Sermon notes of Dr. Marshall C. St. John, pastor (send email)
Introduction: Every October Wayside Presbyterian Church celebrates Reformation Day. What was the Reformation? The Reformation was a religious movement that began in the Middle Ages, and which led to the development of Protestantism. Protestantism was a “protest” against Roman Catholicism, and an explosion of Bible translation, printing and Bible teaching . The Dark Ages of Western Civilization were now ending, because the light of the Gospel of Jesus was now shining brightly in Europe and Britain. The Roman Catholic Church made it illegal to translate and print Bibles, or to read the Bible and think for yourself about what it taught. Now the Genie was out of the bottle, and they couldn’t put it back in again. Famous figures of Reformation times include John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, Jan Huss, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli and John Knox to name a few. We celebrate Reformation Day on October 31, in remembrance of Luther nailing his “95 Theses” on the Wittenberg church door on that day in 1517, launching the Reformation in Germany. The Reformation revolved around two crucial themes: Justification by grace alone, through faith alone; and the source of religious Authority.
I. Justification
A. After receiving his doctorate, Luther was appointed to teach Bible at the University in Wittenberg. In accord with Roman theology, he had no assurance of salvation, and he agonized over his sins. He was assigned to teach Psalms, Galatians and Romans, and over the next few years he came to understand that “the just shall live by faith,” not works (Romans 3:21-28, for example).
B. He was a pile of dry straw waiting for a spark to catch fire, and the spark appeared in the person of Johann Tetzel, a Dominican monk, sent to raise money for Pope Leo X, and for Archbishop Albrecht. Albrecht had borrowed money to buy his office from the Pope. He needed to repay his loan. The Pope was refurbishing the Vatican, and needed lots of money. So they sent Tetzel. Tetzel preached in the cities of Germany, telling people that they could set their relatives free from the flames of purgatory by buying “indulgences” from him, authorized by the Pope. An indulgence was a pronouncement of forgiveness of sin, wherein in exchange for money, the Pope applied the Treasury of the Merits of the Saints to you or your loved one in Purgatory. (Read the Colliers Encyclopedia article).
C. The Bible teaches that justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein He declares the sinner righteous and acquitted of all sin and guilt, based on the righteousness of Christ, which God imputes to the sinner who repents and believes. Luther vigorously defended this crucial point of the Gospel from the Word of God.
II. Religious Authority
A. In Roman Catholicism, authority is claimed to be found in the Bible, but only as it has been interpreted by the Roman Catholic Church over its 2000 year history. The official pronouncements of popes and councils (called Canon Law or the Magisterium) have more actual authority than the Bible itself. That is why Roman Catholicism teaches such doctrines as the infallibility of the Pope, Purgatory, the Treasury of the Merits of the Saints, the immaculate conception of Mary, her bodily ascension into Heaven, and her position as co-reedemer with Jesus of mankind. None of these doctrines can be proved from the Bible.
B. When Luther spoke out against indulgences he made powerful enemies of the Pope and the leadership of the Roman Catholic church. They intended to arrest him, try him for heresy, and execute him. There were several debates between Luther and the Roman Catholic church, and it was at one of these that he made his famous statement “here I stand!” Here is Luther’s statement as recorded by D’Aubigne in his “History of the Reformation.”
I cannot submit my faith, neither to the pope nor to councils, because it is clear as the day, that they have often fallen into error, and even into the most palpable contradictions with themselves. If, therefore, I am not convinced by the testimony of the scriptures or by manifest reason, if I am not persuaded by the very passages which I have quoted, and if thus my captive conscience be not delivered from the word of God, I neither can nor will retract, for it is not safe for a Christian to speak against his conscience...Here I take my stand. I cannot do otherwise--God help me! Amen.
C. Christians today must stand with Luther, and receive the Word of God alone as our authority for faith and life. In Matthew 22:29 Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.” Paul wrote in II Timothy 3:
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Christians must pay no heed to denominations, or cults or religions which bring forth other sources of authority. More than that, we need to study the Bible, learn what it says, and make sure our churches are true to God’s Word.
Conclusion: These three themes lay at the heart of the Reformation: Justification by Grace through Faith; the Authority of the Bible alone; and Sanctification also by Grace, not works. We are kept by the power of God, not by our own strength. It is important that we continue to celebrate Reformation Day from year to year and remember our roots. Roman Catholicism has not changed in its essentials. But it has opened its arms to cooperation with Protestants who have forgotten history and who no longer care about doctirne. Some Lutheran and Anglican denominations are even on their way back to rejoining the Roman Catholic Church. Cults and false religions, and perverted Christianity are all around us. Surveys indicate that American Christians of our generation have but a meager knowledge of the Scriptures. So WE must be knowledgeable. So WE must be alert, to preserve the truth and freedom that God has given us. Our forefathers struggled and died for the Christian faith. We must not let their work pass away. Let’s study our Bibles. Let’s celebrate Reformation Day as the years go by. Let’s keep the light of God’s Word burning brightly until Jesus comes again. Amen.