Reformation 500

If you are looking for a interesting conversation… Ask Scott or Sherry to tell you one of their many diving stories. You won’t be disappointed… you will be amazed at some of the place that Scott has dived… Including diving into a large container of Campbell’s soup… you can’t make this stuff up..

Scott is a professional diver and he has all the gear and heavy duty equipment and expertise to do what he does… He even has a decompression tank on the ranch---he has worked both in fresh water and ocean water…

So, If you have a diving question as I did this week… Scott is the guy to ask!

I was curious of the kind of challenges a diver faces when descending into deep waters… How deep is deep?

This says… The darkness of the water depends on the amount of silt in the water… The amount of light that gets diffused by depth has a small effect on light through water compared to the amount of material in the water.

it could get pitch black in just five feet of water… And as you go deeper into the darkness…an effect known as nitrogen narcosis can affect a diver and cause the diver to become disoriented and feeling drunk. It is also known as rapture of the deep and can lead you to not caring if you die....

• Can you imagine —being underwater, unable to see your hands in front of your face, not knowing which way is up, panic engulfing you….

• “So what do you do?” Divers know that your air bubbles are always moving towards the surface...Even when you can’t see anything your bubbles always tell you where “up” is.

· Even when it’s pitch-black and you have no idea which way to go, you reach up with your hand and feel the bubbles. The bubbles always drift to the surface. When you can’t trust your feelings or judgment, you can always trust the bubbles to get you back to the top.”

• Sometimes in life we can get out of our depth and the Darkness crowds and we can get disorientated…the question is What do we do? How do we find the surface?

• God has gifted us with the revelation (disclosure) of Himself — not only do we see God’s finger prints in nature (natural revelation) we see it through – The scripture. Every time we get disorientated we can reach out for the Word of God...

..… Paul reminded Timothy… that he could have confidence in the authority of the scripture… The Bible was not merely man’s words…but the authors of scripture ... were carried along and guided by the Holy Spirit…

Paul tells Timothy that All Scripture is inspired by God.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Paul says - the entirety of the scriptures are “God breathed” -- “theo pneustos.” Which means to be “breathed into by God.” — God has breathed his word..... John Blanchard says it like this — we don’t have the inspired word of God we have the exhaled word of God… Scripture emits God’s breathe…

Every word emits the character of God and the glory of God and the redemption offered by God… The purpose and the goal of the Bible is that we might know the Author and discover His plan of Salvation.…

We live in a Day when the Bible is readily available….... The Bible has been translated into more than 636 languages … And now with technology …we can click a button and have instant access to the scriptures.

The reason we have access to the Bible is because of the Reformation… In the 1500’s. Today is REFORMATION SUNDAY – We are celebrating the 500 year anniversary of the Protestant movement….

On October 31 1517. Luther stood up to the powers in the Roman Church and posted his 95 Thesis on the doors of the Wittenberg Chapel in Germany… This event marked the end of the dark ages and the beginning of the modern Era…

Luther struck a match that set ablaze a revival –that spread through Germany… through Europe and impacted the world … not only are our protestant roots found in the reformation… but also our Free Church Heritage that began in the Scandinavian countries… Holland, Norway and Sweden… There are Five Principles that came out of the Reformation… the first is is Solo (only) Scritura….(scripture) - ONLY scripture…

…... The free church has this phrase “Where stands it written”… we have a high regard for the scripture as the final authority for belief and practice…

Before the Reformation the world was plunged into the Dark Ages… People had very little hope… Infant mortality was high.. and life expectancy of the average person was short.....if a child was lucky enough to make it to the age of 20 years old there might be hope of reaching the age of 45. People lived with the constant threat of disease and they Death was constantly on their minds.…

Roman Church offered the people Hope through a theology that was based on righteousness obtained through works.… Works was a system based on penance… If one committed a sin - whether knowingly or unknowingly — you could go to a priest… and He would give you a pilgrimage or a task to complete that when satisfied you could obtain forgiveness…

Depending on the sin you might .. pray to a saint… or so many hail Mary’s. --- or some ascetic practice like going on your knees up a series of stairs.

The book of proverbs says that where there is no prophetic revelation the people are without restraint..

The Dark Ages was a time of prophetic silence… like in the days of Samuel where the bible says that the word of God was rare.

There were few Bibles available …mainly because the written by hand and extremely expensive… . The Bible that existed was written in Latin… Jerome had written the Latin vulgate in the third century… The church had used the same Bible for more than a thousand years --- and only a few privileged could speak and understand Latin..…

· There were Two Key events in the reformation

· The first was the invention of the Gutenberg printing press… it has been said that without the printing press there would have been no reformation.

· The second was when Luther translated the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into German… it was a watershed moment in History…Now not only could people read the Bible in their own language they were available through print. It is amazing How Technology has been used for the advancement of the Gospel...

So.... Out of the Dark ages… comes Reformation… bubbles are surfacing… Hope is rising out of the darkness comes light… not only was scripture restored to its proper place …

· The Reformation produced some of the greatest thinkers in Christendom… men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, Tyndale, Zwingli

· The reformation restored worship as we know it in church. Luther integrated theology through hymns and congregation singing.

· Restore the priest hood of the believer. through Christ they have we been given direct access to God. God is equally accessible to all the faithful, and every Christian has equal potential to minister for God.

· The reformation brought us the understanding of forgiveness, faith, grace and the authority of scripture…

We are going to look at four stages of Reformation —

1. Reformation brings a Struggle.

Luther life began in poverty. In struggle.

Martin Luther was born to Hans and Margaret Luder… He grew up in in Eilseben Germany --- about 120 miles from modern Berlin) His father Hans worked in the coper minds to support his family…

Luther said that “he was a peasant’s son, my father and my grandfather were genuine peasants...”

Hans wanted Luther to get out of a life of poverty in the mines and become a lawyer…. Hans made sacrifices sent Martin to a Latin school where he excelled and when he was only 13 years old he was accepted into the prestigious University of Erfurt - where began his studies in law....

Luther was extremely bright, articulate and adept and public debates and earned the nick Name, “the Philosopher.”

So Luther is on course to be becoming a top notch lawyer… but GOD has another purpose for Luther…one that would supersede any plan he could have orchestrated.

One day while he was at the recess of the university library, he discovers an old Latin Vulgate Bible… He dusted it of and began to read the bible for himself.…this was the beginning of inner ward struggle with his future as a lawyer.....

Reformation means change…. or to put something on the right path.… Reformation comes with struggle… we see the same principle with reformers Martin Luther Kings, and Nelson Mandela of the world..

William Wilberforce was one of Britain’s great social reformers in the 1800’s. Wilberforce is remembered for his active participation in getting Parliament to outlaw the slave trade. He died in 1833, just three days before Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which effectively banned slavery in the British Empire.

Reformation comes with struggle and often in degrees… Do you remember the instant photograph? You hold it up to the light… as time goes on it slowly develops ….the picture begins to form. Transformation, reformation… change happens in degrees..

The scripture says it like this.,

Proverbs 4:18 ESV

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

There are degrees of turning with Luther...seeds of revival have been sown into the heart of Luther…

Then when Luther was 21 years old and he is caught in a storm and a bolt of lightning struck the ground near him… it was a near death experience. He cried out to St. Anne to save him .... in the moment Luther makes a promise. “I will become a monk”

Luther honored his committee and made plans to inter the Augustinian order. When news of Luther decision to change from law and become a monk — led to his friends trying to change his mind and his father almost went mad when he heard the news.

So Luther sells his possessions and becomes an Augustinian monk. Luther was a perfectionist and whatever he did he wanted to succeed…. He ...was extraordinarily successful as a monk. He plunged into prayer, fasting, and ascetic practices—going without sleep, enduring bone-chilling cold without a blanket..he later commented,

“If anyone could have earned heaven by the life of a monk, it was I.” Luther

This is when the struggle became personal —

Luther had an inner Struggle with the word RIGHTEOUSNESS. He once remarked that he “hated that word, ‘the righteousness of God”

In his attempt at becoming more righteous he found himself constantly failing. Luther would go to confession and then find himself grumbling against God and then literary moments later turn around and go back to confession… The priests would often say to Luther come back after you have committed a bigger sin…

During confession, you would make a list of every sin you could remember… and confess also confess you had forgotten… Then you do penance… something to earn forgiveness...

The word penance came from the Latin translation of the bible --- Jerome translated the greek bible into Latin and the he interpreted word “repentance” as “Do Penance.”

Luther later discovered that Jerome had actually miss translated the word forgiveness…as “do penance.”

The Greek word Metanoeo meant to reconsider (repent) v. —to Repentance was a change of attitude.... moving us away from our sins to the direction of the gospel…

When translated...latin Vulgate as Do penance… it meant do the mechanics of Penance’ It meant going to the priest… carry out the penance for temporal satisfaction…

Luther found himself in a circle of despair…doing penance was not producing righteousness.

The second principle of the Reformation Solos (only) Gracia… ONLY BY GRACE… are we saved through grace. The only way we can stand before Holy God… is being forgiven and receiving his grace.

Ephesians 2:5–8 ESV

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

We were dead in sin. We have been made alive (regenerated) He has raised us up… to heavenly places… we have experienced in salvation God’s ultimate kindness.. towards us… and here is the clincher we did nothing to deserve this… except to receive the gift.

IF we are honest most us struggle with the Word GRACE… Grace Unmerited Favor.... undeserved unearned Free… whenever I see something for free on line or on the side of the road… I get suspicious.. What’s wrong with it.

The other day I was in Orland and was a meeting with other pastors with the Free Church., but on the drive home there was a sign on what of the car lots....

“Everyone’s Credit Accepted!!” There is a part of me that is skeptical — Surely not everyone’s credit score is good enough…how can anyone walk in drive out with a car… … we live in a world that is based upon earnings and wages..…. We earn a living… GRACE – is God Riches at Christ’s Expense… when Christ forgives we are fully forgiven…

Reformation begins with a struggle within.... it’s a struggle of grace. understanding God’s favor..

2. Reformation brings Revelation

Martin Luther goes on to do his Doctorate and becomes a professor at the University of Wittenberg … During lectures on the Psalms and a study of the Book of Romans, He comes to this text in Romans that deals with the Righteousness of God.. it starts in

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Paul, say he is not ashamed of the Gospel … to some it might sound like foolishness... in a culture that was looking for knowledge and wisdom… The reason Paul is not ashamed Because the Gospel is God’s plan for saving mankind… it was initiated by God and is carried out through his power. There is dynamic power in the gospel --- it is not lifeless message but is a message that brings transformation encounter to everyone who responds by faith…

The late evangelist Dwight L. Moody said that the gospel is like a lion. All the preacher has to do is to open the door of the cage and get out of the way!

Gospel Proclamation is the heart beat of the Church...it is the proclamation that Jesus Christ was more than a man but he is the Lord… In reformation language, it is the third “Solo Christos” —Christ alone…

One of the great heritages of the Richvale Church is Gospel proclamation. not only a high value in our preaching in the pulpit but in those that we are supporting … if you want to see what is important to someone see where they spend their money. Missions makes up 30% of our giving… we believe in Gospel proclamation.

“Missions is our Window to the World.” We currently have 13 missionaries that we support financially and through our ongoing prayer… Reformation reminds us of our participation and partnerships with others on the front lines of Gospel proclamation of Christ….. We have had have joined arms with amazing leaders…

Fred and Gwyneth Bailey working students with inter varsity fellowship

Jim and Annie Culp church planting in Mexico

Andy and Jenny Scheer working alongside nationals in Uganda

David and Lois McMartin doing member care to our missionaries.

Sharleen Ortlund the Belz,,,

John and Irene Johnson working in Birmingham England at the friendship center.. reach the Muslim community…

John and Donna – our missionary’s … behind the iron Curtain… …. they have given their lives to training and equipping leaders to proclaim Christ …

Reformation is a revolution of the proclamation of Christ and salvation… It is the power to Salvation..

LUTHER COMES TO Romans 1:17 the epi-center of reformation… this the verse that the Holy Spirit used to save Luther…

Romans 1:17 ESV

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

The Gospel is God’s righteousness.... and is received by Faith... The fourth principle of the Reformation Solo.. Solo FIDE… ONLY BY FAITH.

Luther Spent a lot of time focused on the WORD RIGHTEOUSNESS … but the Holy Spirit shifts his gaze to the word Faith. This was the big moment for Luther…

Luther come to Faith… Luther tells us that--

“At last meditating day and night, by the mercy of God, I … began to understand that the righteousness of God is that through which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by faith.… Here I felt as if I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through the gates that had been flung open.”

What Luther Discovered that Paul the Apostle taught that:

Faith is how God’s is received. Righteousness is not something an individual has on his or her own, independently of anyone else; it is something which one has precisely in one’s relationships as a social being. People are righteous when they meet the claims which others have on them by their relationship

In other words - It is God’s righteousness which enables and in fact achieves man’s righteousness. It is not by our own meritorious action… It is a right standing before God that has nothing to do with human merit. It is received by faith.

We are justified “Declared Righteous” by faith through faith by grace....

1. Reformation brings a Struggle.

2. Reformation brings Revelation

3. Reformation brings Conviction

Luther goes on his first Pilgrimage to Rome- He is sent by the Augustine order to reconcile some of their practices with those in Rome… This was a several month journey on foot and as Luther gets closer to Rome he notices that it’s getting wealthier and the clergy is more relaxed about their vows. - He is shocked by the unbelief and the immorality and luxurious living of the clergy… He thought that Rome that was once the holiest city was now the worst city…

The fifth Solo that comes out of reformation Solo Gloria. We live for the glory of God alone.

When Luther looks at the church he doesn’t see the glory of God. He sees that there is corruption in the church

Then there was the preaching of Johann Tetzel -

Tetzel had been commissioned by the church to sell indulgences for the rebuilding of the St. Peter Cathedral....

Indulgences - were these were documents prepared by the church and bought by individuals either for themselves or on behalf of the dead that would release them from punishment due to their sins.

As Tetzel preached he would often say, "Once the coin into the coffer clings, a soul from purgatory heavenward springs!"

When Tetzel came town it was like the carnival… it came with great pomp and ceremony… it was announced several weeks in advance that he was coming and He was received like a messenger from heaven. Priests, monks, and magistrates, men and women, old and young, marched in solemn procession with songs, flags, and candles, under the ringing of bells, to meet him and his fellow-monks....

Now, Luther had been on a journey himself... Seeds of Reformation had been growing in his own heart.

He had struggle with the issue of Righteousness… He had practiced to the best of his ability everything the church taught about holiness.. and failed… He had studied Romans and discovered that one is not justified by works but rather by faith alone…and then He experience Salvation for himself.

All these experiences led to Luther taking on the Church… When he hammered those theses on the Door.... the hammer would go much further than he ever imagined…

Karl Bart the German theologian once described this occurrence -- “as one who stumbled up a dark staircase of a church tower and trying to steady himself, reached for the banister, but got hold of the bell rope instead. To his horror he had then to listen to what the great bell had sounded over him and not over him alone.

1. Reformation brings a Struggle.

2. Reformation brings Revelation

3. Reformation brings Conviction

4. Reformation brings Transformation

Luther had meant to confront the Bishops in the church… He was wanting to be inconspicuous… The thesis was written in Latin to keep it from the public…but somehow the word got out and the 95 Thesis was printed into German and spread throughout Europe… The spread of the Document called for the leaders to meet with Luther at the Diet of Worms… now it is not what it sounds like…. Diet meant a discussion or Debate.. and Worms is a town in Germany…

Luther thought that the church was going to give him a chance to hear his Thesis and debate the issue but instead they wanted Luther to recant his Thesis… which meant to say that what he had taught was heresy.

Luther gets up and he says.

Reformation is about change of heart ----It’s about getting back in touch with a personal God… It’s when feeling overwhelmed – reaching out to the bubbles… which is truth… ave often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.[64]

Luther made a stand for truth…. he stood on the eternal word of God…

Reformation is about change of heart ----It’s about getting back in touch with a personal God… It’s when feeling overwhelmed – reaching out to the bubles… which is truth…

Reaching for the Scriptures - Solo Scriptura--- It remembering that if you are a child of God… you have been declared Righteous…there is nothing else you can do ---

That it is only through Faith, Grace, Christ, everything is for His Glory… We are going to close with this Blessing…

Now may Christ strengthened you with his power through his Spirit in your inner being -- May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, May you have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, May you be filled with all the fullness of God.

Doxology

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.