Reformation Sunday
Standing Firm
"Martin Luther"
"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."
Knowing where to stand.
Luther's "3 Solas"
"Sola" means "alone"
Three Solas of the Reformation
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
"It is by GRACE you have been saves, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
-Ephesians 2:8,9
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation... For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by FAITH ... just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by FAITH.'"
-Romans 1:17
"All SCRIPTURE is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
-2 Timothy 3:16,17
Priesthood of all believers.
"As you come to him, the living Stone, [Jesus] rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him, you also, like living stones, [us] are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood ... You are a chosen people, a royal PRIESTHOOD, a holy nation, God's special possession... you have received mercy."
-1 Peter 2:4,5,9
Lightened the burden of the Law.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
-Matthew 11:28-30
Mentor for "Standing Firm."
"Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason (I do not accept the authority of popes and councils because they have contradicted each other), my conscience is captive to the Word of God."
"Unless I am proved wrong by Scriptures or by evident reason, then I am a prisoner in conscience to the Word of God."
"I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. So help me God. Amen"
"I cannot retract and I will not retract. To go against the conscience is neither safe nor right."
"Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen."
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
-John 6:68,69
Stand Firm
"Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see that deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.'"
-Exodus 14:13
"I will declare that your love stands firm forever."
-Psalm 89:2
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
-John 6:68,69
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery... Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..."
-Galatians 5:1; Ephesians 6:14
"The Man In The Glass"
-Dale Wimbrow Sr.
(First published 1934)
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see that that man has to say.
For it isn't your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgement upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.
He's the fellow to please - never mind all the rest
For he's with you, clear to the end,
And you've passed your most difficult dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.
Some people might think you're a straight-shootin' chum
And think you're a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass.
Martin Luther could look at himself in the mirror
and say that he had not cheated himself,
because he had not cheated God or cheated the world
of God's truth that we are saved by God's GRACE.
When life becomes too hard to stand...Kneel.