Reformation Week Pt. 2

Martin Luther showed the world that a humble man can also be a passionate, zealous one. Christians can wield words like swords and persuade men with the courage of their convictions. He was not without sin, but he who is loved much is forgiven much. And I do love Martin Luther.

In a time when he seemed to be in the vortex of a storm that threatened to destroy the Church, Luther never backed down. He was sure of what he believed, but he had personal, encouraging words for his friend who wavered with the heart of a diplomat. Melanchthon lacked Luther's zeal. He was of a more practical bent... I think he was probably more like me (with pounds more wisdom and intelligence!), with a bit of time and experience having mellowed his youthful zeal, causing him to appreciate and value flexibility and productivity. Perhaps, like me, he had begun to calculate the cost more often than he used to. The voices around him were maybe beginning to confuse and distract him from the purity of the gospel.

But not so, Luther. In the year 1521, he wrote to his friend:

"If you are a preacher of Grace, then preach a true, not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners.

Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly. For he is victorious over sin, death, and the world.

As long as we are here we have to sin. This life in not the dwelling place of righteousness but, as Peter says, we look for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. . . .

Pray boldly - you, too, are a mighty sinner."


These words have been called Luther's "most provocative words," "the boldest and wildest utterance of Luther on justification."

But perhaps more provocative, more wild, more bold were these:

"It is finished."



"And if these things are true - and they are - then let everything else go."
Martin Luther


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"God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..."
Hebrews 1:2-3



"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.

This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."
Colossians 2:13-14



"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it -
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

For there is no distinction: 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, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time,

so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Romans 3:21-26