Friday, October 28, 2005
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
SOLA SCRIPTURA
The key question of the Reformation was: Who shall tell us God's truth concerning our soul's salvation?
It is not surprising that the answer Martin Luther found is evidenced in the very first of the 95 Theses he nailed to the door of Wittenberg's Castle Church on October 31, 1517.
"Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in saying: 'Repent ye,' etc., intended that the whole life of believers should be penitence."
"Jesus Christ said . . ." God led Luther to say and declare that whether the question was relics or indulgences or the Sacraments or anything pertaining to salvation the Word of the Lord is decisive. Indeed, Luther says that in matters pertaining to issues of salvation, "whatever does not have its origin in the Scriptures is surely from the devil himself."
Luther knew that if it was not SOLA Scriptura, then it wouldn't be Scripture at all . . . not really . . . not finally. Reason and dreams and human authority -- all that amend the Word really strike it out. To add to Scripture is to say it is not sufficient in matters of faith and life.
Luther remarks that it is a presumptuous abomination when men attempt "to teach God his lessons and blue-pencil the 'mistakes' of the Holy Ghost." Error first is satisfied with being accepted on a par with Scripture, but it is not long before it displaces the Truth.
That's why to stand on the Scripture, to follow it's leading and guiding, will mean following ONLY Scripture in matters on which it speaks. As Luther said, "I am not so senseless as to be willing that the Word of God be made to give place to fables, devised by human reason."
