October 7, 2021

. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . . Romans 3:23

A deep conviction of his sinful condition took hold upon young Martin Luther. His earnest desire for peace with God led him to enter a monastery where he was assigned the lowest drudgery and required to beg from house to house. He patiently endured, believing this was necessary because of his sins. He had found a Bible chained to the convent wall and spent every spare moment there. His rigorous works in the monastic life, augmented by fasting, scourging, and vigils brought him no sense of the desired pardon and peace. At the verge of total despair, God sent a friend who counseled him to cease looking to himself and look instead to Jesus. “Instead of torturing yourself on account of your sins, throw yourself in the Redeemer’s arms. Love Him who first loved you.” This message of mercy enabled Martin to grasp a truth that began to usher peace to his troubled soul.

Martin was ordained a priest in 1507, the year he turned 25. He was called to a professorship at the University of Wittenberg. His Biblical studies were the subjects of his lectures, and through much urging of friends, he began to preach the Word of God from the pulpit. God’s grace rested upon him in a mighty way. His eloquence and fervor captivated his listeners. The clarity and power with which he presented the Bible touched their hearts.

Luther thought of himself as a true son of the papal church for life. Then God providentially led him to visit Rome. Encountering firsthand the realities there filled him with astonishment and horror. He wrote: “No one can imagine what sins and infamous actions are committed in Rome; they must be seen to be believed.” The things he saw were painful to see, but God showed him just as He had shown Ezekiel the corruptions among His people in chapter 8 – all for the purpose of leading men toward cleansing and revival . . .

And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose.” And He said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel . . . Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!”  Ezekiel 8:17, 11:2,4