Martin Luther: By Faith Alone

In the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last. (Romans 1:17 NIV)

Martin Luther (1483-1546) might be the most important figure in Europe in the past five-hundred years, for his ideas not only changed the church, but also the world. Created and loved by God, each human being is significant. But rarely does one person so affect the course of history.

Luther's father sent him to the university to become a lawyer. But when he was terrified in a sudden thunderstorm, young Martin kept a vow to enter a monastery, despite the fury of his father.

There Luther was overwhelmed by the thought of God's majesty. He worried about God's punishment of his sin. Searching the Bible, he made a discovery.

In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed when God makes people righteous through faith in Christ. A person lives, then, by a gift from God. People are saved not by what they do, but by trusting what God has done for them in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Luther's discovery of the gospel was not original. He simply peeled back the layers of tradition in the church which were hiding God's love and mercy. The message of the Bible is always the same. We are made righteous by faith and not our deeds.

Prayer: Lord, I am not ashamed

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