kingdom travelin'

I love to sit and watch and listen to the waves. The noise of the wind, the sound of the surf, the beauty of the sea and sky and shore all soothe my soul. Visits to the ocean are helpful to me, I enjoy them again and again.

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There are several chapters of books, quotes, sermons, etc. that are ‘go to’ resources for me. I like to return to them again and again. For example: Mere Christianity, Keller’s book Prayer chapters 2 and 14, Schaeffer ‘s How Should We Then Live, F. F. Bruce’s Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, then very recently Curt Thompson’s Anatomy of the Soul chapter’s 4&5, any of Piper’s biography messages and Joel Beeke’s message on prayer at Piper’s annual conference a few years back. I’ve had it on my phone for a number of years now and have listened to it again and again. I thought of it this morning in a conversation about Thompson chapter 4 (you should be reading this book).

While discussing Thompson’s idea about paying attention, I thought about Beeke’s “praying into our prayers.” This audio message on prayer continues to inform and exhort me. I recommend it to you. His basis for the sermon is the testimony of the Reformers, it’s timely to revisit with all the Reformation 500th anniversary info. CLICK HERE. (Broken link is now fixed – sorry) OH YEAH, Just because he addresses pastors, its not just for that group – – – Priesthood of all believers! <<Advance to the 12:30 mark to skip the preliminaries.>>

I was asked to give a 5 minute answer to this question in a local church:

Why Should I Care About the Reformation’s 500th Anniversary?

Here is the gist of my answer:

500 years ago, an Augustinian university professor realized that there were big problems in the church. The people were ignorant about God and the Bible. They relied on experiences, works, and the church for salvation.

As he taught Romans to his theological students at the university of Wittenberg, Martin Luther realized that “the just shall live by faith.”

While teaching the Bible, he continued to develop the big ideas that would eventually challenge the theology and practices of the church. Then, on October 31st, 1517, Luther posted his 95 ideas on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

This door served as a kind of community bulletin board. By posting these ideas, he announced a challenge to an academic debate. What he actually did was light a match that would explode into a raging fire of revolution. Today we call this protest that brought reform the Protestant Reformation.

This movement spread across northern Europe and eventually around the world. Now, let’s be clear, the Reformation was not all peaches and cream. There were problems because there were humans involved. But six biblical truths were recaptured and remain important to you and me today.

Using the just published Greek New Testament of Desiderius Erasmus, the Europe wide movement to translate the Bible into common languages made God’s word available to all who would read. The people could see for themselves what the Bible taught instead of completely relying on the teachings of men in the church. Thus, the first big idea of the Reformation we consider is…

Scripture Alone – Sola Scriptura

Among Protestants, the inspired word of God would become the authority by which everything should be measured. From Scripture more biblical ideas were recaptured:

Glory to God Alone – Soli Deo Gloria

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,

for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (Psalm 115:1, ESV)

Christ Alone – Solus Christus

To the Jewish council, Peter proclaimed in Acts 4:11-12: “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (ESV)

Here is the Good News: Jesus + Nothing = Righteousness

John Calvin holds forth in the square bearing his name in Budapest

Grace Alone – Sola Gratia

Isaiah proclaims the good news saying:

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,”… (Isa. 61:10, ESV)

Faith Alone – Sola Fide

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Rom 12:3, ESV)

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

Royal Priesthood of All Believers

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Pet 2:9)

Today, like in 1517, there is widespread theological confusion of various kinds about works righteousness, errors about the Bible, about health, wealth and other teachings that falsely elevate man, his reason and his abilities.

These big ideas matter today to a weakening church in 2017 as they did back in 1517. We need to place our focus on God. Be careful church that you don’t spend more time in the writings of man than in the word of God!

To God ALONE be ALL the Glory

So, as members of the royal priesthood of God, saved by the grace of God, through faith alone, in Christ alone, trusting in Scripture alone, let us give God all the Glory with our lives. THIS is why the Protestant Reformation is important for us 500 years later!

Soli Deo Gloria.

Amen.

This is part 5 in a series. Part ONE is HERE

500 years ago today an obscure Augustinian, a professor of theology, a teacher of the Bible posted 95 ideas , arguments or questions for academic debate to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. Martin Luther wanted to initiate a discussion about theology. Rather, the sparks from his hammer striking the nails that held his 95 Theses lit a fire of revolution in Europe. That revolution is known as the Protestant Reformation.

In this final post that notes the recaptured Biblical Truths resulting from the Reformation, we focus on the priesthood of all believers.

Hear the words of Peter:

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1Peter 2, ESV)

In the previous few posts we’ve considered biblical truths that were recaptured by the reformers.

As priests, we are called to follow Jesus as His disciples. No one is better than another and we are all called to point one another to Him as fellow disciples who love God, neighbor, enemy and one another, in obedience to Jesus’ commands.

These basic reminders are why it is important to remember the impact of the Reformation.

[This is part 4 in a series. Part ONE is HERE]

Hear the words of Isaiah:

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (61:10, ESV)

Note: He has covered me

And Paul to the Ephesians:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (2:8-10, ESV)

And finally to the Romans:

Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

As I reflect on these three texts, I am reminded of the glory of God alone as He has worked through Christ alone in His Grace so that I may be given that covering of righteousness. But this is not something I’ve earned, it is only through my faith in God.

(This is why it’s been said we should pray for and teach children to trust God before we worry about them loving God.)

The finished work of Christ is a gift from God to a needy humanity. When Jesus proclaimed “It is finished.” He was exclaiming that the debt man owed was paid.

No more animal sacrifices needed. The price was paid for me by Him. The tab was covered! It’s done! That’s grace!

Grace and Faith alone recognize that only God is able to do the work. Jesus has completed the work for us. Now, as Paul said:

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Rom. 12:3, ESV)

[This is part 3 in a series. Part ONE is HERE]

As I walked up the street in Zagreb on an errand recently, I saw this beautiful monument to the crucifiction of Jesus. It was on the street side of a Roman Catholic Church.

On my way back from my errand an elderly man stood in front of the statue praying.

At the time of the Reformation there was a dominant teaching that salvation comes through the church and that you could earn merit with God or even buy (from the church) the release from punishment for others.

The recaptured Biblical truth that the Reformation emphasized was that it is through Christ alone that we are saved from the wrath of God.

Jesus himself stated it clearly:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

It is Christ alone who saves. Not the Church, not my works…

Jesus + NOTHING = righteousness

Thanks be to God for the work of the Son!

Solus Christus