The First Reformer is the fulfillment of the promise given by God in the Garden of Eden from Genesis 3:15 regarding a future offspring from Adam and Eve, sent by God, who will change humanity forever in reconciliation.
In all of human history, men and women who stood up for the Gospel are reformers called by God to proclaim the Good News in Jesus.
Martin Luther on October 31, 1517 was such a man of his time. He challenged the church authority of his day to return to God’s inerrant Word and be obedient unto Him.
Luther, as others who follow him, are in the chain links connected by the Word of God to the work of Jesus.
History’s response to the person of Jesus Christ has always been fascinating.
- Some view him as a rebel challenging the religious establishment in Israel.
- Others view him as a Reformer like Luther, seeking to modify an existing religion to its original intent.
But in today’s texts, he doesn’t present himself as rebel or a reformer, but rather a revolutionary … seeking to make all things NEW.
Luther discovered the Good News that the righteousness comes through faith in Jesus (Romans 1:17)
When we, like Luther, are open to the Word instead of the world, discoveries of freedom abound:
John 3:16-17 — “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.”
Romans 5:6, 8 — “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 — “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Philippians 2:15 — “… so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”
2 Corinthians 2:15 — “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”
2 Corinthians 3:1-3 — “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people, revealing yourselves, that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
On these biblical teachings we, like Martin Luther, declare “Here I Stand” and now as Jesus calls us Here, We Go!
Prayer
Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit daily so that I will be emboldened to reach out to those around me with the saving message of Your Son, Jesus. Let my words and works bring glory to Your Name, and may my life be a message of hope for those in need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
