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Well tonight we want to do something different. It has been said that every seven years a Preacher should preach a non expository sermon and Then he should repent. That's what dr. Aiken told me. So I've been here about nine and a half years and so here comes the non expositional non-topical.
Biographical sermon, and I don't know if it's really a sermon. I don't know how you'll be edified. I think you will and basically tonight. We're going to look at God working in the life of a human. I get encouraged when I read biographies because I am stimulated in these two ways.
One I realize that I so fall short of God's glory, and how could I even be compared to a man like Henry Martin or John Payton or someone else? God give me more fervency to live like these men. I Also am encouraged because these people are sinful, and they're just regular people.
Whether it's David Brainerd or Jonathan Edwards or Sarah Edwards. They're just regular people and they have stumbled and have fallen. But God and he has been faithful so I really have been encouraged by the life of Martin Luther and we will soon approach the 489th anniversary of the day that Martin Luther nailed the 95 thesis to the Wittenberg Church doors the Wittenberg Church.
Actually, it's a castle church, but in Wittenberg October 31st. Now we think of October 31st as Halloween, and I could probably do a whole sermon. I'm sure they're preached in fundamentalist churches all across the country tonight.
The horrors of Halloween. And we probably have some people the church or anti Halloween. They they don't like our website because it's black and orange reminds them of Halloween how that's been changed.
But not because it is like Halloween and others who let their children trick-or-treat. But I think the sad thing about Halloween is that it is eclipsed Reformation day. It is eclipsed what God did through Luther 489 years ago.
The Reformation is not just shaped Germany at the time. But the whole world and the Reformation brought to clarity again that God saves sinners. That the gospel is not what man has done for God but the gospel is what God has done for man at Calvary as Spurgeon would say the gospel is not do do do.
The gospel is Done done done, and that is what God did at the Reformation. He awakened the church to see those things again that God saves sinners. That salvation as Jonah chapter 2 says is from the Lord.
It is Yahweh who saves man is not sovereign. God is sovereign. Men cannot rescue themselves. God rescues him rescues sinners at a cost. His own son and the Reformation with blazing colors. Shows that Christ must have pre-eminence in the church.
Colossians chapter 1 verse 17. I think we have several dopey holidays in America. I'm sorry if I rain on your parade, but Columbus Day or Presidents Day. I think they're kind of Dopey. We have some holidays that aren't so dopey.
Memorials. Memorial Day and July 4th and Veterans Day. Those are fine. We have some religious holidays Eastern Christmas, but not many of us know much about Reformation Day October 31st. Here's what we're going to do tonight.
I'm just going to give you an overview of Martin Luther. Using this kind of is my standard. A mighty fortress is our God God the story of Martin Luther by Jim Cromartie. How many people have read this book.
It is an excellent book. If you say to me pastor it seemed like you you had your message tonight flowing from Cromartie's information. Then you would be correct. I'm not trying to come up with something new.
I'm not trying to say that I read 15 Luther books and condense them all. I don't have that much time. I've read several, but this is basically following the outline of Cromartie and basically I have taken his information.
And I have a band Roth eyes it and for the message tonight, so this is Cromartie Abendroth eyes and we'll have several subsections. And then hopefully we'll have enough time to get to Romans chapter 1 2 3.
Before the night's over so we can put a biblical backdrop there if you want biblical exposition. Then you can buy the tape from several weeks ago. This is not going to be exposition. This is going to be a biography.
Okay. Are we all right? No no stones thrown tonight or anything like that. Let's first talk about Luther's family and Background. Luther was born in 1483 and by the way, I don't speak German and so I probably won't pronounce any of these things properly, but this is The way it must be.
Ice and Laban is where he was born and he grew up. Fearing God he was in terror of God. He was afraid of God and he at least knew what people did not know today that God is not only creator. But when we think of the twelve words of the gospel, he's not creator, but he's also what he is judge.
Can you think about some verses that show that God judges sin? Anybody just give me a verse Romans 6 23 which says. The wages of sin is death. Luther was taught that someone else. Whenever I think of verses that want to remind me that God is angry with sin, let's just look up a couple.
Let's look up Psalm chapter 5 verse 5 and Psalm 711 every time you drive by a 711. I want you to think of Psalm 711. I Want you to shake? Thankfully, we are children of God now and we're not under that condemnation.
But when I think of the judgment and terror of God, I think of Psalm 5 5 and Psalm 7 11. Psalm 5 5 says. Maybe you could think of this every time you drive down this freeway 55 miles an hour. Psalm 5 5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes.
You hate all who do iniquity and that levels the playing field and Luther knew it and he was terrified. Psalm 7 11 says God is a righteous judge and a God who has indignation. Indignation every day. Luther knew that God was a judge and he cast sinners into hell.
Sadly he was influenced by Roman Catholicism and Rome. Pointed people to the softer side of God if God was harsh Jesus was the judge. That part was true. There was a softer side of God a more feminine side of God a God a Side of God that was just more compassionate and her name was Mary and That's what the priest would teach Mary's kind and sweet.
Jesus would never say no to his mother. I Went to a Roman Catholic funeral just a short time ago and looking in the hymnal the missile seeing songs and hymns to Mary very very scary. But additionally like Haiti today where you have a mixture of Roman Catholicism and Santeria type worship in those days you had Roman Catholicism mixed with paganism.
Remember lots of people couldn't read there weren't many books out there. So they had a Roman Catholic view of theology mixed with all kinds of evil spirits. They blamed evil spirits for floods and for disasters and sickness.
Martin's mother Marguerite was convinced that a local village woman was a witch and they had she had cursed her family. And she really thought that was true when one of her children died. When they would miss milk our eggs, they thought the evil spirits were stealing those.
Martin's father Hans was so convinced that accidents occurred from time to time in mines because he thought demons were causing those things. I Think especially after listening to dr. Aiken the last couple days that Luther's view of God the father was Determined by his view of his own father cold and hard and calloused and Demanding and he took seriously that proverb spare the rod and spoil the child.
He severely disciplined his children. Whip them punish them and when Luther got done getting beaten by his father he ran into his mother's arms. Luther later looked back on those days, and he didn't mind the chastisement.
But he said it is necessary to punish quote, but the apple should be placed beside the rod. There should be some good things, too. Well he went to school and like today Education was an idol if you get the best education.
That's how you can help your children and certainly I like education. But the best schooling possible. Everything's in Latin, and if you did not do the things correctly at school listen to this kids. This is like a new covenant school.
Yes. That's where you go new covenant school if you do not do your work properly you were caned. It wasn't just a rod it was a cane and one day Luther got caned. 15 times in one day he got caned. It's pretty amazing.
He said of his school days later on in life that they were little better than purgatory and hell and his teachers were described by Luther as tyrants and jailers. Now it was in Germany, but school was always in Latin.
So what you would have to do with the day you want the moment you walked into the schoolhouse is you would have to speak? Latin all day. And if you did not then you were in trouble and you were reported not by your teacher.
But by someone who is designated as the wolf and wolf in Latin is the lupus. So one of the boys or girls was the lupus and this lupus was out to catch you speaking German and if you did you were in big trouble.
Amazing the lupus. When the wolf caught a student speaking German. He gave the boy a donkey mask to wear chrome art. He says the unfortunate pupil wore the mask until he found someone else who last lapsed into the German tongue.
Got to catch someone else. Luther goes off to Erfurt to learn more. Thinking he'd be satisfied in life with study and the quest for knowledge. But he began to feel very convicted by sin. His conscience was bringing forth his own sin.
He and his fellow students would wash their hands and they had a little slogan. The more we wash the less clean we become. We're washing our hands, but we can't clean our hearts. We are sinful and. So what they would do in those days is they would escape the world and it's sinful influence by becoming monks.
Now Luther is returning to his home in Easter 1503 and he would never forget it. He had a sword attached to his belt. He was walking along the blade fell out of his belt and cut deeply into his leg and severed an artery.
He's laying there and the blood is pumping out. His traveling friend ran to try to get help while Luther laid there and the blood spurting all over. Looking up to heaven thinking he's going to die. Luther said these four words.
Oh Mary Help me. The doctor came and God's providence they slowed the blood and One more time Luther cries out to the Virgin Mary. And Luther when he was saved looked back at that day and said quote at that time.
I should have died relying upon Mary. Well, he quits law school. You probably know about that. His father's mad. He goes off to the monastery. Lots of things were happening in the monastery. They'd force him to beg.
Everyone knew he was quite an intellect and he'd have to just beg to get by. Try to do everything that the monks did but he did not understand that salvation was a free gift from God. He did tell Duke George of Saxony Later when he reflected on this time quote I was indeed a pious monk and followed the rules of my order more strictly than I can express if ever a monk could obtain heaven by his Monk ish works.
I should certainly have been entitled to it of all this of excuse me of this. All the friars who have known me can testify. If I had continued much longer I should have carried my self-denials even to death by means of my watchings prayers readings and other labors.
Then he started to despair. If you know, you're a sinner and you can't get rid of your sins. What happens you despair and this whole time? He could never see that God was not only a judge but he was also a Savior that got not all that.
God was not only righteous, but he was also gracious and He hated Jesus. Luther said this quote we fled from Christ as from the devil and ran to the Virgin Mary and st Barbara. For we were taught that everyone must appear before the judgment seat of Christ with his works.
Often I was horrified at the name of Jesus and when I thought about him on the cross It was if I had been been struck by lightning. When I heard his name mentioned, I would rather have heard the name of the devil.
For I believe that I must buy my good works make Christ my gracious friend and thereby reconcile an angry God, I know I'm a sinner. Jesus judged sinners, and so I'd rather hear about Satan. Stoppage was a good man though.
And he tried to get Luther to look away from his own sins and look to Jesus in the cross instead. Stop it said to Luther. Why do you torture self torture yourself with these thoughts? Look at the wounds of Christ.
Look at the blood of Christ shed for you. It is there the grace of God will appear to you. Luther said I cannot and dare not come to God. Listen till I am a better man. I have not yet repented sufficiently a Better man.
Stop it said. Christ came to save not good men, but sinners. Love God and you will have repented. There is no real repentance that does not begin in the love of God. There's no love to God that does not take its rise in an understanding of that mercy which offers to sinners Freedom from sin through the blood of Christ.
That's a good bit of information. That's good Bible knowledge. Well Luther thought he got a break. There was an argument with the vicar general and some Augustinian monasteries and they needed to bring this matter before the Pope so someone had to go to Rome and Luther got picked.
Oh What a great honor to go to Rome and he was all happy and went with another monk. Going to Mecca. Well close going to Rome the pilgrimage. The very center of the world as he thought and he's thinking to himself I can get indulgences.
I can get my family out of more years of purgatory because there are those special steps in Rome. Do you remember those steps? The Scala Sancta the holy stairs and you crawl up these stairs on your knees and You get time from purgatory for your family members so they get First of all to Bologna and they have not quite there yet.
Luther becomes so deathly ill. He thought he was going to die and the thought he couldn't get out of his mind this time. Was the just shall live by faith the just shall live by faith. He gets a little bit better.
He gets to Rome and when he sees Rome, he says this holy Rome. I salute you. And he was sad because when he got to these steps that you would go up on your knees and get and Get time out of purgatory for your family.
He was sad that his mother and father were still alive because if they were dead he could be getting them out of purgatory. But they're alive and here he's in Rome and he can't help them. He said quote.
Oh How I regret that my mother and father are still alive. What pleasure I should have have in delivering them from the fire purgatory by my masses my prayers and by my so many other works. So he wanted to have the his climbing up this is the Scala Sancta towards Grandpa Hiney instead 28 steps on one's knees would entitle one to remission of many years in Purgatory and one particular step had a cross and that cross step happened to be the step They thought was the one that Jesus Christ actually stumbled on when he went up them.
They moved him from Jerusalem to Rome. Every step you go up on your knees you stop and you recite the pattern Oster patter father our the our father the Lord's Prayer and on each step you kiss the stones in hope of securing the release of a soul from purgatory and When he got up close to the top.
Something kept coming to his mind again The just shall live by faith the just shall live by faith. He could not believe how corrupt and decadent the priests were in the city of Rome. The people didn't know what was being said and so he heard some priests actually say during the Eucharist Bread you are and bread you shall remain wine you are and wine you shall remain.
Instead of this is my body. They were saying this is just bread. Of course, the people didn't know. He couldn't believe it. He told them Luther did how the bread and the wine Became the blood and body of Christ and when he told that to a group of gathered priests they burst out laughing.
He didn't know what to think. He didn't understand that the priest who took the vows of celibacy had all kinds of children running around the street and later Luther said Rome if there is a hell Rome is built over it.
He also said the nearer we get to Rome the greater number of bad Christians we meet. Additionally Luther said I went to Rome with an onion and returned with a garlic. Despite all this to show you the the blinding nature of sin.
He still was trusting in Rome's doctrines. But that wasn't going to last much longer because God was going to intervene. Yes Luther knew he was a sinner. Yes, Luther knew God was angry with sinners. Yes.
Luther was afraid of Jesus Christ the judge of mankind. He would read the Bible and it would talk about the righteousness of God and it would frighten him. He thought it meant the wrath of God. God's righteousness demanded that sinners be punished for their lawlessness.
Oh that our culture today would know that. He knew it and he also knew that the Bible taught election and he hated that doctrine of Election. Luther said when he was not saved yet quote. It is not against all natural reason that God out of his mere whim deserts men.
Hardens them dams them as if he delighted in sins and in such torments of the wretched for eternity. He who is said to be of such mercy and goodness. This appears iniquitous cruel and intolerable in God by which very many have been offended in all ages.
And Who would not be I? Was myself more than once driven to the very abyss of despair so that I wished I never had been created love God. I Hated him. Well Luther back at the monastery would go to confession almost every day.
And he would try to think of every single sin that he confessed that he ever committed to confess. Because if there's one sin not confessed well, then he thought he would be going to hell sometimes he would go to confession for six hours at a time and Finally an exasperated priest said to him after this confession Man, God is not angry with you.
You are angry with God. Don't you know that God commands you to hope. And Then one day in the monastery tower if you turn over to psalm 22 Verse 1 Luther read these words and God in the way that only he can illumines the heart of Martin Luther like a flash of lightning and The truth of God streams into his heart and mind and soul and Luther is delivered Psalm 22 you know well Jesus said these words at Calvary remember he is crucified at Excuse me at noon when he's crucified it becomes dark from noon to 3 and at 3 o 'clock Jesus says these words in Psalm 22 verse 1 my God my God.
Why have you forsaken me. And Luther understood that God forsook his son? So that he might not be forsaken. Luther knew the law demanded you pay what you owe. But grace said you're my child. And it was called the tower experience and guess what happened to Luther's preaching a new vitality a new energy.
Studying Greek and Hebrew talking about the gospel. Not just the law yet still Luther a very committed Roman Catholic. There was no other church. It wasn't like there was Methodist and Episcopalian and all these Protestants.
It was Roman so he wasn't ready to leave yet. He wanted to reform the church and In his lectures he began to say this is what you should do with your Roman Catholic friends by the way. Direct them away from Rome and unto Christ.
Away from Roman Catholicism and to Jesus the Savior. There's nothing we can do to merit our salvation and Luther was kind of rough. And you know he said lots of things that were interesting you can read some of those.
But a couple of them that I found interesting to people who thought their own righteousness would save them. He said this is what the devil is saying to them with the lies of Rome. Snuggle close pussy dear.
We're going to have guests. And when he saw somebody who was proud He would say how pretty you look a little owl have you grown peacock feathers? Well at the castle church at Wittenberg they had holy relics and if you could get a holy relic and Go there certain times of the year when the Pope would declare it fit.
You could get more time off purgatory and in 1509 there was five thousand and five relics. Some were really cool. There was a thorn certified as genuine. Which was supposed to be taken from Jesus's crown of thorns?
But not just any thorn because this was the thorn that went into his scalp that actually drew blood certified. They had other relics. Teeth from Jerome and Augustine. Hair from Christ's beard. Four hairs from Mary's head.
Three scraps of material from her clothing. A straw from the crib in which Christ had lain one of the nails that had torn through Christ's hands of the crucifixion. A Piece of bread from the Last Supper and a twig from Moses's burning bush, and if you just look at one of those I Mean there's all kinds of things there.
Mary's breast milk, and the whole thing is just absolutely insane. And the Pope said that if you go to that church in Wittenberg on All Saints Day November 1st and confessed and Saw all that collection.
You could get enough remission of time and purgatory for 1 ,000 ,902 202 years and 207 days. And Luther was saying if you get indulgences you're not going to live a holy life. You'll have a careless life, and he started attacking the sale of indulgences.
And Luther knew if you followed the money, that's where everything was going. Sales of indulgences for the money. Well Pope Julius the second dies in 1513 and he's perceived as succeeded by Medici. Pope Leo the tenth he loved arts.
He loved the papacy and he could care less about the Bible or religious things. I find this interesting. Pope Leo the tenth. He thought Christianity was a fairy tale, and he said this. What a profitable affair this fable of Christ has been to us you can make a lot of money out of this.
Well, he needed to get money for two reasons one Julius began working on st. Peter's Basilica its restoration and number two Albert of Brandenburg Was promoted to Archbishop, and he had to pay for that and so there was money needed the Pope after negotiations with Albert Gave exclusive rights to the sale of indulgences to Albert and by the way.
This is all indulgences that were taking from the German people shipped back to Rome shipped to Italy. Now how we doing so far. I know we don't have the Bible's open so I just keep going all right. It's like saying sick him to a mad dog.
I mean I'm used to being in the Bible, so It's different. There's a man named Tetzel, and he began to sell indulgences. How many people have heard of Tetzel. Strange Dominican monk Johan Diesel is his real name known as Tetzel.
Selling indulgences to the German states on Albert the new bishops behalf. And if you committed a horrible sin you just need an indulgent indulgence. Yes. You're supposed to confess your sin when you receive the indulgence.
But that kind of just got taken out. Tetzel would come to town in a German state and when he would they would carry a great red cross. That had the Pope's coat of arms you'll like this accompanied by drums singing and incense.
At the head of the procession was the Pope's bull an authorization a proclamation saying indulgences were granted for money, and it was carried on a velvet cushion and. Behind this train of things were a bunch of mules loaded with crates full of the written indulgences ready for those who had the money and.
And Tetzel would say things like this press in now coming by while the market lasts. Should that cross be taken down the market will close? Heaven will depart and then you will begin to knock and to weep because of your foolishness.
He also said indulgences are the most precious and most noble of God's gift. Pointing to the Red Cross that he would parade in front of him. He said this cross has as much saving power as the very cross of Christ.
And he boasted I have saved more souls by my indulgences than the Apostles by their sermons. There is no sin so great that an indulgence cannot remit and The Pope is divine. The Lord Tetzel said our God no longer reigns.
He has given all power to the Pope. How does that make you feel when someone says that I? Get mad. I start seeing Danny Aiken's red face kind of like this when he's getting mad. That's exactly the way Luther felt.
He was filled with righteous indignation and anger. Selling indulgences to people who are poor and gullible. Making a lot of money for the Pope though some trouble in Tetzel's preaching in style though.
On a visit to Leipzig a nobleman Said this to Tetzel could I buy a? Pardon for a sin that I haven't yet committed, but I'm going to commit real soon. This is classic. This is like the best. I have my notes the best oh.
Most assuredly I have received full powers from His Holiness the Pope for that purpose. Well, then I wish to take a slight revenge on one of my enemies. The Saxon nobleman said without endangering his life I'll give you ten crowns if you give me a letter of indulgence that will fully justify me.
Bartering back and forth and so for 30 crowns he gets his indulgence. Shortly after that this nobleman and his friends attack Tetzel on the road. Between judder Bach and Treblink they beat him up. Stole the chest containing all the indulgences and fled they actually went to court.
Tetzel complained, but when both parties were there the magistrate said Actually, it was the local ruler Duke George. That he was fully acquitted because of the indulgence he had. Tetzel would leave a city like Annenberg and say soon I will take the cross down shut the gates of heaven and Extinguish the brightness of the Sun of Grace that beams before your eyes.
Now is the accepted time. Behold now is the day of salvation. Bring your money citizens of Annenberg. Contribute generously in the favor of indulgences and your minds and your mountains will be filled with silver.
And you thought word-faith was new. Luther said this. Why does the Pope not at once deliver all the souls from purgatory by a holy act of Christian love and on account of their great wretchedness since he delivers so many for love of perishable money and of the Cathedral of st. Peter.
If you're really generous and gracious, then just give everyone those indulgences. Well, we're getting close to the 95 theses. Luther started speaking out against this purchasing forgiveness. Still though wanting Reformation within the Roman Catholic Church, but trying to go back to the Bible.
And he would say to people things like this quote. You must abandon your evil way of life. Otherwise, I cannot absolve you. I don't care if you have a piece of paper or not. In other words When the parishioners chrome already said who have been refused absolution by Luther returned to Tetzel Complaining that the indulgences he had sold them were worthless and a waste of their hard-earned money.
Tetzel became furious and So the fight began between Luther and Tetzel and Luther would say of Tetzel by the help of God I will make a hole in his drum. He's not gonna beat that drum into towns anymore.
They said oh you're a heretic Luther said and should any cry out that I'm a heretic. I care not for their uproar. They are gloomy and sick brains men who never tasted the Bible never read Christian doctrine never understood their own doctors and who lie Rotting in the rags and tatters of their own vain opinions.
So Luther puts together 95 propositions Raised in public forum and Nails them to the door. By the way, it'd be like kind of a blog today. We want to talk about these things and so he just nails them up at the very conspicuous public place right on the door and Accompanied the 95 thesis were this statement.
But on my part as I have often done before so now to I implore all men by the faith of Christ Either to point out to me a better way If such a way has been divinely revealed to any or at least to submit their opinion to the judgment of God in the church.
For I am neither so rash as to wish that my sole opinion should be preferred to that of all other men. Nor so senseless as to be willing that the Word of God should be made to give peace to fables designed by human reason.
Well, not one person showed up to the debate but the printing press was Gearing up in those days and within four weeks Pope Leo had a copy of the 95 thesis. I Wonder what you thought his reaction might be to that.
Well It was a war between Luther and Tetzel. And Tetzel said of Luther within three weeks. I shall have the heretic thrown into the fire. Now Tetzel wanted to respond and he needed some more authority so he was granted the honorary degree of doctor produced a hundred and six counter propositions.
Mainly saying that the Bible is subject to the Pope's interpretation. Has anything changed in Rome? Luther referred to the papal court and said no doubt you judge me after yourself, but if I aspired to the position of a bishop of Certainty I would not use the language that so greats on your ears.
Do you imagine that I am ignorant how bishops and Priesthood are obtained at Rome. Do not the very children in the streets sing these well-known words. Of all spots foul spots the world around the foulest spot in Rome is found.
Imagine hearing kids outside singing that. Well Luther was charged with heresy. Cardinal Chetien was the one who was going to prosecute the case on behalf of Rome. And Luther needed to go to Augsburg.
He said they have already destroyed my honor and my reputation. People didn't want him to go. You're gonna die Luther. Luther said one single thing remains it is my wretched body. Let them take it. They will thus shorten my life by a few hours.
But as for my soul they cannot take that he who desires to proclaim the Word of God to the world must expect Death at every moment for our husband is a bloody husband to us. By the way a side note when Paul said I died daily.
He was just ready every single day to die for the cause of Christ. Chetien said my dear son recant I Demand proof from Scripture that I am wrong. It is on Scripture that my views rest. The Pope has power and authority over all things except Scripture.
Except Scripture, don't you know that the Pope is above councils? One by one Luther said these are my points. This is Scripture and Luther said my soul is seeking for the light of truth. My greatest joy will be to witness the triumph of what is according to God's Word.
Only let not men force me to do anything that is against the voice of my conscience. Retract retract. I shall send you to Rome to appear before the judges. I shall excommunicate you and here Chetien forgot that he's in an area where It's German.
Infuriating the Germans and he said do you think that your protectors will stop me? Do you imagine that the Pope cares anything for Germany? The Pope's little finger is stronger than all the German princes put together.
Not understanding the strength of the Germans. Luther was not impressed. He said of the Cardinal that he was no more fitted to handle the case than a donkey to play on a harp and Everybody got a hold of that and soon there were cartoons everywhere of Chetien playing a harp looking like a donkey.
Well, there was a big public bait with John Eck. He'd been condemned by the Pope. Luther had but he had some people who were helping him. Frederick the wise. Others like Frederick of Saxony called Luther a child of Satan son of perdition diseased sheep and tear in the vineyard.
And if you can't stop the doctrine just go ad hominem. Tetzel by the way got lots of trouble and he was forsaken by his own Dominican order sentenced to life in his cell. He was despondent and fearful what would happen and died depressed shortly afterward.
Luther knew it's coming up to a complete break with Rome. Reformation won't work anymore. We've got to get out of Rome. We must protest Luther said learn from me how difficult a thing it is to throw off errors confirmed by the example of the world and Which through long habit have become second nature to us?
I no longer permit myself to be indignant against those who are still attached to the Pope since I. Who had for so many years studied the Holy Scripture so attentively still clung with so much obstinacy to potpourri.
Well, what about Luther's marriage and family life. For a long time he didn't marry. Does anybody know why Luther didn't marry for a long time because he thought he's gonna Luke. Well monks weren't supposed to marry good.
Because he thought he was gonna die as late as November 30th 1524. He wrote to Spallaton I shall never take a wife as I feel at present. Not that I am insensible to my flesh or sex for I am neither wood nor stone.
But marriage would be unwise because I daily expect the death of a heretic. Why get married if you're going to get killed? But in April 1523 a group of 12 nuns escaped a convent at Nipsey and made their way to Wittenberg and One of those could not be married off.
All were married off except a 26 year old named Catherine von Bora. Normally you'd get married at 15 or 16. She's 26. And all of a sudden simultaneously people started saying things about Luther. And he was.
They were saying that Luther had all these nuns living in his home. And they even called his home where all these nuns were Luther's harem. So for that and many other reasons on June 13 1525 in the presence of a few friends Martin Luther 42 married Katie, and he was glad to have her.
He said of her. The greatest blessing is to have a wife to whom you may entrust your affairs. He couldn't deal with money. She did a great job, and he once said of a of his wife Katie writing to a friend Mark this men and women let the wife make her husband glad to come home and let him make her sorry to see him leave.
Well is there anything negative about Luther. Certainly he was a fallen man. He began to debate Zwingli and others about communion. He didn't really want to come to any middle ground. Zwingli even said to Luther we ought to esteem you as a vessel of honor, and we do so notwithstanding your faults.
They agreed that the Lord's Supper was a meal of remembrance. But Luther thought it was more and Luther said as soon as the words of consecration are pronounced over the bread the body is there no matter How wicked the priest is who pronounces them.
And Zwingli said to Luther you're now reestablishing popery. But let's separate. Zwingli wanted as brothers, but Luther cantankerous as always would not do it. Zwingli said let us proclaim our union and all these things in which we agree and as for the rest.
Let us be tolerant of each other as brothers in Christ. He was so moved he burst into tears. Peace has been established with Luther. He goes over to Luther and extends his hand out, but Luther would not shake hands with Zwingli.
The only thing he said was your spirit is different from ours. Well, it was getting to the end towards of Luther's life. He began to have severe stomach pains. And he was told by a doctor that he should drink a remedy and that remedy was does anyone know?
Powdered unicorns horn and a glass of wine. Fell asleep hours later. He had severe chest pains. He knew he was dying and he prayed this prayer on his deathbed to God for comfort. Oh God my Heavenly Father and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ God of all comfort.
I give you thanks that you have revealed unto me your son Jesus Christ in whom I have believed whom I have confessed whom I have loved whom I have declared and preached. Whom the Pope of Rome and the multitude of the ungodly do persecute and dishonor.
I beg you my Lord Jesus Christ receive my soul. Oh Heavenly Father though. I be snatched out of this life though I must now lay down this body yet I assuredly know that I shall abide with you forever and that no man can pluck me out of your hands.
He began to grow weak. Could barely talk and his last words were as many saints of old into your hands. I commit my spirit you have redeemed me. Oh God of truth. Luther dies the following day a funeral at the same Church the Church of All Saints Castle Church at Wittenberg.
They lay his body to rest at the tomb of the foot of the pulpit. As Cromartie says in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to glory. Not a good story. It's not just a good story. It's true. So in the few minutes we have left turn your Bibles to Romans chapter 1 and I just want to show you One of the books That Luther began preaching early in his ministry that basically revolutionized the world in the Reformation the book of Romans.
Now Romans has so much to be Minded that I can't get into all of it. Let me just say there's two points to Romans sin and the Savior. How about that? Sin and the Savior. And this is a book that we must hear in this Christian place.
Hear from God's Word in Romans chapter 1 quickly looking at 2 and 3 and to see some of the scriptures that we heard Luther even talk about the just shall live by faith. And it starts off with a bang. Romans 1 1.
Paul a bondservant of the Messiah. Jesus called as an apostle. Set apart for the gospel of God. You would have the Herald make a proclamation of the good announcement from the Emperor. The Sun has been born.
Emperor's son is born, but this is not the Emperor's son. This is the gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures. Concerning his son verse 3 who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh.
He is fully man in other words. And verse 4 who was declared the Son of God. He's fully divine with power by the resurrection from the dead. That word declared there is where we get our word horizon. It's a word of demarcation when you look at the horizon.
It distinguishes the sky from the land. And what distinguishes Jesus from every other prophet our so-called person who said the divine is that God raised him from the dead and. Then if you jump down to verse 16, you know the verses well.
For I am NOT ashamed of the gospel. Paul said you can beat me up and they did. You can laugh at me and they did. You know what Paul did when he first got to a city. He asked where the jail was because he knew he would be there soon.
I'm not going to be ashamed for Christ. For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. No matter how sinful to the Jew first and also the Greek. And now you'll see the words that rang in Luther's mind.
You'll see the capitals if you have a study Bible that refer you right back to a back at chapter 2 verse what? For for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith and that's the theme of the book of Romans.
God's righteousness found in the gospel as It is written and as it stands written. But the righteous are the just shall live by what? Faith shorthand for the gospel. The righteous shall live by faith.
And we need that because if you study chapter 1 verses 18 and following. No one can be justified by what they do or who they are true. By the works of the law, no one will be justified. Whether you're a Gentile.
Chapter 1 verse 18 to 32. No matter you're a Jew. Moralizing Jew you have your own personal righteousness in chapter 2 if you're a well-taught Jew. Chapter 2 verse 17 and following. It doesn't matter who you are.
Because chapter 3 verse 10 says it is written and it stands written there is none righteous. Not even one. The sad thing is at least Luther had verse 18 down. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
They don't even know who God is. They think he's a love God. Paul doesn't spin. He doesn't mince words. He has no excuses. He says you know what the the righteousness of God needs to shut people's mouths.
Verse 19. Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law that every mouth may be Closed and all the world may become accountable to God. No more excuses. No more reasons why we sin and.
Then we're starting to get to some good news, but one more verse that shuts us up to our own works. Because by the works of the law Romans 3 20 no flesh shall be justified in his sight. Maybe other people's sight.
For through the law comes the knowledge of sin. The harder you try to make yourself right in God's eyes on your own apart from the cross the more impossible it becomes. A Fallen sinner true or false is able to cooperate with divine grace.
False True or false salvation is exclusively the result of God's work. True true or false. To say that a fallen sinner has the power to cooperate with divine grace is a denial of the necessity of Christ's work.
True true or false the human will is in bondage to sin because of our union with Adam in his fall. True true or false ought does not imply can True and those five things I just quoted to you are all things from Luther's bondage of the will.
God and his goodness lets us see ourselves as corrupt and depraved so we'd look to the cross. So we realize we have no righteousness. We must get it from God and that is when we hear the great news of the gospel.
Chapter 3 verses 21 and following here is the good news. This is why we're Christians. This is why we sing. This is why we have the hope of heaven and here we have righteousness described in how it comes to us.
It's called justification chapter 3 verse 21, but now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been manifested. Being witnessed by the law and the prophets here comes the new stage the new curtain.
God is coming to the rescue and as William Wilberforce prayed Oh God deliver me from myself. That is exactly what Jesus did. Here comes the good news. Amazingly John Murray said this insightful quote in his darkness man now supposes that he can satisfy God with something less than perfect obedience in His low views of God.
He hopes that the debt he owes is small enough for him to repay it himself. No longer knowing the infinite holiness of God. He is blind to the magnitude of the spiritual obedience for what he is responsible.
Which reminds me just of Romans chapter 10? Speaking of the Israelites for not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own. They did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God but God will not leave us where we are and Here the just justifies the unjust.
Verse 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Christ Jesus for all those who believe there's no distinction. You are Gentile or anyone else for all of sin and fall short of the glory of God.
We've all sinned point in time probably the fall of Adam and fall short ongoing our own lives fall short of the glory of God and Then those words that Luther loved in verse 24 being justified as a gift by his grace.
Through the redemption which is in not ourselves, but in the Messiah Christ Jesus. We get God's righteousness. Here's what happens and you know well Jesus lives a perfect life. He obeys all the works of the law whatever God commands Jesus obeys.
We have broken all of God's laws. Yes, how many laws does it take for us to break before we're accountable for them all? One. So what are we going to do yet God and his mercy and his love and his kindness of pure expression of grace.
Says I'm going to make the great exchange and I will count my Christ my sinless son. I will count him as if he had sinned all the sins of all those who would ever believe and then on the flip side. Because of Christ's work I will count the sinner as if he totally obeyed because Jesus obeyed for him and now we are Justified in God's eyes.
We have an alien righteousness. It's not our own. It's Christ. We have a forensic righteousness. God says you are declared righteous. It's not a process and This doctrine of justification is confirmed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
Do you see it in Romans if you look at chapter 4 verse? 25. I believe he who was delivered over because of our transgressions and was raised because of our justification. It was pleasing in God's sight so he raised him from the dead that is why justification by faith alone.
Sola fide we call it is the article that determines whether the church stands or what? Falls according to Luther. Is it any wonder congregation that there is a new attack on justification by faith alone?
From people who are in the emergent church, not all but some people saying there's a new perspective on Paul. Paul didn't have it, right. The church is either standing or falling with their view of faith alone and it is not even our faith that saves us Long Short shorthand.
Yes, you're saved by faith. But if I want to extrapolate that out how many people remember the old windows with zipping you unzip a file. You have to get the window Extractor and you unzip a file because everything's packed in there and you have to unzip it.
The just shall live by faith. You're saved by faith. That's kind of all compacted like that. Let me unzip it and hit the window extractor. We are saved by what Jesus has done in our place and granted faith.
And then we exercise that faith the just shall live by faith. And I want you all to know that we are Protestants for a reason we are Protestants because we still protest Rome either Rome is right and we're wrong or Rome is wrong and we are right or we are both wrong.
If you have Roman Catholic friends if you have Roman Catholic relatives and they believe what Rome teaches. They are not going to heaven. I Don't say that because I mean I Think that's one of the most friendly things that you could tell someone.
That you're not justified by faith plus sacraments. You are justified by faith alone. You said Rome doesn't teach that anymore really. They taught it in the Council of Trent in the mid 16th century that was a backlash to the Reformation and of the Council of Trent the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s said that the Council of Trent doctrines were irreformable.
They do not believe that God justifies sinners by grace through Christ. They do not believe that justification is a judicial act, but a process they believe and If you believe what I've just taught the Roman Catholic system thinks you're going to hell.
According to their doctrine. It says if anyone says that the guilt is remitted to every penitent sinner after the grace of justification has been received and That the debt of eternal punishment is so blotted out That there remains no debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world or in the next in purgatory.
Let him be Anathema if you think Christ's death paid for every one of your sins past present and future if you think Christ's righteousness Gave you perfection and God looks at you and sees you as perfect and you have the hope of heaven and you know for sure That you're going to go there.
You are damned according to Rome and If you have Roman Catholic friends, then I suggest you tell them the truth in love. The Council of Trent said if anyone says that the righteousness received is not preserved and also not increased before God by good works.
Let him be anathema. Rome says those who by sin have fallen from the received grace of justification may be again justified through the sacrament of penance. If anyone says that the said sacraments that grace is not conferred through the work work.
But says that faith alone in the divine promises is sufficient for obtaining grace. Let them be cursed and sent to hell forever. Now friends can there be Christians in the Roman Catholic Church, yes, but not because of Rome and you need to tell them leave.
It's a harlot church. It's telling you the wrong thing. How soon should you tell them to leave? Well, I have an illustration that I've used even yesterday with someone if you have been if you have just learned that your tap water That you get in your city contains 80 Evian pure water.
Whatever water you like, maybe you don't like French water the sani coca-cola water. Whatever you want and 20 strychnine. How soon will you freak out and not drink it? When there's air that dams we need to run.
Or you could use this illustration that we like to use in our house. How much damning doctrine should there be in some system before you flee? Well, I Don't really like brownies too much. But if you put in a lot of extra stuff, I like them bunch of Snickers Heath bars.
Chocolate chips and Just imagine these brownies you get that really good kind of Trader Joe's organic brownie mix forget putting in milk. You get some kind of good half-and-half you pour in there. Not just regular eggs, but just those those great eggs that come from the Farah egg factory over there that they have the best sugar the best Heath bars.
The best Snickers and you put them all in there and bake them. But there's one thing that we forgot that was all the good stuff. But you need to have a little tablespoon of something a little dollop of something.
So you go out in the backyard and you get some dog excrement and you put in one tablespoon. How much dog excrement in a thing of good brownies ruins the brownies. And Friends when you add the Roman Catholic system of works to the cross.
It is like besmirching the cross with dog excrement. And you need to know that When Jesus said it is finished it is finished and may I say it is anathema to add to the cross of Christ and We should be praising God for Martin Luther to stand up and say I live in a place that has 100 Roman Catholics.
But even if it cost me a lot my life, I'll tell the truth you live in a mission field and 80 of your neighbors are Roman Catholics, and they are dying and going to hell and you know the truth. And you know the grace of God and You are the ones that need to tell that Jesus Christ saves sinners by his grace alone.
And if you're uncomfortable with that Then join the club because I don't like it either. But as we've learned the last two Sundays in the Great Commission Jesus said and lo I am with you always. Even to the end of the age he'll be with you as you gently and sweetly tell the truth in love.
Let's pray Father thank you for tonight thank you that you'd use Martin Luther a sinful servant yet you used him and Father I am sure I am the chief of sinners here at the church. Yet you and your goodness reveal to me the lightning bolt of truth.
That you save sinners as we learned this morning in first Peter 1 you caused us to be born again and Lord We can offer nothing to you because we would offer it with dirty hands and a dirty heart. So thank you for flooding our hearts and minds here at this church with the gospel of God free grace law free Gospel and Lord I think of those of the church who are married to Roman Catholics have Roman Catholic children.
Who have Roman Catholic friends? Lord would you do a great work in their lives father? Would you give us an? Uncomfortableness. Until we can share the gospel like DL Moody He wanted to share the gospel or his conscience would rip him father.
Would you help us not to be afraid of man? Would you help us to stand up against the attacks where people say we're Catholic bashing and we hate Catholics. Father we know you love sinners. And we want to love them too.
And you have shown your love by having your son come and be a preacher. Help us to preach the gospel that Jesus Christ saved sinners and that he has demonstrated his love for these sinners by sending Christ to do his finished sufficient work and Lord would you use us like you use Martin Luther a sinful man?
But you made him a saint and you turned the world upside down. Father help us to preach the gospel and let us see the salvation of even one for your glory.