THE
MESSENGER -
MARTIN
LUTHER
The messenger to this age is the best known messenger of all the ages because history identifies him to be the one who spear-headed the Great Spiritual Reformation of the Church - a church that had been given over completely to the false doctrines of the Nicolaitans, Balaam, and that woman, Jezebel. The organized church was riddled with man-made ritual, dogma and paganism. Into this mess came a man named Martin Luther. And the Protestant reformation was on.
Luther was a brilliant scholar of gentle disposition. He was studying to be a lawyer when the lingering illness and death of a near friend caused him to become serious concerning the spiritual condition of his own life. He entered the Augustinian convent at Erfurt in 1505. There he studied philosophy and also the Word of God. He lived the life of severest penance but all the outward acts could not banish his sense of sin and alienation from God. He said, "I tormented myself to death to make peace with God, but I was in darkness and found it not."
The vicar-general of his order, Staupitz, helped him to gain the insight that his salvation would have to be the experience of an inner work rather than a ritual. Staupitz encouraged Luther with these words: "Look away from yourself Martin, and look to Jesus as your sin-pardoning Saviour. Instead of torturing yourself...throw yourself into the Redeemer's arms. Trust in the righteousness of His life and in the atonement of His death. He became man to give you the "assurance" of Divine favor".
Though it wasn't fully quickened to his understanding, Luther was tremendously encouraged by it and found a "measure" of the peace he sought, but not the fulness. He continued his search, eventually, becoming a priest, hoping that this path would lead to the "abiding peace" for which he so desperately yearned. There was a "deep calling to the deep" [Psalms 42:7], calling for the "assurance" of Salvation.
Still trying to satisfy that "deep call" witnin his soul he became an avid and deep student of the Word of God and of the great theological works which had survived the "Dark Ages". He was sought out as a teacher and preacher for his depth of knowledge and great sincerity. Yet, In spite of his in-depth study of the Word, the full revelation which would give him the "peace" he sought was still hid from his eyes. The hour was not yet for it to be revealed to his heart. He must yet "prove" by experience the futility of all "good works" to obtain "peace with God".
Like millions before him he made a pilgrimage to Rome - fulfilling a vow he had made to himself. Beholding the City which sits on seven hills he prostrated himself upon the earth, exclaiming: "Holy Rome, I salute thee!" But, he discovered the city was anything, but certainly not holy. He was filled with astonishment and horror at the iniquity which existed among all classes of the clergy. He winessed debauchery on a scale he had never witnessed before. In the place of sanctity he found only profanity. Later he wrote: "What sins and infamous actions are committed in Rome; they must be seen and heard to be believed. Thus they are in the habit of saying, 'if there is a hell, Rome is built over it; it is an abyss whence issues every kind of sin".
But Luther, himself was sincere and he determined to perform all religious duties customary for a pious visitor in Rome. One of those duties was to avail of an indulgence offered by the Pope to all who would ascend upon their knees "Pilate's Staircase", said to have been descended by our Saviour on leaving Pilate's judgment hall in Jerusalem. And according to one of the Roman Church's many fairy-tales, the staircase was miraculously conveyed from Jerusalem to Rome. One day, Luther found himself on his kness, with hundreds of other pious visitors, devoutly climbing step after step. While climbing and meditating on the things of God, a Voice, like thunder suddenly echoed in his soul the words of Romans 1:17: "The just shall live by faith". The spiritual lightening of God illuminated his soul, showing him the futility of the church's imposed ritual, dogmas and works that were to bring salvation. The Word of God struck home to his heart - it was finally quickened, made alive - a living reality in his soul. He sprang to his feet, rushed back down the staircase, turning his back on all the deception of the Roman church.
His eyes had been opened, and were never to be closed again to the delusion of the papacy. From that time the separation grew wider, until he severed all connections with the papal church. He clearly saw the fallacy of trusting in haman works and religious ritual for Salvation. Now, he saw only the absolute necessity of constant faith in the merits if Christ.
On his return trip from Rome the evangelical truth of Romans 1:17 flooded his mind and he was set free from sin and born into the kingdom of God - fianlly, he had found "peace with God" through faith in the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Soon after this he was elevated to Doctor of Divinity and commissioned, "to devote his whole life to study and faithfully expound and defend the holy Scripture." This he did, and with such effect that his heart and the hearts of those around him were deeply fixed upon [not the church] but the truth of the Word. Luther was no longer a mere monk or professor, he was now "A Messenger to an Age" - the Sardis Age. The torch in his soul was lighted with the eternal fire from of the Altar of Almighty God - it would not be extinguished.
It was only a matter of time and the Revealed Word to God's Messenger soon came into open conflict with the abuses of church creeds and doctrines. Thus when Leo X become pope, and John Tetzel came to sell indulgences for sin, Luther had no choice but to rise up against this anti-Scriptural teaching. First, he thundered from the pulpit against it and then wrote his famous 95 theses which on October 31, 1517 he nailed to the door of Castle Church. In a short time Germany was ablaze and the reformation was on.
Of course Martin Luther was not the only one who had protested the Roman Catholic Church. He was but one of many. Others had denied the popes their self-granted temporal and spiritual power, and even amongst the popes there were minor temporary reforms. Yes, many others had raised some of the same issues which Luther had raised. But in the case of Luther, God's time was ripe for
the beginning of a restoration of the church spiritual, which would, many years later mature into the revelation of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, restoration of Spiritual gifts, and be crowned with the prophetic ministry of Malachi 4:5-6.
Martin Luther, himself, was a sensitive Spirit-filled Christian. He was definitely a man of the Word for he not only had a profound passion to study it but to make it available to all in order that all might live by it. He translated the New Testament and gave it to the people. This laborious work he did himself, correcting a passage as much as twenty times. He gathered
around him a group of Hebrew scholars amongst whom were Jews and translated the Old Testament. He a Messenger indeed, and he did the works which the Messenger was ordained to do. In one or two areas where he sewed to the wind, God dealt with His Messenger and he reaped a whirl-wind.
His translation of the Scriptures, enabling the common man to read it became the work upon which all successive works of the Scripture in Germany have rested. He was a mighty preacher and teacher of the Word, and insisted, especially in his first years of public eminence, that the Word of God was the sole criterion. Thus he was against works as a means of salvation and baptism as a means of regeneration. He taught the mediation of Christ apart from man as was the original and Pentecostal concept. He was a man given to much prayer and had learned that the more work he had to do, and the more sorely he was pressed for time, the more of his time he gave to God in prayer in order to ensure satisfactory results.
He knew what it was to battle with the devil and it is said that Satan one day visibly appeared to him, and he flung the ink well at him, bidding him go. Another time two fanatics came to him to induce him to join with them in banishing all priests and Bibles. He discerned the spirit within them and sent them off.
It is recorded of Dr. Martin Luther in Sauer's History Vol. 3, page 406 that he was, "a prophet, evangelist, speaker in tongues, interpreter, in one person, endowed with all nine gifts of the Spirit." Luther's ministry and the revealed Truth of "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BE FAITH" was the springing forth of a little green shoot, signifying the "rebirth" of the Church Spiritual which had been marytred by the millions, during the Dark Ages. Truth was "beginning" to be restored to the true Sons and Daughters of God. He will be forever known as the instrument in the hand of God who revived this truth. He was the fifth messenger and his message was, "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
His marvelous understanding of sovereignty, election, predestination and other truths show him to be a great man in the Word, yet I say again, as do historians, God used him to bring to the people God's standard against works - 'The just shall live by faith." Now as I mentioned already, he spear-headed this Period of Reformation, making him a "reformer", not a prophet. A prophetic ministry was reserved for the "last" church. Martin Luther did not qualify as a prophet, nor did his ministry fit the profile of that of a Bible prophet. He was a fine teacher with some of the manifestations of the Spirit in his life and we praise God for that. So he was not able to lead the church back to the whole truth as would a man like the apostle Paul who was both apostle and prophet.
Now, as time went on other influences came into play in Luther's life causing him (from time to time) to falter in his steps. We find a great change in the way he conducted the affairs in which he was involved. At first he had been so gentle, so fearless, so patient and constantly waiting on God to work out the problems. But then vast numbers began to come to his banner - not all came with right motives and objectives. On the contrary, some had political motivations. They wanted to break the yoke of the pope. They disliked sending money to Rome. Then there were the fanatics, which of course follow every revival. At one point Luther cried out to God: "Lord, deliver me, from mine enemies and my friends".
Soon he was dragged into political affairs and decisions that actually lay outside the realm of the church Spiritual. The responsibility of the church was, through prayer, preaching and conduct to set a standard to guide man in all the affairs of life including political affairs. The Church was not to make political decisions, but rather, pray for those making those decision. These problems of politics mounted until he was forced into an untenable position of mediating between lords and peasants. His decisions were so wrong that an uprising took place and thousands were killed. He meant well, but he had to reap the whirlwind. He was learning lessons - the hard way.
But for all that, God did use Martin Luther. Let it not be said that his intentions were wrong. Let it only be said that his judgment failed. Truly if the Lutherans could get back to his teaching and serve God as this gracious brother served Him, then that people would surely be a credit and praise to the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
