Monday, October 9, 2006
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
SOLA SCRIPTURA
To Martin Luther this Latin expression ("Scripture Alone") meant: "I place over against all sentences of the fathers and the artful words of all angels, men and devils the Scripture and the Gospel. Here I make my stand. Here I utter my my proud defiance. To me God's Word is above all else and the majesty of God is on my side."
Why did Luther insist that Scripture alone was the sure guide for faith and life? For him it was no mere academic exercise -- a point to be defended in debate. Nor was he simply being a stubborn German over against an Italian pope. Nor was it just a matter of morality in a world where few took God's Law seriously.
The fact of the matter was this: Luther knew from bitter personal experience that to seek the certainty of sin's forgiveness and eternal salvation anywhere else just would not work. All other roads were dead ends. There is no room for man-made doctrines here -- no matter who dreams them up. No pope or other head of church, no scholar or expert no matter how "brilliant", no TV evangelist or popular writer of spiritual books, "Nothing other than the Word shall establish articles of faith." For all men are liars but God is true. He can't lie. His Word is truth.
"What divine Scripture does not affirm, cannot be regarded as an article of faith." "I shall not swerve one finger's breadth from the mouth of Him who said, 'Hear ye Him'".
So said Luther. What do you say? And what does this mean in your daily life?
