Over five hundred years ago, Martin Luther posted ninety-five theses (or statements) on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. He simply wanted to begin a discussion about whether an indulgence could truly forgive sins and reduce a person’s time in purgatory. Luther did not intend to start a revolution. He did not set out to start a new church. Rather, he cared about the Gospel. Yet, little did he know that the ninety-five theses would spark a Reformation that changed the world.
Today we will learn that the Reformation was about Jesus and it is still about Jesus. The Reformation was about the Gospel that we are forgiven by grace through faith in Christ alone. The Reformation was also about Scripture alone; that Scripture is our only source of truth.
The Reformation was not merely about the freedom of conscience or the struggle with church authority. The Reformation was not about Martin Luther himself. The Reformation brought many good things such as education for rich and poor, for boys and girls. There was also an increase in caring for the needy.
But we are here today to look at the heart of the Reformation. Again, it was about Jesus, and it is still about Jesus—His life, death and resurrection, and the gifts of forgiveness and salvation that we freely receive through faith in Christ alone. We learn about this Gospel from the Scriptures.
At the age of twenty-two, Luther became a monk in order to find peace with God. As a monk he tried to purge himself of sin by fasting, by going without sleep, and even by whipping himself. Yet peace with God never came. He confessed to his superior, John Stauptiz, “I am uncertain whether I have done enough, been sorry enough, worked hard enough, or punished myself enough to be free from my sin.”
Later, Luther was ordained a priest thinking that this might earn favor with God. It did not, so he earned a Doctor of Theology at the University of Wittenberg thinking that more education and doing greater works might please God. But his inner conflict deepened. He felt utterly unworthy to stand before a holy God.
And Luther was right. God is holy. Our Epistle from Romans 3 says that God is just. He hates sin and demands perfect obedience. His Ten Commandments have not changed. He does not soften them, lower His standards, or grade on a curve. God is holy and just.
Let me ask you three questions.
First, can you be free of sin? No. You were born with a sinful nature. You are child of Adam and Eve. Romans 3 says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin is sin and it demands payment. We will continue to struggle with our sinful nature until the day we die.
Second, can you justify yourself before God? No. You cannot you make yourself righteous in God’s sight by what you do. We try to justify ourselves saying, “My sin isn’t as bad as someone else’s sin” or “I’m a good person. I haven’t killed anyone.” But, we cannot justify ourselves before God, because we are sinful by nature.
Finally, can you appease the wrath of God by your works? No. Your works are never perfect. You can never do enough good to remove God’s wrath. If salvation depended on what you do, then you could never know whether you had done enough.
Sin clings to our flesh. We lie in order to cover up wrongs. We grow jealous of others. We get angry at other people. We make ourselves look better than other people. We want God to lower His standards so that we can meet them. We want to be like the world and to be liked by the world. We are caught in sin, and there is no way out by ourselves. An indulgence, a piece of paper, cannot cancel the punishment for sin.
In Luther’s day, Johann Tetzel was selling indulgences just across the river from Wittenberg. He claimed that an indulgence held as much power as the cross of Christ. He said that an indulgence would grant full remission of sins.
By this time, Luther had been teaching on the book of Romans, the Psalms, Galatians and on the book of Hebrews. As he studied and taught the Scriptures, the pieces of the Gospel were coming together. He learned from Scripture that sinners are justified freely by God’s grace on account of the cross and resurrection. We receive this gift through faith in Christ.
When Luther’s parishioners showed him their indulgence which they bought, he was appalled. Some wondered whether they had bought enough forgiveness; others felt no need to repent at all because of an indulgence. In response, Luther posted 95 theses in order to discuss indulgences.
The very first thesis reads, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Even in our own lives, a life of repentance and faith in the forgiveness of sins should be ongoing. Throughout our entire life, it’s important for us to confess our sins and to receive the forgiveness of sins. Number 62 reads, “The true treasure of the church is the most holy Gospel of the glory and grace of God.” The Gospel is the true treasure of the church. Notice that Luther cared deeply for his people and he care about the Gospel for the sake of his people.
Now, let’s return to those same three questions.
First, can you be free of sin? No, but Christ has made you free from sin and you are free indeed. Jesus took your place on the cross. You were supposed to die, but He died in your place and on your behalf. Jesus made the perfect sacrifice for the sin of the whole world. He died upon the cross and three days later He rose from the dead and He lives forevermore.
Second, can you justify yourself before God? No! You cannot make yourself righteous in the sight of God. But you are justified because of Jesus. You are declared righteous in God’s eyes on account of what Christ did upon the cross not because of what you do. Your sins are forgiven because of the righteous and perfect obedience of Jesus. You are justified on account of Christ, who by his death made satisfaction for sin.
Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
What is grace? It is a loving attitude of God toward you even though you don’t deserve it. God is gracious and merciful toward you because of Jesus. Grace is not like a vitamin pill which makes you stronger and stronger. You don’t get a shot of grace. Rather, grace is a disposition in God. It is a loving attitude of God toward you even though you don’t deserve it. He is gracious and merciful to you because of Jesus.
The final question: can you appease the wrath of God by your works? No, but Jesus has. He appeased the wrath of God by His righteous death upon the cross. Jesus did it all. The work of salvation is finished. Therefore, you are justified. You are cleansed. You are reconciled with the Father. He has declared this to be so on account of Christ.
You hear this wonderful news and say, “Amen.” Your faith clings to Jesus alone and not to your works. Faith believes in what God has done for you. This free gift of salvation is received through faith alone. Unbelief, on the other hand says “no thank you” to the Gospel. Woe to the person who rejects the gift of forgiveness in Christ. By God’s grace, do not allow the devil, the world, or your sinful flesh take your faith in Christ away.
Therefore, do not boast in what you do, but boast in Christ. Boast in what Christ did for you through His cross and resurrection. In Baptism, you received His righteousness. He has redeemed you from sin, death and the devil. In the Lord’s Supper, you receive the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Therefore, abide in God’s Word. It is our only source of truth. Continue to hear preaching. Study the Scriptures in Bible study and read the Scriptures as a family at home. Abide in God’s Word. Know and trust in the truth of the Gospel. Don’t allow false doctrine to creep into your lives or in the church but continue to know the truth of the Gospel.
Because Christ and His precious Gospel, your life is now changed for the better. You love others, because God first loved you. You forgive others, even your enemy, because God in Christ has forgiven you. You do good works not to earn salvation, but out of thankfulness for what God has already done for you.
Before Luther died, his son asked him whether he believed in Jesus as his Savior. Luther’s final word was a simple, “Yes!” And so, the faith by which he lived was also the faith by which he died.
This is what the Reformation was all about; it was about Jesus, and it is still about Jesus; His life, death and resurrection and the gifts of forgiveness and salvation freely given through faith in Christ alone. Therefore, when you will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you have nothing to fear, because Christ died and rose again for you. You can rest secure, knowing that Christ opened heaven for you. Thanks be to God. Amen.
