He believed that “works” do not make a person righteous; a person must be righteous to do good works. He believed that Scripture was the only true authority on matters of belief. For it is the Bible which illumines man’s consciences, hence convicting the Christian of error.

So much so did Luther believe in the authority of God’s Word that he would not disobey his conscience, having been illumined by that same Word. He demonstrated that there are times, when faced with possible (and very real) negative repercussions, that we as Christians, must take a positive and definite stand for the Lord. This is what Luther’s faith continually caused him to do. By human reasoning, ENLIGHTENED BY SCRIPTURE, Luther saw blatant and gross errors in human councils and pope. This tells us much about his faith for he constantly looked to the Most High God, expressing his spiritual gaze with the words, “God help me”.

This ‘illumining work of the Scriptures’ in Luther’s mind is beautifully and succinctly revealed to us in his understanding of the phrase ‘the righteousness of God’ which saves a person through faith. It was through the understanding and acceptance of this truth that caused Luther to be born anew. Also, there is a “longing to understand” in Luther’s heart, so his faith was one of constantly seeking and finding. The theology of salvation and justification, as far as Luther was concerned, found its deep roots in God’s “grace and sheer muscle”. Finally, the new birth gives the new believer “greater love” – surely, a result of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the heart of Martin Luther. Luther had become a new creature in Christ and so must we ... God's way.

“A Safe Stronghold”

His famous hymn, “A Safe Stronghold” casts further light on Luther’s theology and faith. Luther believed in the reality of evil and in particular the reality, person and work of Satan. However, according to Luther, it is Christ – “the Lord Sabaoth’s Son” – who is the victor; therefore we are victors for “He (i.e Satan) harms us not a whit.” He believed Satan is doomed for ‘he’ (I understand he is referring to Christ’s final confrontation with Satan found in Revelation) will ‘slay’ him. Luther obviously believed in a living Sovereign God in whom we can trust; a God who will work for us and protect us, particularly from “the ancient prince of hell”. It is not Luther who would fight with his carnal weapons but through “the proper Man”. According to Luther, this is God’s purpose, for God’s Word, as can be read in the last verse, is trustworthy.

Finally, his faith expressed the belief that even if the important things of life (including life itself) is to be experienced, God’s people will certainly find “the city of God”. Amen.

For further information on Martin Luther refer to: THEOPEDIA

TYPED BY LAN.