October 31st 1517 Martin Luther nailed his Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences on the doors of the Catholic church. This disputation, commonly known as The 95 Theses, caused an uproar...
Halloween, nowadays celebrated as a holiday with candy, costumes, and creepy movies, was formally recognized as the eve of All Saints Day. A Catholic tradition, All Hallowed Saints' Day was a day in honor of any saints (known or unknown). On 1st of November it is said that all evil spirits were absent; however, October 31st was marked an evening of suspicion to ward off many evil spirits. Catholics celebrated All Saints' Day in the fundamental belief that “there is a prayerful spiritual communion between those in the state of grace who have died and are either being purified in purgatory or are in heaven, and the church members who are the living”.
German at birth, Martin Luther was a devout Roman Catholic priest. He claimed, "If anyone could have gained heaven as a monk, then I would indeed have been among them," and he practiced the church's false teaching to the fullest-- until he caught a glimpse of light. The Truth he discovered could not be concealed. God's punishment of sin could not be freed by the purchase of money. Good deeds do not earn or keep salvation-- Salvation is received as a free gift of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of sin. Man is justified by faith alone. The Catholic church was in error and the people were stumbling in the dark. Fear, doubt, and pride ruled the hearts of these lost men. Martin Luther himself experience this despair and declared "I lost touch with Christ the Savior and Comforter, and made of Him the jailor and hangman of my poor soul". Martin sought to free the imprisoned and began opening his letter (The 95 Theses) with “Out of love and concern for the truth...”
The Protestant Reformation had begun. Martin Luther did not cloak the knowledge God gave him and neither should we. Though excommunicated from the church and persecuted by many, Martin Luther was used of God to aid in sending a light of hope and Salvation in a dark age. Are you being used of God to show forth the Truth today?
To read Martin Luther's 95 Theses visit: http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/95theses.htm
One of Martin Luther's hymns:
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
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