The Great Controversy: Martin Luther

October 30, 2023

… a 5 minute read

The Great Controversy
Luther’s Separation From Rome
~ European Reformation begins ~

(internet image)

“Foremost among those who were called to lead the church from the darkness of popery into the light of a purer faith, stood Martin Luther. Zealous, ardent, and devoted, knowing no fear but the fear of God, and acknowledging no foundation for religious faith but the Holy Scriptures, Luther was the man for his time; through him God accomplished a great work for the reformation of the church and the enlightenment of the world.”

~ Luther sprang from the ranks of poverty
~ Martin’s father intended for him to be a lawyer, but God had other plans
~ hardship, privation, and severe discipline were the school in which Infinite Wisdom prepared Luther for the important mission of his life
~ Luther’s father was a man of strong and active mind and great force of character, honest, resolute, and straightforward. He was true to his convictions of duty, let the consequences be what they might. His sterling good sense led him to regard the monastic system with distrust. He was highly displeased when Luther, without his consent, entered a monastery; and it was two years before the father was reconciled to his son, and even then his opinions remained the same
~ Luther discovered a Latin Bible one day while examining the books at the library – it was at this point he entered the monastery
~ As his convictions of sin deepened, he sought by his own works to obtain pardon and peace. He led a most rigorous life, endeavoring by fasting, vigils, and scourgings to subdue the evils of his nature, from which the monastic life had brought no release. He shrank from no sacrifice by which he might attain to that purity of heart which would enable him to stand approved before God.

“I was indeed a pious monk,” Luther afterward said, “and followed the rules of my order more strictly than I can express. If ever monk could obtain heaven by his monkish works, I should certainly have been entitled to it…. If it had continued much longer, I should have carried my mortifications even to death.”
~ Ibid., b. 2, ch. 3

~ he lost strength and suffered from fainting spasms as a result from the painful sufferings he put himself through, and from which he never fully recovered.
~ with all his efforts his burdened soul found no relief. He was at last driven to the verge of despair.
~ when it appeared to Luther that all was lost, God raised up a friend and helper for him.
~ the pious Staupitz opened the word of God to Luther’s mind and bade him look away from himself, cease the contemplation of infinite punishment for the violation of God’s law, and look to Jesus, his sin-pardoning Saviour

“Instead of torturing yourself on account of your sins, throw yourself into the Redeemer’s arms.
Trust in Him, in the righteousness of His life, in the atonement of His death….
Listen to the Son of God. He became man to give you the assurance of divine favor.”
“Love Him who first loved you.”
~ Ibid., b. 2, ch. 4

~ Luther was ordained a priest and was called from the cloister to a professorship in the University of Wittenberg
~ here he applied himself to the study of the Scriptures in the original tongues
~ he began to lecture on the Bible, the book of Psalms, the Gospels, and the Epistles were opened to the understanding of crowds of delighted listeners
~  after a long struggle he yielded to the solicitations of his friends
~ Luther was still a true son of the papal church and had no thought that he would ever be anything else
~ in the providence of God he was led to visit Rome
~ he pursued his journey on foot, lodging at the monasteries on the way
~ at a convent in Italy he was filled with wonder at the wealth, magnificence, and luxury that he witnessed. Endowed with a princely revenue, the monks dwelt in splendid apartments, attired themselves in the richest and most costly robes, and feasted at a sumptuous table
~ with painful misgivings Luther contrasted this scene with the self-denial and hardship of his own life. His mind was becoming perplexed
~ At last he beheld in the distance the seven-hilled city, Rome
~ everywhere he looked upon scenes that filled him with astonishment and horror
~ He saw that iniquity existed among all classes of the clergy, he heard indecent jokes from prelates, and was filled with horror at their awful profanity, even during mass.
~ as he mingled with the monks and citizens he met dissipation, debauchery. Turn where he would, in the place of sanctity he found profanation
~ after his return from Rome, Luther received at the University of Wittenberg the degree of doctor of divinity
~ now he was at liberty to devote himself, as never before, to the Scriptures that he loved
~ he had taken a solemn vow to study carefully and to preach with fidelity the word of God, not the sayings and doctrines of the popes
~ he firmly declared that Christians should receive no other doctrines than those which rest on the authority of the Sacred Scriptures
~ these words struck at the very foundation of papal supremacy
~ he saw the danger of exalting human theories above the word of God
~ he fearlessly attacked the speculative infidelity of the schoolmen and opposed the philosophy and theology which had so long held a controlling influence upon the people

“God does not guide me, He pushes me forward. He carries me away.
I am not master of myself. I desire to live in repose;
but I am thrown into the midst of tumults and revolutions.”
~ Luther(D’Aubigne, b. 5, ch. 2)

~ to read more, click the link below

source: The Great Controversy: Luther’s separation from Rome by EG White

Events found on this timeline:

• The Cross (timeline)
• The Apostles (timeline)
• Jerusalem destroyed
• Persecution (first centuries)
• An era of spiritual darkness begins
• Reformation in Europe begins
• The Mayflower

source: Bibletimelines.com

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