10-31-2016

Good Morning All,

           Ephesians 2: 8-9; “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

     He didn’t plan for a revolution.  He simply wanted to discuss or debate an issue at hand.  He sent a copy to his bishop, as would have been the custom.  He had items he wanted to debate; to have someone explain to him why the events he described were proper.  Tradition says he nailed his issues, 95 of them, to the All Saint’s Church in Wittenberg sometime on October 31, 1517.  This act in and of itself was not that strange; this was how things were posted at that time.  Students, professors and other members of society who wanted to debate an issue would first submit the items for public scrutiny so that a debate could occur.  It was just supposed to be an academic exercise but it ended with a changed world.

    Martin Luther’s 95 theses led a discussion of church teachings, practices and doctrine that split the church and the continent of Europe.  Luther’s main complaint was with the practice of selling indulgences; essentially you would buy these slips of paper that gave you credit for good works to place against your sins.  This was an attempt to balance the account with God.  Luther saw this as wrong on many levels and if one wanted to, you could view Luther through different lenses.  He saw this practice as incredibly exploitative.  The poor peasants would be scared into giving up what little money they had to the pope and his bishops and archbishops.  You could call Martin Luther a social justice warrior.  He noted that it was mostly German peasants who were being fleeced.  Martin Luther was a nationalist and a patriot.

    Yet the crucial element was that Luther shows us what God’s Word tells us.  We do not have to buy anything to balance our account with God for God has already done that for us.  Christ died to pay for our sins and then freely gives us that gift of paying for us by giving us faith to trust in that promised mercy.  We are saved by grace; it is nothing we do.  Our salvation depends entirely upon God.  We supply nothing to our salvation.  It is 100% dependent upon Jesus.

    This truth should give us joy and peace.  I cannot possibly contribute enough to my salvation so God, mercifully, does not require me to or even allow me to aid in my salvation.  This gift is freely placed in my hands that I may hold onto it and always know that God’s love will always sustain me.  No matter how bleak things may appear, God’s grace gives me hope.  My hope is in the forgiveness of my sins and in the promise of the resurrection of the body that Jesus freely gives to me and it does not cost me a single dime.  It is mine to be grabbed hold of and for me to cling to for all the comfort that I need.

Father, your grace is sufficient for all my needs. Guide me by your Spirit that I may always cling to your mercy.  Lead me to walk your holy path that I may serve you in all gladness.  Keep me free from all the devil’s attacks.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret