Beloved Friends in Christ,

"Enough is enough!" So thought the Roman Catholic monk, Martin Luther, when in the fall of 1517, he heard that John Tetzel was coming to his area to sell indulgences. Indulgences were certificates offered by the medieval church to those who supported the building of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Each indulgence purchased from the church, it was taught, offered the purchaser the guarantee of a quicker entry into heaven. Sadly, many people believed this.

Martin Luther did not. By 1516, he had come to the conviction that the grace of God through the cross of Christ could alone reconcile a man unto God and grant him entry into eternal life. That is why on Halloween (Holy Evening) in 1517, Luther posted 95 theses (statements), by nailing them to the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg. Luther wished to debate the selling of indulgences.

He understood that those who purchased these certificates were receiving a false sense of security. They believed that their gold could accomplish that which the blood of Jesus alone can do. They were being led from the saving truth to their eternal damnation. Thus Luther was moved to act.

However, he had no idea how deeply this would impact the church, nor how vehemently it would oppose his desire to debate the saving truth of God's Word. It condemned Luther to death. He eventually was forced out of the church. The result was a new denomination.

This was not Luther's original intent, but he had no choice. For God's Word says "Take heed to… doctrine… for in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you."

Luther could not take back anything he had written or said. He had proclaimed God's own pure doctrine that salvation is given by God's grace alone. It is not earned, for there are none in this world that can earn it. It must be-can only be received as a gracious gift from a loving God. Luther could not deny this salvation for you, for me, for him, for all. Despite the continued threat of death, he stood firm.

And we can thank God that he did. Through the efforts of a former monk, the Gospel of salvation as revealed in the Bible was restored to the people of this world.

May we cherish this Gospel, and may we let others know this same truth--that a person becomes right with God by His grace alone. Through the cross of Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to God.

In His service,

Pastor Richard A. Frey