October 28, 2024
Here I Stand - Part 1
Revelation 14:6-7
10/28/2024
6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead,
with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who
dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and
language and people.
7 And he said with a loud voice, ``Fear God and give
him glory, because the hour of his judgment has
come, and worship him who made heaven and earth,
the sea and the springs of water.'' (ESV)
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic monk,
posted ninety-five statements for debate on the door of the
Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The debate he desired
never happened, but the face of Christianity changed forever with
his actions.
At stake is the question, ``how are we saved from sin and
eternal death?'' The Church of Rome was selling indulgences,
essentially a way to reduce the amount of punishment for sins
already confessed and forgiven.
Luther questioned this practice and the doctrine of
purgatory. He could not reconcile the teaching of the Church
with the words of Scripture, especially Romans 3, ``For all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by
his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus.''[1]
Luther never wanted to leave the Roman Catholic Church, but
was forced out as he sought to reform the Church. This week we
will look at some of the history of the Reformation.
May our Lord grant us grace to know the truth of God's Word
and to trust in Him alone. Amen.