Lesson 313 - Junior
Memory Verse
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38).
Notes
A Journey to Rome
A long time ago, just a few years after Columbus had discovered America, two monks walked from their monastery in Germany to visit the Pope in Rome, Italy. It was a long walk, and for many weary weeks they trudged on and on. But they were happy because they felt that they were on a mission for the Lord. There had been trouble in their Church at home, and they hoped to tell the Pope about it so that it could be settled for the glory of God.
One of the monks was Martin Luther. He had been trained to be a lawyer, but several things had happened which caused him to decide to become a priest. First, he had found a Bible in the school library where he was studying. In those days there were very few Bibles, and they were written either in the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, or in Latin. As Luther read, he received a deep longing to know more about the truth of God. Then happened a series of incidents, which caused him to promise his life in service to God. He kept his vow, and dedicated himself to a life of self-denial, living as simply as he could in order to please God by his sacrifice.
Luther's Disappointment
When Martin Luther entered Rome, he was disappointed with the great display of wealth and grandeur that he saw in the Church. He had believed that the life of a Christian was a simple life, and all the elegance he saw seemed very sinful to him. And he saw many people doing things that he had been taught were wrong. The Pope, to whom he had come for help in cleansing the Church in Germany, was not at all interested in correcting the wrong. In his disillusionment, Luther began to pray and to do penance by climbing some sacred stairs; and God answered him.
God's Words
These are the words God spoke to Martin Luther: "The just shall live by faith.” It was a short sentence; but a tremendous and everlasting truth was contained in those words. All the pious deeds Luther had done had not gained for him eternal life. If he were to be righteous before God, he must come as any sinner comes today: believing in the Lord Jesus Christ unto salvation. Climbing up and down stairs on his hands and knees did not save his soul. The just shall live by faith!
After a month in Rome, Martin Luther and his friend walked back to Germany. Over and over in his mind went those words. "The just shall live by faith”: -- faith in Jesus Christ. By faith Martin Luther found the peace that he had longed for.
When he arrived home he began to preach that truth, and to write books about it. But the Catholic Church was the ruling Church at that time, and the people were taught that the Pope's word was of much greater importance than the Word of God. And so it was that a great controversy arose over the preaching of Luther.
Excommunication
Martin Luther had had confidence in the Church, and had no intention of withdrawing. He thought that the trouble lay in some of the people who were in it, and if they could be dealt with and caused to see the truth, all would be well. But he finally realized that if he was going to stand for the truths of the Bible, he would have to take his stand against the Church.
The day came when martin Luther was called to stand for the truth of God's Word before more than 200 high officials; some were sent from the Pope, and others were rulers in Germany. This meeting was called a Diet, and it was held at Worms, Germany, so it is known as the Diet of Worms.
An Audience of about 4,000 people had gathered to witness Luther's trial. Calmly he stood before his angry accusers, confident that he was right, and that God would not forsake him.
He was asked if he had written the books before him, and he answered that he had. He was willing to destroy any of them, which could be proved to be contrary to the Scriptures; but if that could not be done, he would not take back one word.
How grateful we should be to that man who was willing to take his stand for the Word of God against kings and princes and bishops. It might mean his death; but eternal life was of greater importance to this humble child of God. May God put that determination and steadfast purpose into our hearts not to yield to the forces of evil, but bravely stand for the right though it might mean our life!
Luther was given one more opportunity to yield, but he courageously answered: "I cannot and will not recant anything. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. So help me God. Amen.”
There was such excitement in the room that his last words could hardly be heard. Though the people were angry because he had dared to defy the Pope, they dared not lay a hand on him because he had been promised safe passage to and from the meeting.
In Hiding
On his way home, a journey of several days, Luther was kidnapped by friends and hidden for almost a year in a castle in the mountains. During that time he wrote many letters of encouragement to people who had accepted his teachings. His most important work, however, was the translating of the New Testament into the German language. Later he translated the Old Testament, also; and although that was way back in the year 1521, no better German translation has ever been made.
The Beginning of the Reformation
Thus was the Reformation launched by one man's courage, faith, and love for the truth. The light of the Gospel had dawned again after the centuries of the Dark Ages, which had followed the death of the founders of the early Church. Because he had the courage to stand for the truth that God had given him – "The just shall live by faith” – Luther broke the absolute power of the Catholic Church and proved that all men have the opportunity to repent of their sins and to seek forgiveness through Jesus and the Blood He shed on Calvary.
Luther had been taught that he must atone for his own sins through doing penance and making sacrifices. He had tried hard to work his way into Heaven, but he had never found peace. He was never sure that he was being accepted by God. Now he knew the truth of the Bible: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” [ACT:16:31]). "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” [EPH:2:8-9]). He had many times repented of his sins, fulfilling that requirement of the Lord [MAK:1:15]), but he had never believed unto salvation. Now Luther knew that he was forgiven by God, for the Spirit of God bore witness to it; and he went everywhere preaching to all men the possibility of knowing that they were saved from sin.
Not a New Doctrine
The fact that people can be saved by faith in Jesus was not new when Luther preached it. It had just come to light again after the Dark Ages. The Apostles and disciples of Jesus' day had taught it, and even the Old Testament saints had believed and lived by that doctrine. "The just shall live by faith” has been God's law for His followers ever since He has dealt with men. (Faith means believing in Jesus so firmly that one is willing to forsake his sins. The just are righteous people who will be ready to meet Jesus when He comes.)
Abel's Faith
The first two children born into this world brought sacrifices to God. Cain's sacrifice was rejected because he did not come to God in the right manner. God said to him: "If thou does well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door” [GEN:4:7]). If he had had such faith as his brother Abel had, he would have been righteous and would have done well. It was by faith that "Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous” [HEB:11:4]). The righteousness of Abel, way back in the beginning of time, came by faith.
The Faith of the Patriarchs
The Apostle Paul tells us, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” [GAL:3:6]). Righteous Abraham lived by faith.
Noah enjoyed the righteousness which is by faith, even before the world was destroyed by the Flood. Paul says of him: "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” [HEB:11:7]).
This faith was a belief in Jesus who had not yet been born. Jesus said of Abraham: "Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” [JHN:8:56]). And Job said: "I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: . . . whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold” [JOB:19:25-27]). And David said: "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” [PS:17:15]). He was confident that Jesus was coming, and through that faith he was saved and made ready to meet Him.
Faith unto Salvation
When the Apostle Paul said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” [ACT:16:31]), it sounded easy. But another time he explained a little more about being saved when he said: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” [ROM:10:9]). We must believe from the heart that Jesus is the divine Son of God, in order to be saved. And the Spirit of God must teach us how to do that. We cannot be saved without the help of the Spirit of God drawing us to Him.
When Jesus asked His disciples, "Whom say ye that I am?” and Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus told him, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” [MAT:16:13-17]). It was necessary for the Spirit of God to reveal to Peter the fact that Jesus was divine.
We are happy today that the Gospel is for the whosoever will. We appreciate the fact that we have an open Bible, wherein we can all find the truth that sets us free. And we rejoice in the power in the Blood of Jesus to keep His people living without sin.
Questions
1. Who is given credit for starting the Reformation?
2. Describe what happened at the Diet of Worms.
3. What Scripture text was the keynote of the Reformation?
4. Who was the first person, of whom we have an account in the Bible, who was saved by faith?
5. How were Abraham, Noah, and Job made righteous?
6. How do we know that Abraham believed in Jesus?
7. How did Peter know that Jesus was the Son of God?
8. What must a person do to be saved, in addition to believing in the Lord Jesus Christ?