Luther and Erasmus: The Bondage of the Will

A great video presentation by R. C. Sproul on the debate between Luther and Erasmus which resulted in Luther's classic work, "The Bondage of the Will" may be found here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy 526th birthday to the good doctor!

He and my youngest granddaughter share the date but are separated by:

1. 525 years
2. looks (she is much cuter)
3. demeanor (at least at this point in her life, she is much more fun to be around!)
4. and love from me (despite my appreciation and fascination with Dr. Luther, Lydia will always be more near and dear to my heart!)

Luther and the Diet of Worms

I have a brief section of Luther and the Diet of Worms on my other blog. You may find it here.

October 12-14, 1518: Interview with the Cardinal

As a result of his protest against indulgences posted on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther was subsequently called to appear before Roman Catholic Church officials and to recant his words. In the city of Augsburg on October 12, 1518, Luther met with the famed Dominican Papal representative, Cardinal Cajetan. The meeting began with Luther showing great respect toward the Cardinal but soon turned more contentious. The following excerpt of a portion of the account is from the famous biography of Luther, "Here I Stand", by Roland Bainton:

...Luther...came out with a blunt rejection of the decretal and of the authority of the pope who formulated it. "I am not so audacious that for the sake of a single obscure and ambiguous decretal of a human pope I would recede from so many and such clear testimonies of divine Scripture. For, as one of the canon lawyers has said, 'in a matter of faith not only is a council above a pope but any one of the faithful, if armed with better authority and reason.'" The cardinal reminded Luther that Scripture has itself to be interpreted. The pope is the interpreter. The pope is above a council, above everything in the Church. "His Holiness abuses Scripture," retorted Luther. "I deny that he is above Scripture." The cardinal flared up and bellowed that Luther should leave and never come back unless he was ready to say, "Revoco"--"I recant."

Luther wrote home that the cardinal was no more fitted to handle the case than an ass to play on a harp. (p. 73)

Years later Luther would write about this meeting and note:

"But I could not bring myself to say those six letters, REVOCO."

In the Lord Christ we have a helper...

... the great lesson that comes with faith, not to be overwhelmed when things go evilly, especially when we must die, but to remember that in the Lord Christ we have a helper whose hand is almighty. Of him we must not despair; of ourselves and of other people we may indeed despair, in fact we must; none of these can put a stop to death, for it is too mighty for them. But we can be bold in God and his Son, Jesus Christ. For he can do what we cannot; what we don't possess, he does. If we cannot help ourselves, he is able, and he does so gladly and willingly, as we see here. Such a heart that persists in truth on the Lord Christ serves God truly, even as the Lord desires. Those who despair and doubt are God's enemies and really do not esteem him to be God; otherwise, they would allow themselves to be comforted.

Martin Luther, 1532

More On Prayer

"First, when I feel that I have become cool and joyless in prayer because of other tasks or thoughts (for the flesh and the devil always impede and obstruct prayer), I take my little psalter, hurry to my room, or, if it be the day and hour for it, to the church where a congregation is assembled and, as time permits, I say quietly to myself and word-for-word the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and, if I have time, some words of Christ or of Paul, or some psalms, just as a child might do."

from "A Simple Way to Pray, For a Good Friend, Peter, the Master Barber" by Martin Luther, 1535.

Easter Monday Sermon

"What does the work, the ability, of all mankind amount to when it comes to accomplishing or meriting a thing of such magnitude as remission of sins and redemption from death and eternal wrath? How will it compare with the death and shed blood of the Son of God, with the power of his resurrection? How will it divide honors with him in having merit to secure remission of sin and redemption from death? The efficacy of Christ's death and blood alone God would have preached in all the world and accepted by mankind. Therein he rejects the boasting of the Jews and of all aspirers to holiness through their own works, teaching them they cannot obtain his favor through the Law, or by their own efforts. In Christ's name alone is remission of sins received, and that through faith."

From an Easter Monday sermon by Dr. Luther from Acts 10:34-43.