Luther and Lessons of God's History

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Each year on Oct. 31^st the Lutheran Church commemorates the Reformation. On that day in 1517, a German monk and professor named Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther was looking for a scholarly debate, but what he initiated went far beyond the academy as the Reformation challenged emperors and popes, princes and peasants to reconsider fundamental religious questions.

As a theologian, pastor and educator, Luther made history. He was a great man of faith, boldly defending his beliefs. His impact on the history of the Christian church — as well as on Western civilization — is unmatched. But are these the only reasons why we remember Luther? The events of his life and career are matters of history, but historical theology also reminds us that what is more important than the person of Luther is the GOSPEL message he proclaimed!

By posting his 95 Theses, Luther was calling attention to abuses and doctrinal errors in the Roman Catholic Church. But at the same time, he was returning to the Scriptures as the basis for all Christian teaching. Luther's view of the problems in the church and his understanding of the teachings of the Bible grew out of his attempt to know God and His grace.

Luther had become a monk with the hope of leading a God-pleasing life and ensuring his own salvation. But the more he tried, the more he realized that he could not keep God's Law. In fact, he could do nothing to make himself worthy of God's love. Luther's inability to fulfill God's righteous demands drove him to despair.

The church in Wittenberg had an old cemetery. Above the entrance was a stone carving of Christ sitting on the Judgment Seat. From one side of Christ's mouth came a beautiful lily, symbolizing life and salvation; from the other side extended a sword, signifying death and condemnation for sin. This was a typical portrayal of Christ in Luther's day, yet for him it was an object of fear. Fully aware of his sinfulness, Luther dreaded this image because he was convinced that when he stood before Christ on the Last Day, he would receive the sword of eternal punishment. In great anguish Luther struggled to find assurances that God would love him and be merciful to him.

In God's Word, Luther searched for answers. While seeking to understand the concept of the “righteousness of God” in Romans 1:17, he found comfort in these words from 3:22-24: “This right-eousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Later in life, Luther reported that when he read and finally grasped the meaning of the “righteous-ness of God”he felt he was “altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates.”

Luther's breakthrough came in hearing and believing that Jesus Christ is God's answer for our sin. Luther understood that yes, there is judgment for sin, but that judgment took place at the cross – the Last Day Judgment ahead of time. Christ Himself bore sin's punishment for us – in our place – dying sin's death that we may have salvation and eternal life. For believers in Christ, there is no impending punishment for sin at the end of history, because sin was crucified and buried with Christ, the Lord history.

Luther began the Reformation long ago in a far-away place. He proclaimed the Gospel to peasants in the German language. But does the message translate to our own situation today?

Times have changed. The world is a different place. Yet questions such as: “What kind of God do we have and how does He deal with us?” are common to people of every time and place. The message of Luther's Reformation still clearly proclaims to our broken, disillusioned world that God in His mercy is found in Jesus Christ, broken on the cross. He alone brings healing, hope and new life to our world of sin and despair.

Luther knew and proclaimed God's history of love and faithfulness. Yet the Gospel is not a past-tense event of history. It is the same saving word of forgiveness to us today. It is a life-giving message not merely for Luther's century, but for our own; not simply for commemorative anniver-saries, but for every day of our lives.

 

This article is by Professor Gerhard Bode of
Concordia Seminary in St. Louis , MO.