Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Martain Luther

1517

In 1517 Pope Leo X, empty-pocketed and needing funds to rebuild St. Peter’s basilica, issued a special “sale” of indulgences.

The very word “indulgence” tends to convey dubious moral connotations, but these indulgences were particularly questionable.

What was an “indulgence”?

It was a special sort of forgiveness for sins issued by the pope in consideration of various acts of merit, in this case donations to Leo’s treasury.

Indulgences could even be “purchased” on behalf of loved ones in purgatory.

Dominican friar Johann Tetzel became the pontiff’s peddler, a P. T. Barnum traveling around with a brass-bound chest, a bag of printed receipts, and an enormous cross draped with a papal banner.

Whenever Tetzel came to a town, church bells peeled, crowds gathered, and street performers kicked up their heels.

Tetzel would set up shop in the nave of the local church, open his bags, and shout, “I have here the passports to lead the human soul to the celestial joys of Paradise.

As soon as the coin rings in the bowl, the soul for whom it is paid will fly from purgatory and straight to heaven.”

He usually exceeded his quota.

But many were troubled, and when the hard eyes of Martin Luther fell on the indulgences purchased by fellow villagers in Wittenberg, he studied them carefully and pronounced them frauds.

At high noon on October 31, 1517, Luther, a 33-year-old university professor, walked to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and tacked to it a document.

The door served as the town bulletin board, and Martin Luther had an announcement to post.

He called for a “disputation on the power and efficacy of indulgences.”

A few curious passersby drew near and scanned the words: “Out of love for the faith and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg under the chairmanship of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology.

… ” There followed a list of 95 items.

Luther did not yet know what mighty blows he had struck.

How does God save sinners?

It is not based upon performance.

It is not based upon religious practice.

It is not based upon personal merit.

You can’t get there from here.

“I had hoped I might find peace of conscience with fasts, prayer, and the vigils with which I miserably afflicted my body, but the more I sweated it out like this, the less peace and tranquility I knew.”

God saves sinners through faith in His Son.

Sola Fide

In Christ all the demands of God’s law have been satisfied.

In Christ I am accepted by God apart from my performance.

In Christ I am accepted by God despite my past.

In Christ I am accepted by God regardless of my record.

How do I know I’m right with God?

Am I trusting Jesus?