Following Luther's bonfire in Wittenberg, a definitive line was drawn. The authorities excommunicated Luther from the Catholic Church and he was summoned by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, for a hearing. It was demanded that Martin attend the Diet of Worms (pronounced "vorms") to be judged for his teachings and writings. Here, at this official government-called meeting, Luther stood alone. He had been condemned as guilty and given one opportunity to recant his positions. What would he do?
In short, Martin Luther took the same stance at Worms as he did earlier at Leipzig...Scripture rules. When confronted with the charges against him, Luther requested a day's recess to decide how, exactly, he would answer the charges. He was granted the recess. In your imagination, can you ponder what that night must have been like for Martin? Here's a man, in his late 30's, his life essentially hanging in the balance. Did he waiver or was he entirely resolved? No one but God knows for certain, but I would imagine that many thoughts crossed his mind. You know that the evil one was pressing seeds of doubt and fear into his mind.
Regardless of how the night went, we do know how the following day unfolded. When Luther appeared before his accusers, it is reported that he had this to say - "Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason, for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone since it is well-known that they have 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 will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither honest nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen."
And there you have it. Neither popes, nor councils, nor anything else in creation has the right or authority to manipulate, add to, or subtract from Scripture. This reminds me of Paul's letter to the church in Galatia, which reads, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:6-10)
There is no other Gospel. There is but one and it is this, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." (I Corinthians 15:3-4). Christ. Christ. Christ. Christ! There is no other authority. No other foundation. No other salvation. Our rescue is found "solus Christus", in Christ alone!
Luther has staked it all on this truth. He has boldly and clearly spoken the truth, rendering himself vulnerable. He has committed his way to the Lord, trusting that He will sustain him according to His will. Will Martin's end come here and now? At the hands of these wicked men? We'll get into that next week.
In the meantime, may we fix our eyes on Jesus and may the outflow of our hearts sing out to Him, "Hallelujah, What a Savior"!
Pastor Jeremy
