God’s Amazing Grace

October 31st is a special day everyone who follows Jesus, because this is the day in 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his list of concerns about the church’s teachings to the door of the cathedral in his hometown. If I were to nail something to the door of Olivet, I hope you would send someone to see if I was delirious from a fever or something, but it was a common thing back in the day, before newspapers, TV, and the Internet.

Underneath all of Luther’s concerns was this great flaw – the people had lost touch with what God says in His Word. They had forgotten that salvation is by God’s grace alone. Instead, they were following a system of self-salvation, earning your way to heaven through good deeds. Luther had spent much of his younger days working to do his best! While studying at law school, he was almost killed by a stroke of lightning. In a flash, he committed his life to serving God and joined a monastery. But instead of enjoying his religious efforts, Martin Luther became more and more consumed by fear – how could he know that he had done enough good works to pay for his sins? Searching for answers, Luther even took a long and dangerous road trip to Rome, but came home even more overwhelmed by the corruption he observed there and his own inability to deal with his own sins.

God stepped in! Luther was reading in Romans 3 and these verses struck his heart, a true bolt of heavenly lightning!

20 For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law. 21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. -- Romans 3:19-24 (CSB)

God brought Luther to understand – we cannot save ourselves by obeying all the rules and the laws of good works (verse 20); no, God gives us His righteousness, through faith in Jesus Christ (Verse 22). We are set free, not by good works, but purely by God’s grace when He draws us to believe Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Savior, and Lord (Verse 24).

Chocolate is yummy, dressing up is fun, but there is nothing to beat that Halloween Day in 1517! God began reminding people that we are saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone. We trust in God’s Word alone, and all of this for the Glory of God alone!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Pastor Jamie