252. The 95 Theses, Part 2

What did Martin Luther say to those who taught that salvation could be obtained through the merits of the saints? Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols explains Luther’s gospel-centered response.

We’ve been celebrating Reformation month and upcoming is Reformation Day. Well, back in 2017 we recorded some episodes on Luther’s 95 theses in front of those doors, probably the most famous doors in all of history, and so we have reached back into the archives to play one of those episodes to commemorate that significant moment for church history. Thanks so much for listening.

Well, welcome back to this very special episode of 5 Minutes in Church History. It is October 31st, 2017. This is the 500th anniversary of the posting of the 95 theses to the church door here in Wittenberg. And we are here in Wittenberg in front of the church door to celebrate this historic moment, not only for church history, but really, for all of history. We have been walking through Luther's life together these past 31 days, and now we are back to this crucial text, this text that sort of started it all of the Protestant Reformation, the 95 theses.

We left off with theses number 56, and in there, Luther is telling us that these truths are not sufficiently taught among the people. Well, Luther is going to continue as he gets to theses number 62, he says, “The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.” Now what Luther is referencing there is this treasury of merits, and the idea is that saints had accumulated more grace than they need. And all of that accumulated grace is literally in a treasure chest in heaven somewhere. And of course, at the top of that chain of saints is Mary, and she is full of grace. And so, we lowly sinners down here, we can tap into those graces, we can tap into those treasuries, we can tap into those merits. Luther says, “Oh no, that's not the true treasure of the church, and the true treasure of the church is not this indulgence sale. The true treasure of the church is the gospel.”

Well, as we get into the final theses, Luther tells us at number 90, “To repress these convincing arguments of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasonable answers is to expose the church and the Pope to ridicule of their enemies and to leave Christians unsatisfied.” Luther is warning here that as he's finishing up his 95 theses, that these simply not be dismissed, but that the church should take these seriously. Well, we know that the church doesn't. In fact, when the Pope gets a copy of the 95 theses, his first response is, “Ah, the ramblings of a drunken German. He will think differently when he sobers up.” He clearly underestimated Luther and he clearly underestimated what was happening here in that moment when Luther nailed these 95 theses to the church door. I'm not even sure Luther had a full sense of the implication and the consequences of the singular action of posting these 95 theses.

Well, as he gets to 92, he quotes from Jeremiah and Luther tells us, “Away, away then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, ‘Peace, peace,’ and there is no peace.” What Luther is saying is the church is a false prophet. It's saying “Here's peace. Come here, buy this indulgence, take this pilgrimage, give money to this, light this candle in front of this relic, and you'll have peace with God.” Luther says that's a false prophet and there's not peace there. There's just despair there. Then he says, in number 93, “Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, ‘Cross, cross,’ and there is no cross.” What does that mean? Well, Luther is saying “‘Cross, cross,’ and there is no cross,” because there's no cross for you. That Christ on the cross and through His work for us brought us peace with God. We can be reconciled to God, not because of anything that we have done, but being justified by faith alone, and because of what Christ has done for us.

Well, that's Luther and his 95 theses. It was the beginning of the Reformation. It was the beginning of a few more decades of Luther's life as he would continue to serve the church. And it all started here, at the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, and it all started on October 31st, 1517, 500 years ago. I'm Steve Nichols. Thanks for joining us this past month, and thanks for joining us for 5 Minutes in Church History.