¤¤ >> Let's bow
our heads for prayer.
00:00:00.20\00:00:13.11
Father in heaven,
Lord, we love You so much.
00:00:13.11\00:00:16.95
We're so thankful for who You
are and what You've done for us.
00:00:17.11\00:00:20.85
As we enter into worship, Lord,
this morning, we thank You for
00:00:20.85\00:00:23.39
sending Your spirit to
be here with us right here
00:00:23.39\00:00:25.89
and right now. So,
Lord, accept our praise,
00:00:25.89\00:00:28.52
accept our offering to You.
And, Lord, bring us closer to
00:00:28.52\00:00:33.36
Your throne this morning.
We pray in Jesus' name, amen.
00:00:33.36\00:00:37.67
Please stand with us
as we sing our first song,
00:00:37.67\00:00:39.67
"Everlasting God." ¤¤
00:00:39.67\00:00:51.61
¤¤ [ Congregation singing ]
00:00:51.61\00:01:00.76
[ Song ends ] [
Instrumental music plays ]
00:03:34.14\00:03:39.71
¤¤ ¤¤
00:03:39.88\00:03:59.87
¤¤ Sing "In Christ Alone."
00:03:59.87\00:04:05.47
[ Congregation sings ]
00:04:05.47\00:04:08.38
[ Instrumental music plays ] ¤¤
00:05:31.03\00:05:45.01
¤¤
00:05:45.01\00:05:49.41
No guilt in life.
00:07:09.59\00:07:12.49
No power of hell.
00:07:29.68\00:07:31.58
[ Instrumental music plays
] [ Instrumental music plays ]
00:08:07.45\00:08:14.12
¤¤ ¤¤
00:08:14.12\00:08:26.43
[ Song ends ] You
know, this morning I was
00:08:26.43\00:08:28.94
reading in the
book of Lamentations.
00:08:28.94\00:08:30.51
It's a
beautiful, beautiful book.
00:08:30.51\00:08:32.74
And there's a part in chapter 3
where the author of Lamentations
00:08:32.74\00:08:36.78
says, "Lord, I called on
Your name, and You answered.
00:08:36.78\00:08:41.62
And you said, 'Do not
fear.'" And that's what this
00:08:41.62\00:08:46.15
next song is about.
It's about the name of God.
00:08:46.15\00:08:48.06
Calling upon the
name of the Lord.
00:08:48.06\00:08:51.63
So sing with us this
wonderful song, "Your Name."
00:08:51.63\00:08:57.53
¤¤ ¤¤
00:08:57.53\00:09:08.78
[ Congregation sings ]
00:09:08.78\00:09:11.68
¤¤ Jesus, in Your name.
00:10:04.93\00:10:15.41
And it's in Jesus' name
that we pray, and it's Him we
00:11:13.23\00:11:16.00
come to for strength
and for life and for hope.
00:11:16.00\00:11:18.74
So at this time, I
invite you, come forward.
00:11:18.74\00:11:21.21
If you have a prayer request,
if you have a praise, something
00:11:21.21\00:11:24.45
to lay before the throne of God
this morning, slip out of the
00:11:24.45\00:11:28.18
pew, if you're near the front,
in the back, in the balcony,
00:11:28.18\00:11:30.59
come forward as we sing
"Your Name," lifting up the name
00:11:30.59\00:11:35.49
of Jesus Christ.
Sing "Your Name."
00:11:35.49\00:11:39.46
[ Congregation sings ]
00:11:39.46\00:11:43.33
>> ¤ Your name ¤ ¤¤
00:13:06.82\00:13:24.23
¤¤
00:13:24.23\00:13:28.57
[ Organ plays ] ¤¤
00:13:34.08\00:13:46.92
¤ A mighty fortress is our God
¤ ¤ A bulwark never failing ¤
00:13:47.09\00:13:59.00
¤ Our helper He, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing ¤ ¤
For still our ancient foe
00:13:59.00\00:14:15.52
does seek to work us woe ¤ ¤
His craft and power are great ¤
00:14:15.52\00:14:25.43
¤ And armed with cruel hate, on
earth is not his equal ¤ ¤ Did
we in our own strength
00:14:25.43\00:14:43.11
confide, our striving would
be losing ¤ ¤ Were not the right
00:14:43.11\00:14:54.02
Man on our side ¤ ¤ The
Man of God's own choosing ¤
00:14:54.02\00:15:02.46
¤ You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He ¤ ¤ Lord
God of Hosts His name,
00:15:02.46\00:15:17.55
from age to age the same ¤ ¤
And He must win the battle ¤ ¤¤
00:15:17.55\00:15:42.00
¤¤ ¤ The prince of darkness
¤ ¤ Prince of darkness ¤
00:15:42.00\00:15:51.48
¤ prince of darkness grim ¤ ¤ We
tremble not ¤ ¤ We tremble not ¤
00:15:51.48\00:15:59.79
¤ We tremble not for him ¤ His
rage cannot endure, ¤ One little
00:15:59.79\00:16:13.84
word ¤ ¤ One little word ¤ ¤
One little word shall fell him ¤
00:16:13.84\00:16:25.45
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤ Thy Word
above all earthly
00:16:25.45\00:16:49.97
powers ¤ ¤ No thanks to them
abideth ¤ ¤ The Spirit and the
00:16:49.97\00:17:02.22
gifts are ours ¤ ¤
Through Him who with us sideth ¤
00:17:02.22\00:17:10.73
¤ Let goods and kindred go, this
mortal life also ¤ ¤ The body
00:17:10.73\00:17:27.38
they may kill: God's truth
abideth still ¤ ¤ His kingdom is
forever ¤ ¤ Amen, amen ¤
00:17:27.38\00:17:41.29
¤ Amen ¤ ¤ Amen, amen ¤ ¤ Amen ¤
00:17:41.29\00:17:50.37
¤ Amen, amen ¤ ¤
Amen ¤¤ [ Applause ]
00:17:50.37\00:18:01.58
>> Let's pray. Oh, God, at
what price did the Reformers
00:18:04.35\00:18:10.12
sing those words? Whatever
the price, may we of the New
00:18:10.12\00:18:19.86
Reformation be willing to
sacrifice our all for Christ,
00:18:19.86\00:18:26.67
who is our savior, who is our
Lord, In His name we pray, amen.
00:18:26.67\00:18:32.24
It was a cold and
gray December morning.
00:18:32.41\00:18:35.01
December 10, 1520.
Philipp Melancthnon,
00:18:35.01\00:18:40.15
the younger associate
of professor and pastor
00:18:40.15\00:18:42.95
Martin Luther, issued
an invitation on Luther's
00:18:42.95\00:18:47.56
behalf to all the faculty and
students of the fledgling, the
00:18:47.56\00:18:51.43
new University of Wittenberg.
00:18:51.43\00:18:54.00
"At 10:00 this morning, you are
invited to join Dr. Luther at
00:18:54.13\00:18:59.30
the Elster Gate of Wittenberg,
where he will preside over the
public burning of the papal bull
00:18:59.30\00:19:05.01
Exsurge Domine." The bull has
already gone viral in this
sleepy little German
00:19:05.01\00:19:11.65
town. It's gone
viral in the entire nation.
00:19:11.65\00:19:18.02
The bull challenge three years
ago, unwittingly issued, that
took on the church and the
00:19:18.02\00:19:28.43
Bishop of Rome. Like a viral
fire, Luther's challenge
threatens the church
00:19:28.43\00:19:36.60
of the Dark Ages. And so the
Pope responds. Pope Leo X minced
00:19:36.60\00:19:42.11
no words in this 41-point
condemnation of Martin Luther's
writings in the papal bull.
00:19:42.11\00:19:48.55
These are his words, by the way.
"Arise, O Lord," now, and papal
00:19:48.72\00:19:52.55
proclamations and encyclicals,
the first two words in Latin
00:19:52.55\00:19:56.66
become the title
for that proclamation.
00:19:56.66\00:19:59.26
Exsurge domine, "arise, O Lord,"
00:19:59.26\00:20:03.67
the pope wrote. "Arise, O Lord,
00:20:03.67\00:20:07.90
and judge thy cause. A
wild boar" -- and that would
00:20:07.90\00:20:11.01
be Luther -- "has
invaded thy vineyard.
00:20:11.01\00:20:13.27
Arise, O Peter, and consider the
case of the Holy Roman Church,
00:20:13.27\00:20:16.58
the mother of all churches,
consecrated by Thy blood.
00:20:16.58\00:20:19.48
Our pastoral office can no
longer tolerate the pestiferous
00:20:19.48\00:20:23.59
virus of the
following 41 errors."
00:20:23.59\00:20:26.22
And then they are all listed.
"We can no longer suffer," the
00:20:26.22\00:20:29.12
Pope goes on, "the serpent"
-- that would be Luther -- "to
00:20:29.12\00:20:31.89
creep through the
field of the Lord.
00:20:31.89\00:20:33.70
The books of Martin Luther
which contain these errors are
00:20:33.70\00:20:36.77
to be examined and burned.
And as for Martin himself,
00:20:36.77\00:20:40.07
good God, what
office of paternal love
00:20:40.07\00:20:45.37
have we omitted in order to
recall him from his errors?"
00:20:45.37\00:20:50.01
Luther's books have already been
burned in the German city of
00:20:50.01\00:20:52.91
Mainz.
00:20:52.91\00:20:53.82
Now, in an act of defiance,
Luther assembles a university
community by an old oak tree
00:20:53.98\00:21:00.56
outside of the gate. A
pile of wood is already stacked.
00:21:00.56\00:21:04.53
And one of the oldest members of
the faculty picks up the torch,
thrusts it into the pyre,
00:21:04.53\00:21:10.50
and as the flames roar
heavenward, Luther tosses the
papal bull into the fire with
00:21:10.50\00:21:18.07
these words, "As thou has vexed
the Holy One of the Lord, may
the eternal fire vex thee."
00:21:18.07\00:21:26.75
And the students? Well, the
students being students,
particularly these are
00:21:26.75\00:21:30.22
seminarians, and you know what
seminarians are like. They have
00:21:30.22\00:21:34.62
come for the fire, as well.
They've emptied the library --
00:21:34.62\00:21:37.56
No kidding. They've emptied the
library of expensive volumes of
papal constitutions, canon law,
00:21:37.56\00:21:41.30
and the words of scholastic
theology, "So there! So there!
00:21:41.30\00:21:46.60
So there!" Later, Luther, in
explaining his action, wrote
these words on the screen.
00:21:46.60\00:21:51.74
Martin Luther's written and
published response is titled
00:22:12.93\00:22:16.93
"Against the Execrable" --
that would be abominable --
00:22:16.93\00:22:20.74
"...Bull of Antichrist."
Luther minces no words himself.
00:22:20.74\00:22:26.04
His words are on the screen.
00:22:26.04\00:22:26.98
You impious and insensate"
-- and that means comatose.
00:22:47.13\00:22:51.13
He loves that word, and he'll
come back to it next week. And
with that, Luther's rupture
00:23:05.11\00:23:11.55
with Rome was complete and
irreparable. Or was it complete?
00:23:11.55\00:23:21.73
And is it irreparable, this
rupture between the Lutheran
00:23:21.73\00:23:25.77
Church and the Church of Rome?
00:23:25.77\00:23:27.67
Before I read to you from a very
recent document written by the
00:23:27.84\00:23:31.34
Lutheran Church and
Rome, composed together,
00:23:31.34\00:23:35.78
may I remind you why
Martin was so passionately
00:23:35.78\00:23:39.85
heated in his response to the
condemnation of Pope Leo X and
00:23:39.85\00:23:42.62
the curia of Rome --
that would be the bureaucracy
00:23:42.62\00:23:44.99
of the Vatican. "Why
are you so hyped up?"
00:23:44.99\00:23:48.82
Because as an obedient son
of the Church, Martin, this monk
00:23:48.82\00:23:52.36
and priest, has overdosed on
what he thought were meritorious
00:23:52.36\00:23:56.06
acts of devotion and piety that
were assured to win for him the
00:23:56.06\00:23:59.07
approbation and acceptance of
a God who is obviously angry at
00:23:59.07\00:24:02.60
me, a hopeless sinner.
00:24:02.60\00:24:07.31
And had it not been for his
vicar Johann von Staupitz,
Luther tells us, he would
00:24:07.48\00:24:13.68
literally have mortified himself
to death. Prayer, penance,
00:24:13.68\00:24:20.49
confession, worship. Prayer,
penance, confession, worship.
00:24:20.49\00:24:22.62
Prayer, penance, confession,
worship. "Martin!" Staupitz
00:24:22.62\00:24:28.43
exclaims to him. "Martin!
God is not angry at you.
00:24:28.43\00:24:33.67
You are angry at God." It was
one thin sliver of light when
Staupitz said to him,
00:24:33.67\00:24:44.91
"Pbht! Go to the cross, Martin.
Go look at the cross." One thin
00:24:44.91\00:24:52.69
sliver of light, but it
shattered the dark night of the
soul of this young man. And
00:24:52.69\00:25:04.17
slowly, slowly comes the dawning
of the Gospel in his heart. To
precipitate that dawning,
00:25:04.17\00:25:09.77
by the way -- this is brilliant
on Staupitz's part. He turned to
Luther and he said,
00:25:09.77\00:25:13.88
"Hey, listen. You need
more work. You need more study.
00:25:13.88\00:25:18.25
I'm sending you back to school.
You're gonna get a doctorate."
He said, "I don't need a
00:25:18.25\00:25:20.82
doctorate. I'm happy what
I --" "No, you're going back.
00:25:20.82\00:25:22.68
And it's gonna be a doctorate,
by the way, in theology. Yes, it
00:25:22.68\00:25:25.35
is." "But I'm not --" "Yes, you
are. I am your vicar. And when
you're done, you'll
00:25:25.35\00:25:30.66
come back. and Duke Frederick
will have you be one of his
00:25:30.66\00:25:36.30
first new theology teachers in
this university just raised up."
00:25:36.30\00:25:40.84
And it worked. Immersing,
intentionally, Luther in the
Scriptures... Eventually Luther
00:25:40.84\00:25:45.24
will lecture from the Psalms, he
will lecture from Galatians, he
will lecture from Romans as he
00:25:45.24\00:25:51.35
begins to see the life-giving
light of Christ. Of Christ.
00:25:51.35\00:25:55.25
Derek Wilson, his English
biographer, describes Luther's
00:25:55.42\00:25:58.39
breakthrough, and it
begins with Luther's words.
00:25:58.39\00:26:01.02
I want you to catch it.
Put it on the screen for you.
00:26:01.02\00:26:02.56
Quoting Luther now.
This first line is Luther.
00:26:02.56\00:26:04.59
Luther wrote...
00:26:04.59\00:26:05.99
In other words, you can't
become a theologian just reading
00:26:12.53\00:26:15.17
great books. You've
got to struggle yourself.
00:26:15.17\00:26:17.27
You have to fight the devil.
Out of that being damned, you'll
00:26:17.27\00:26:22.58
become a theologian one
day. Now Wilson commenting,
00:26:22.58\00:26:25.85
it goes on.
00:26:25.85\00:26:27.25
And when the Gospel
breaks through to Martin,
00:26:44.93\00:26:47.24
oh, my, does it break
through. Get a load of this.
00:26:47.24\00:26:50.54
James Kittelson, another
biographer, sets up these words
00:26:50.54\00:26:55.01
of Luther. So the
opening words will be
00:26:55.01\00:26:56.78
James Kittelson.
On the screen for you.
00:26:56.78\00:26:59.05
"This focus on Christ" --
And, by the way, that's what set
00:26:59.05\00:27:03.39
Luther free,
the focus on Christ.
00:27:03.39\00:27:06.39
"This focus on Christ could give
even the most tormented soul
00:27:06.39\00:27:10.19
absolute assurance.
Where was the release from
00:27:10.19\00:27:13.03
accusations of
conscience or God's law?"
00:27:13.03\00:27:15.53
Now Luther will
answer that question.
00:27:15.53\00:27:17.20
Here come Luther's
words now. Luther writing...
00:27:17.20\00:27:19.57
"Nowhere save from
Christ and in Christ.
00:27:19.57\00:27:23.87
For if some complaint should be
registered against a heart that
00:27:23.87\00:27:27.18
believes in Christ" -- If
the devil comes to you and
00:27:27.18\00:27:29.78
begins to taunt you,
that's what Luther is saying,
00:27:29.78\00:27:32.15
and the devil testifies against
you with some evil deed that he
00:27:32.15\00:27:35.05
reminds you of, then
-- now, keep going --
00:27:35.05\00:27:37.02
then, Luther writes, the
heart is to turn itself away.
00:27:37.02\00:27:40.06
Turn away from the
devil. Turn to Christ.
00:27:40.06\00:27:42.36
And you say to him, "But
Christ made me satisfaction.
00:27:42.36\00:27:45.76
Christ is the righteous
one, and this is my defense.
00:27:45.76\00:27:48.50
Christ died for me.
Christ made his righteousness
00:27:48.50\00:27:50.90
mine, and made my sin His own.
And if Christ made my sin His
00:27:50.90\00:27:55.70
own, then I do not
have it, and I am free.
00:27:55.70\00:27:59.47
Hallelujah. That's
the Gospel [Chuckles]
00:27:59.47\00:28:02.71
right there.
Free, indeed was Martin.
00:28:02.71\00:28:07.88
It's no wonder the Protestant
Reformation would be founded
upon those five great
00:28:08.05\00:28:14.52
solas,Latin for
"only" or "alone."
00:28:14.52\00:28:20.60
Let me run them by you in case
you've forgotten these five.
00:28:20.76\00:28:22.66
Put them on the screen for you.
They're also in the study guide
00:28:22.66\00:28:24.70
that you'll be
able to take home.
00:28:24.70\00:28:26.87
Five of them. Luther
and the Reformers who
00:28:42.48\00:28:45.45
preceded him and who followed
him were absolutely sure that
00:28:45.45\00:28:48.72
standing in direct opposition
to these five greatsolaswere the
00:28:48.72\00:28:52.73
teachings of Rome herself.
00:28:52.73\00:28:55.70
Which is why Luther's response
to the papal bull and the
00:28:55.86\00:28:59.17
subsequent bull of
excommunication was intractable.
"I will not recant nor will I
00:28:59.17\00:29:04.67
withdraw what Holy Scripture has
shown me is the Gospel truth of
salvation through Christ alone,
00:29:04.67\00:29:08.71
by faith alone, by grace alone,
through Scripture alone, for the
glory of God alone. O meticulous
00:29:08.71\00:29:13.35
ignorance! You impious and
insensate papist." Not exactly
00:29:13.35\00:29:19.92
Dale Carnegie's "How to Win
Friends and Influence People." [
00:29:19.92\00:29:24.86
Laughter ] But he won friends.
Oh, my, did he win German
00:29:24.86\00:29:29.56
friends. By the tens of
thousands. They were set free by
the very Gospel he began to
00:29:29.56\00:29:37.41
preach and teach. L.E. Froom,
in his comprehensive four-volume
00:29:37.41\00:29:44.75
magnum opus, called "The
Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers"
00:29:44.75\00:29:48.38
-- I have all four volumes. If
you can ever find them, get them
00:29:48.38\00:29:51.52
fast. L.E. Froom summarizes the
twin message of the Protestant
00:29:51.52\00:29:56.12
Reformation. Twin
messages. Here they are.
00:29:56.12\00:29:57.96
Froom is on the screen.
You have to fill this out, by
00:29:58.13\00:29:59.66
the way, in your study guide, so
pull your study guide out real
00:29:59.66\00:30:01.40
quick now. I'm not
taking a lot of time
00:30:01.40\00:30:03.16
to break for study
guides. Here we go.
00:30:03.16\00:30:04.90
Froom's words on the screen.
00:30:04.90\00:30:06.80
"It was evident that nothing
in this old world is more" --
00:30:16.54\00:30:19.51
I love this line.
"Nothing in this world is more
00:30:19.51\00:30:22.58
powerful than a prophetic
truth whose time has come.
00:30:22.58\00:30:27.56
It has impelling
force and power within it.
00:30:27.56\00:30:29.89
Thus it was with the
Reformation, which was
00:30:29.89\00:30:31.89
really born out of
a twofold discovery."
00:30:31.89\00:30:33.80
Here they are. Jot them
down. "First, the rediscovery of
00:30:33.80\00:30:37.17
Christ and His salvation,
and second, the discovery of the
00:30:37.17\00:30:43.61
identity of
Antichrist and his subversions."
00:30:43.61\00:30:49.78
Ladies and
gentlemen, come on, guys.
00:30:49.78\00:30:51.98
Martin Luther did not invent the
word Antichrist. God invented
00:30:52.15\00:30:55.48
it. It's in the Bible. To prove
that, let me show you. Go to the
little 1 John right
00:30:55.48\00:31:00.36
near the end of the Bible. 1
John chapter 2, please. Why
don't you look this up?
00:31:00.36\00:31:05.29
I'm gonna share with you four
texts that confirm Luther in his
conclusion to take on the
00:31:05.29\00:31:11.23
immensity of the institution of
Rome. Here are the four texts.
00:31:11.23\00:31:17.54
Okay. 1 John. 1 John chapter 2.
I'm in the New International.
Whatever you're looking it up on
00:31:17.54\00:31:22.94
is fine by me. 1 John
2:18, and then verse 22.
00:31:22.94\00:31:27.05
Verse 18. "Dear children"
-- so you have a pastor here.
00:31:27.22\00:31:30.12
He's an elderly man, now.
He's writing to his parish,
00:31:30.12\00:31:33.15
to his people. "Dear
children, this is the last
00:31:33.15\00:31:35.99
hour," do you understand?
"This is the last hour;
00:31:35.99\00:31:43.37
and as you have heard that
Antichrist is coming, even now
00:31:43.37\00:31:47.64
many antichrists have
come. This is how we know
00:31:47.64\00:31:50.74
it's the last hour."
Drop down to verse 22.
00:31:50.74\00:31:53.04
Jot it down, will you, please.
The Antichrist -- and, by the
00:32:01.72\00:32:04.62
way, that's the
Greek word antichristos.
00:32:04.62\00:32:08.76
Some people say that
that means "against Christ."
00:32:08.76\00:32:11.46
No, no, no, no. The
word literally means
00:32:11.46\00:32:13.73
"instead of."
The Antichrist takes
00:32:13.73\00:32:16.16
Christ's place. The
Antichrist -- write it
00:32:16.16\00:32:18.73
down -- instead
of Christ, is coming.
00:32:18.73\00:32:20.50
That's John's point. And
Luther identifies the papacy
00:32:20.50\00:32:23.20
as the coming Antichrist power.
He throws in another line.
00:32:23.20\00:32:27.31
We'll just do
this on the screen.
00:32:27.31\00:32:28.94
This is 2 Thessalonians
2:3-4. Paul writing now.
00:32:28.94\00:32:34.08
Luther says,
"There's a connection here.
00:32:34.08\00:32:35.32
Watch this." "Don't
let anyone deceive you in
00:32:35.32\00:32:37.49
any way, for that day will
not come until the rebellion" --
00:32:37.49\00:32:40.36
and the Greek word for
rebellion there isapostasia.
00:32:40.36\00:32:44.46
Apostasy. That's
what he's saying.
00:32:44.46\00:32:45.86
And if you have an apostasy,
it's within the community of
00:32:45.86\00:32:47.96
faith, not outside it.
An apostasy means inside.
00:32:47.96\00:32:51.03
"Don't let anyone deceive you in
any way, for that day will not
00:32:51.03\00:32:54.00
come until the apostasy occurs
and the man of lawlessness," or
00:32:54.00\00:32:57.01
the man of sin, "is revealed,
the man doomed to destruction."
00:32:57.01\00:33:00.31
What kind of an
individual is this?
00:33:00.31\00:33:02.34
"He will oppose and will exalt
himself over everything that is
00:33:02.34\00:33:05.95
called God or is worshiped,
so that he sets himself up in
00:33:05.95\00:33:09.28
God's temple," in the faith
community, he sets himself up,
00:33:09.28\00:33:12.69
"proclaiming himself to be God."
Now, we read it just a moment
00:33:12.69\00:33:17.76
ago, when Luther's trying
to justify his burning of the
00:33:17.76\00:33:20.66
papal canon, Luther's words,
"The canon law was included
00:33:20.66\00:33:23.47
because it makes the
Pope a god on earth."
00:33:23.47\00:33:26.53
Therefore -- so here
comes number three now.
00:33:26.53\00:33:28.47
He goes back to the
Old Testament, the great
00:33:28.47\00:33:30.44
prophetic book of
Daniel. Daniel chapter 7.
00:33:30.44\00:33:33.31
Oh, let's just go back a
minute. You do need to fill out
00:33:33.31\00:33:37.85
that line.
00:33:37.85\00:33:39.71
Now, here's Daniel 7:25.
00:33:47.96\00:33:54.00
Would you jot this down, please.
"The 'little horn' power of
00:34:05.37\00:34:07.64
Daniel 7, Luther believed,
would speak against the
00:34:07.64\00:34:13.05
Most High, persecute the saints,
and change times and laws."
00:34:13.05\00:34:16.28
Luther identified
this "little horn" power
00:34:16.28\00:34:18.42
with the papacy. One
more line. Revelation 13:3.
00:34:18.42\00:34:22.46
Keep reading. Jot
this down, please.
00:34:29.20\00:34:34.10
The truth of
history is -- Jot this down.
00:34:42.88\00:34:48.82
How did Froom put it?
The Reformation had two
00:34:59.79\00:35:02.73
discoveries, twin discoveries.
Discovery number one --
00:35:02.73\00:35:06.10
Christ and His salvation.
00:35:06.10\00:35:08.17
Discovery number two, the
identity of Antichrist and his
00:35:08.34\00:35:12.87
subversions. Hey, but listen,
listen, listen. Come on, come
on. Relax, relax. What a
00:35:12.87\00:35:16.88
difference -- if you're all
worried about something. What a
difference 500 years can make.
00:35:16.88\00:35:21.25
I hold in my hands, right here,
a document entitled, "From
Conflict to Communion:
00:35:21.25\00:35:27.69
Lutheran-Catholic Common
Commemoration of the Reformation
00:35:27.69\00:35:33.60
in 2017." In the introduction,
I read -- I'll put the words on
00:35:33.76\00:35:35.93
the screen for you.
This is paragraph one.
00:35:35.93\00:35:37.80
What a difference
500 years can make.
00:36:07.10\00:36:11.03
Essentially,
what's being said here is,
00:36:11.03\00:36:15.27
"We are now gonna celebrate
together the greatest rupture
00:36:15.27\00:36:18.94
Roman Catholicism has
experienced in its recent
00:36:18.94\00:36:24.25
1700-year history."
00:36:24.25\00:36:27.62
In fact, last October 31, the
beloved Pope Francis flew to
Sweden to join with
00:36:27.78\00:36:32.85
the president of the Lutheran
Wold Federation, Bishop Munib
00:36:32.85\00:36:36.76
Younan, in a joint prayer
service to mark the beginning of
a year-long celebration of the
00:36:36.76\00:36:41.60
Protestant Reformation.
"Together we'll celebrate this."
The document goes on.
00:36:41.60\00:36:47.44
This would be paragraph 16.
00:36:47.44\00:36:49.50
How true. "Remembrance makes
00:36:57.11\00:36:59.21
the past present." It
sure does. Certainly does.
00:36:59.21\00:37:02.25
"While the past itself is
unalterable, the presence of the
00:37:02.25\00:37:05.79
past in the
present is alterable."
00:37:05.79\00:37:08.72
And that's what they've done.
To tell the history of Martin
00:37:19.23\00:37:24.87
Luther and the Reformation
differently. To tell it very
differently. In other words,
00:37:24.87\00:37:31.81
"We can't change the story.
We'll find a new way to re-tell
00:37:31.81\00:37:36.62
it." You know, as I've read
these pages, I've wondered to
myself how Martin himself would
00:37:36.62\00:37:42.92
respond to this new tête-à-tête
500 years later between the
church he founded and the
00:37:42.92\00:37:49.26
Church of Rome. Consider his
last major book to be published.
00:37:49.26\00:37:52.70
So Luther's last book.
00:37:52.70\00:37:53.97
Derek Wilson, the biographer
again, he explains the book.
00:37:54.14\00:37:57.07
Put it on the screen.
"Luther's last major book was
00:37:57.07\00:38:00.21
titled 'Against the Roman
Papacy, an Institution of the
00:38:00.21\00:38:03.48
Devil," which he sent
to the press in March 1545.
00:38:03.48\00:38:08.08
Hit the pause
button right there.
00:38:16.29\00:38:17.93
I'm gonna remind you of
something, because it's so easy
00:38:17.93\00:38:19.63
for us to forget. Luther
is not writing to people.
00:38:19.63\00:38:24.07
If he was writing to Catholic
people, that's everybody.
00:38:24.07\00:38:25.97
That's everybody in his church.
That's everybody in the city.
00:38:25.97\00:38:28.07
That's everybody in the next --
It's everybody in the country.
00:38:28.07\00:38:30.17
We're all Catholics.
00:38:30.17\00:38:32.04
He's not writing, condemning,
judging people. Luther instead
00:38:32.21\00:38:37.98
has focused on an institution
that he believes is the bestower
of what he has defined, the
00:38:37.98\00:38:46.22
Scripture has defined as heresy.
And so with a white-heat
passion, he goes after the
00:38:46.22\00:38:54.83
institution. It's not
the people. They're his
00:38:54.83\00:38:58.17
parishioners. He's their pastor.
We forget that. Now pick it up.
00:38:58.17\00:39:05.34
Derek Wilson again.
00:39:05.34\00:39:06.47
"When some of his friends
took him to task for this" --
00:39:06.64\00:39:09.58
Man, Luther, do you have
to use this kind of language?
00:39:09.58\00:39:12.45
"...he admitted that
his language was extreme,
00:39:12.45\00:39:14.35
but he was unrepentant."
00:39:14.35\00:39:15.55
And now, 500 years
later, they want to tell
00:39:24.23\00:39:27.23
the history differently.
00:39:27.23\00:39:31.30
Shall we be surprised if,
perhaps, one day -- I don't
00:39:31.47\00:39:35.70
know. I suppose it could be as a
sort of final coup de grace for
00:39:35.70\00:39:42.78
the Reformation. Maybe it would
be the canonization of Martin
Luther as a saint of the Church
00:39:42.78\00:39:50.29
of Rome. But at what price
this newfound unity? Oh, you're
00:39:50.29\00:39:54.42
absolutely right. Jesus did
pray. John 17, the last prayer
recorded before the cross.
00:39:54.42\00:39:58.59
Jesus did pray. "Oh, Father,
that they might be one even as
00:39:58.59\00:40:06.47
we are one." He prayed for that
unity, absolutely. But notice
00:40:06.47\00:40:12.37
what the unity is to be based
on. John 17:17. The words on the
00:40:12.37\00:40:15.84
screen. "Sanctify them" -- Oh,
Father, "Sanctify them by Your
truth; You word is truth."
00:40:15.84\00:40:21.72
Jesus declares the basis for
unity, and it's the word of God.
It's the word that provides the
00:40:21.72\00:40:27.69
basis for unity. Sola scriptura.
Only the word of God that
00:40:27.69\00:40:32.36
defines and declares the truth
of God can serve as the
foundation for the unity of the
00:40:32.36\00:40:36.20
Church of God. "Sanctify them by
Your truth. Your word is truth."
00:40:36.20\00:40:41.07
That's how you do it. Any
church, it would be that way.
00:40:41.07\00:40:46.91
Any churches, it would be
that way. "Sanctify them by Your
00:40:46.91\00:40:51.08
truth. Your word is truth."
So here's the question. You tell
00:40:51.08\00:40:56.12
me. Does the Reformation
no longer matter? Hmm?
00:40:56.12\00:41:05.23
Has Rome changed?
00:41:05.23\00:41:09.10
Turns out Rome
hasn't changed at all.
00:41:09.26\00:41:10.73
It's the
Protestants who have changed,
00:41:10.73\00:41:12.20
as you are now going to see.
The Pew Research Center did two
00:41:12.20\00:41:16.07
major surveys this summer.
They surveyed the United States,
00:41:16.07\00:41:18.57
Protestants in
the United States.
00:41:18.57\00:41:20.11
They went over to Western Europe
and surveyed Protestants in
00:41:20.11\00:41:22.64
Western Europe. I
have the report of their
00:41:22.64\00:41:25.81
survey.
00:41:25.81\00:41:26.88
In fact, there's a website there
in your study guide, and you can
00:41:27.05\00:41:31.25
track it, as well. Here's the
preamble to the survey report.
"As Protestants prepare to mark
00:41:31.25\00:41:37.99
the 500th anniversary of the
Reformation, new Pew Research
Center surveys show
00:41:37.99\00:41:41.86
that in both Western Europe and
the United States, the
theological differences that
00:41:41.86\00:41:45.97
split Western Christianity in
the 1500s have diminished to a
degree that might have shocked
00:41:45.97\00:41:50.41
Christians in past centuries.
Across Europe and the U.S., the
prevailing view is that
00:41:50.41\00:41:54.71
Protestants and Catholics today
are more similar religiously
than they are different.
00:41:54.71\00:41:58.68
And while the Reformation led to
more than a century of
devastating wars and persecution
00:41:58.68\00:42:03.18
in Europe, both Protestants and
Catholics across that continent
now overwhelmingly express
00:42:03.18\00:42:07.72
willingness to accept each other
as neighbors, and even as family
00:42:07.72\00:42:12.26
members. I'm not gonna worry
about the stats for Western
Europe. You can go online, and
00:42:12.26\00:42:15.66
you can read those stats. Let me
give you three of the statistics
00:42:15.66\00:42:18.37
for the United States, all
right? That's our homeland here.
On the screen for you.
00:42:18.37\00:42:21.57
Fill them in, please.
"About half" -- in this survey,
00:42:21.74\00:42:24.21
"about half of the U.S.
Protestants" -- that would be
00:42:24.21\00:42:26.91
52% -- say both good deeds and
faith in God are needed to get
00:42:26.91\00:42:31.75
into heaven, a
historically Catholic position.
00:42:31.75\00:42:35.62
I'm reading
directly out of the document.
00:42:35.62\00:42:43.89
So there's statistic number one.
Here comes statistic number two.
00:42:43.89\00:42:46.80
One more. Statistic three. "Just
30% of all U.S. Protestants
00:43:09.02\00:43:15.26
affirm both sola fide"--
salvation is by faith alone --
"and sola scriptura."
00:43:15.26\00:43:19.43
The Bible alone is the source of
our authority. Only 30% of U.S.
00:43:19.43\00:43:24.87
Protestants. Question -- has
Rome changed? Answer -- As it
turns out, it's the
00:43:24.87\00:43:30.61
Protestants who have changed. In
fact, the prolific American
Protestant writer Ellen White,
00:43:30.61\00:43:37.68
120 years before Pew Research
announces this discovery -- 120
years before made the same
00:43:37.68\00:43:45.15
point and said, "This is how it
will be in your nation." In her
apocalyptic classic
00:43:45.15\00:43:50.96
"The Great Controversy,"
on the screen, fill it in.
00:43:50.96\00:43:53.96
"The papacy that the Protestants
are now so ready to honor" --
00:44:15.82\00:44:19.02
and, I might add, so ready to
unite with -- "is the same that
00:44:19.02\00:44:22.16
ruled the world in the days of
the Reformation, when men of God
00:44:22.16\00:44:25.39
stood up at the peril of their
lives to expose her iniquity...
00:44:25.39\00:44:28.53
There has been,"
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
00:44:28.53\00:44:30.57
"There has been a
change; but the change is not
00:44:30.57\00:44:33.10
in the papacy.
00:44:33.10\00:44:34.34
The Rome that Martin Luther
challenged and stood up to is
00:44:46.51\00:44:51.49
the same and unchanged Rome
today that is suing for peace
with every major faith community
00:44:51.49\00:44:58.79
that's willing to dialogue. Oh,
by the way, it's not just the
church of Martin Luther.
00:44:58.79\00:45:05.47
Two days ago, on Thursday, 50
leaders of the World Methodist
00:45:05.47\00:45:11.81
Council were in the Vatican to
meet with the much-beloved and
friendly Pope Francis with the
00:45:11.81\00:45:17.05
same appeal for unity.
00:45:17.05\00:45:19.08
So now you have the Church
of Martin Luther, you have the
00:45:19.25\00:45:22.18
Church of John Wesley, you have
the Church of England, you have
00:45:22.18\00:45:26.05
the Church of John
Knox gone the way of Rome.
00:45:26.05\00:45:30.76
Returning to Mother
Church all in response to Rome's
00:45:30.76\00:45:36.63
beckoning to pursue a unity no
longer based on the word of God,
00:45:36.63\00:45:41.27
but rather the ambitions
for unity and a confederation
00:45:41.27\00:45:45.34
at any price.
00:45:45.34\00:45:47.71
Christian, non-Christian,
it doesn't matter. But it is a
00:45:47.88\00:45:53.28
price that the Protestants and
not Rome will finally pay. And
what price shall we pay?
00:45:53.28\00:46:02.06
We who are the inheritors of
this New Reformation? Luther's
mighty Reformation.
00:46:02.06\00:46:09.86
"What do you mean New
Reformation, Dwight?" Oh, the
same apocalyptic classic
00:46:09.86\00:46:13.84
on the screen.
00:46:13.84\00:46:14.90
For every generation, there will
be a new -- a new reforming,
00:46:22.28\00:46:27.82
which means there's a new
reformation God sends to this
00:46:27.82\00:46:30.75
civilization, a continued
reclamation of truths buried in
00:46:30.75\00:46:34.76
the ash heap of the
Church of the Dark Ages.
00:46:34.76\00:46:37.63
On the screen
again. "Great Controversy."
00:46:37.63\00:46:39.89
A New Reformation with reformers
young and not so young.
00:46:50.11\00:46:53.11
Men, women, and children who are
unafraid to stand up to the
hegemony of a monolithic church
00:46:53.27\00:46:58.38
with ambitions to rule
Christendom once again. A New
Reformation to pick up the
00:46:58.38\00:47:02.92
torch that has been fumbled and
dropped by the descendants of
the old Reformation.
00:47:02.92\00:47:08.09
A New Reformation. A present
truth for a final generation.
00:47:08.09\00:47:16.60
One last line. On the
screen. "Great Controversy."
00:47:16.77\00:47:19.67
I say bravo for Martin. Huh? Am
I the only one clapping? Milan?
00:47:37.89\00:47:47.93
[ Applause ] No. No. I
save bravo. Bravo to Martin.
00:47:47.93\00:47:54.17
The question is, is there
anybody to step in to Martin's
place one last time?
00:47:54.17\00:48:00.64
That's the question. Is there
anybody to step in to Martin's
place one last time.
00:48:00.64\00:48:07.92
There will be a generation.
There will be a generation with
a New Reformation one last time.
00:48:07.92\00:48:17.56
That's why we spent the month of
September thinking about
something called the daily
00:48:17.56\00:48:22.90
baptism of the Holy
Spirit. Daily. You know why?
00:48:22.90\00:48:30.01
Because you can't have a courage
like Luther's. Come on. And, by
00:48:30.01\00:48:35.38
the way, you say, "It'll never
come to me. I'll never stand up
00:48:35.38\00:48:38.61
like Luther." Don't worry about
standing up. It can happen in a
00:48:38.61\00:48:44.75
boardroom. It can happen in a
classroom. It can happen in an
airport. It can happen playing
00:48:44.75\00:48:51.96
golf. There will be a moment in
which you can stand up just as
00:48:51.96\00:49:00.24
he did. It isn't the courage of
Martin Luther we need. It's the
00:49:00.24\00:49:03.24
courage of Jesus. And that's
what the baptism of the Holy
Spirit is. It's the courage of
00:49:03.24\00:49:06.37
Jesus. It's the Spirit of Jesus.
Every day -- every day -- to
say, "Oh, Jesus, just as you
00:49:06.37\00:49:15.18
went to the Father morning by
morning, every day, I'm going to
00:49:15.18\00:49:19.89
You. Please. Every day, baptize
me afresh. Baptize me afresh.
00:49:19.89\00:49:25.89
Fill me all over again, just as
you did Jesus. Holy Spirit, fill
00:49:25.89\00:49:34.14
me. Reformation isn't over. The
greatest hour of the Reformation
00:49:34.14\00:49:43.31
is still ahead. And God is
calling for reformers. Not based
upon their theological
00:49:43.31\00:49:49.92
training or their spiritual
pedigree. He needs men, women,
00:49:49.92\00:49:54.79
and children who are willing to
stand up for Him whenever,
wherever, and say whatever
00:49:54.79\00:50:04.40
He needs said at that moment.
And only -- only the Holy Spirit
00:50:04.40\00:50:13.48
can give you that. I'm
not backing off of September's
00:50:13.48\00:50:17.25
series. We need -- We need what
Jesus is offering. Come on. If
you who are evil know how
00:50:17.25\00:50:20.85
to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will
your Father in heaven give the
00:50:20.85\00:50:25.22
Holy Spirit to those who ask
Him? And in the Greek, it says
00:50:25.22\00:50:28.26
"who ask Him day after day after
day after day after day. "How
much more? Just ask me.
00:50:28.26\00:50:33.90
Just ask me." Is there
anybody left after Martin
00:50:33.90\00:50:44.67
to take a stand one
more time? I pray, oh, God,
00:50:44.67\00:50:50.85
maybe him, maybe her. Me too. Me
too, please. There's a powerful
00:50:50.85\00:50:57.99
hymn, "Onward, Christian
Soldiers." We're gonna sing it
together. And we'll stand on the
00:50:57.99\00:51:03.43
fourth stanza, all right? But,
ushers, would you please stand,
and would you kindly now
00:51:03.43\00:51:06.96
just receive our Connect Cards.
Go up and down these aisles.
Don't leave somebody in the
00:51:06.96\00:51:10.90
middle of the pew. Just go ahead
and reach that plate over, and
00:51:10.90\00:51:15.97
let's sing this great, great
anthem. [ Intro to "Onward,
Christian Soldiers" plays ]
00:51:15.97\00:51:27.18
¤ Onward, Christian soldiers!
marching as to war ¤ ¤ With the
00:51:27.18\00:51:40.16
cross of Jesus going on before ¤
¤ Christ, the royal Master,
leads against the foe ¤
00:51:40.16\00:51:52.97
¤ Forward into battle, see His
banners go ¤ ¤ Onward, Christian
00:51:52.97\00:52:05.95
soldiers! marching as to war ¤ ¤
With the cross of Jesus going on
00:52:05.95\00:52:19.80
before ¤ ¤ Like a mighty army
moves the Church of God; ¤ ¤
Christians, we are treading
00:52:19.80\00:52:32.98
where the Saints have trod ¤ ¤
We are not divided; all one body
00:52:32.98\00:52:46.13
we ¤ ¤ One in hope and doctrine,
one in charity ¤ ¤ Onward,
Christian soldiers!
00:52:46.13\00:52:59.37
marching as to war ¤ ¤ With the
cross of Jesus going on before ¤
00:52:59.37\00:53:13.02
¤ Crowns and thrones may perish,
kingdoms rise and wane ¤ ¤ But
the church of Jesus
00:53:13.02\00:53:26.47
constant will remain ¤ ¤ Gates
of hell can never 'gainst that
00:53:26.47\00:53:39.55
church prevail ¤ ¤ We have
Christ's own promise, that can
never fail ¤ ¤ Onward, Christian
00:53:39.55\00:53:52.99
soldiers! marching as to war ¤ ¤
With the cross of Jesus going on
00:53:52.99\00:54:07.38
before ¤ ¤ Onward then, ye
people, join our happy throng ¤
¤ Blend with ours your voices
00:54:07.38\00:54:20.36
in the triumph song ¤ ¤ Glory,
praise, and honor unto Christ
00:54:20.36\00:54:33.84
the King ¤ ¤ This through
countless ages men and angels
sing ¤ ¤ Onward, Christian
00:54:33.84\00:54:47.08
soldiers! marching as to war ¤ ¤
With the cross of Jesus going on
00:54:47.08\00:55:05.60
before ¤¤ >> Oh, God, and so
we stand before You. It doesn't
00:55:05.60\00:55:11.21
feel like a war. Doesn't look
like a war, really, at times.
00:55:11.21\00:55:16.04
What is this militaristic
language of what we just sang?
And yet we know in our
00:55:16.04\00:55:24.35
heart of hearts, the war that
broke out in heaven that is now
00:55:24.35\00:55:31.66
desperately moving to its final
death throes, is the most
genuine war of all of history.
00:55:31.66\00:55:42.74
We are all drawn into this war.
And, so, Holy God, Holy Father,
I humbly pray that You would
00:55:42.74\00:55:54.05
baptize us afresh every new day
for the sake of this war You
have called us to engage.
00:55:54.05\00:56:05.86
If we were dependent on our own
resources, it's over. But
drawing courage from where
00:56:05.86\00:56:12.30
Martin found his courage, solus
Christus, we cry out for the
00:56:12.30\00:56:21.61
power and courage and spirit
of Christ our Lord. Seal this
00:56:21.61\00:56:31.09
moment. Keep the call ringing
in our spirits. We humbly pray.
00:56:31.09\00:56:39.06
And now to Him who loves us, and
has freed us from our sins by
00:56:39.06\00:56:46.37
His blood, and has made us to be
a kingdom and priest to serve
His God and Father, to Christ be
00:56:46.37\00:56:54.31
glory and power forever
and ever. Amen. [ Organ plays ]
00:56:54.31\00:57:11.09
>> Thank you for taking the time
to join us in worship today.
00:57:15.20\00:57:17.93
I'd like to spent another moment
with you here at the end of our
00:57:17.93\00:57:20.27
program to share
with you a gift of hope.
00:57:20.27\00:57:22.77
In these uncertain times, this
little book, "The Great Hope,"
00:57:22.94\00:57:26.27
will help you understand what
God has planned for your future.
And not just your future,
00:57:26.27\00:57:28.98
but for the future of the human
race. In this 500th anniversary
00:57:28.98\00:57:32.95
of the Reformation, we recognize
that Luther had a mighty work to
do. But the truth is, he didn't
00:57:32.95\00:57:37.69
recognize all the light of Holy
Scripture. How could he have?
00:57:37.69\00:57:40.52
He's just one life. New light
has been continually shining
since his time, and new
00:57:40.52\00:57:44.99
truths have been
constantly unfolding.
00:57:44.99\00:57:47.13
This book, "The Great Hope,"
is a story of that continuing
00:57:47.30\00:57:50.57
Reformation. So grab your phone,
00:57:50.57\00:57:52.97
dial our toll-free
number, 877-HIS-WILL --
00:57:52.97\00:57:55.74
Remember the two
words. 877-HIS-WILL. --
00:57:55.74\00:57:58.91
and we'll get a
copy to you right away.
00:57:58.91\00:58:01.44
Until the next time we meet,
may the peace of our Lord Jesus
00:58:01.44\00:58:04.85
be with you.
00:58:04.85\00:58:05.85
¤¤ ¤¤
00:58:07.55\00:58:27.77