Friday, October 6, 2017
John 8:31-32 If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE
Why did Luther hold so stubbornly to Scripture? Why not give in a little on some of these things?
It's very simple. To call the plain words of Scripture into question is to call God's verdict into question. Had Luther given in on the works versus faith argument, we would still be trying to make up for our sins with our good works. Had Luther given in to Zwingli on the Real Presence of Christ's body and blood in the Lord's Supper we would have been robbed of the assurance that the Sacraments bring: That our sins are forgiven.
We might say, "Of course we shouldn't give in on these big, important topics. But why not give in on some of the other, less important ones?" Because if we give up one part of God's Word, where does it stop? If some of it is not true, even a little bit of it, then all of it might not be true!
Who's going to decide which parts we don't need? Jesus Himself said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). God's Word is not ours to tamper with. Christ doesn't say, "If you abide in most of My Word, you are truly My disciples." If we depart from His Word we endanger the freedom that we have in Christ, for we will have departed from the foundation of our faith. If we abide or remain in Christ's Word, there can be no doubt about our eternal freedom, for God's verdict stands: "Not guilty through Christ!"
