Luther Nailed It
Today it has been exactly 500 years since Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg church. He did not know his actions would change history but they did. Luther just wanted to remind people of what faith was all about and what it was not. He wanted to get people back to the basics: we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Luther nailed it. There’s still nothing else that saves us. The power of grace has not diminished.
For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. (Eph. 2:8-9, AMP)
We are saved by grace…
Salvation is God’s gift from start to finish. We can’t make it happen. It’s God’s idea and it’s God’s grace that saves us. The Bible tells us this very clearly and if we start adding something to this, we are in need of reformation. The only way to be made right with God is grace. But it’s free and there’s plenty of it. Luther nailed it indeed.
…through faith…
God’s saving grace is beyond wonderful. And we just need faith to receive it. Faith is the channel God uses to deliver his grace: We are saved by grace through faith. Even this is not a demand. You see, even faith is a gift from God.
…in Jesus Christ.
Not just any faith will do though. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not in any other name. Jesus is the way to God. He is the one who made it possible for us to be saved by grace. Jesus went to the cross to pay for our sins. And only because of this we can be saved.
Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12, CEB)
Salvation by grace only was such an important matter to Martin Luther that he could not stay silent. Hence, he nailed his theses. And rest is church history, as they say. I hope you don’t accept substitutes for grace either. Luther nailed it. I hope you do too.
Gracious God,
Be praised for sending Jesus to save us.
Thank you for saving us by grace through faith in Jesus.
Open our hearts to receive your gifts.
Enable us to live in your amazing grace every day of our lives.
Thank you for saints gone before us who have reminded us
what faith and salvation are really about.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: Luther nailed it. Do you agree?
Be blessed my fellow pilgrim as you enter into God’s saving grace!
Picture: Ferdinand Pauwels [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. I am linking up with Unite the Bloggersphere and #tellhisstory.
2 thoughts on “Luther Nailed It”
LOVE the title of this piece!
LOL. Yes, I could not resist. Thanks so much, Susan! Grace-filled Blessings!