The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation is being celebrated this year, 2017. Why? Because historians acknowledge and date the beginning of the Reformation to October 31, 1517, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
Over the next couple of months, each day, I will offer a single theses for rumination and consideration. To be sure, some will be less invigorating that others. Still, if you follow along, you will cover each of them over the next 95 days.
Please note that I will be using Timothy Wengert's "95 Theses with Introduction, Commentary, and Study Guide." If you don't have a copy, pick one up, it is an excellent resource.
[The Ninety-Five Theses or] Disputation for Clarifying the Power of Indulgences
Out of love and zeal for bringing truth to light, what is written below will be debated in Wittenberg with the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology and regularly appointed lecturer on these subjects at that place, presiding. Therefore, he requests that those who cannot be present to discuss orally with us will in their absence do so by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in saying "Do penance ...," wanted the entire life of the faithful to be one of penitence.
2. This phrase cannot be understood as referring to sacramental Penance, that is, confession and satisfaction as administered by the clergy.
3. Yet it does not mean solely inner penitence -- indeed such inner penitence is nothing unless it outwardly produces various mortification of the flesh.
The sacrament of Penance consisted of three parts: contrition (inner sorrow for sin out of love for God), confession (privately sharing such contrition to a priest who granted absolution), and satisfaction (temporal punishment through works prescribed by a priest depending on the severity of the sin).
Therefore, Luther is saying that even though parts two and three of the sacrament of Penance are not necessarily what Jesus is referring to when he says "Do penance", Luther is also saying that it is not simply "inner contrition" either. Instead, the inner contrition will lead to outward signs of change.
This is the beginning of the paradox that is our Lutheran theology. We are sinners, yet dare to live as saints (cleansed by trust in Jesus). But we cannot become "lazy" or make the gift of grace a "cheap grace" that doesn't produce faithful change.
Where might you be changing your life more toward Jesus today?
Lord, may my sincere joy in knowing that you have saved me, a sinner, lead me to live a life that witnesses to your grace. Amen.
3. Yet it does not mean solely inner penitence -- indeed such inner penitence is nothing unless it outwardly produces various mortification of the flesh.
The sacrament of Penance consisted of three parts: contrition (inner sorrow for sin out of love for God), confession (privately sharing such contrition to a priest who granted absolution), and satisfaction (temporal punishment through works prescribed by a priest depending on the severity of the sin).
Therefore, Luther is saying that even though parts two and three of the sacrament of Penance are not necessarily what Jesus is referring to when he says "Do penance", Luther is also saying that it is not simply "inner contrition" either. Instead, the inner contrition will lead to outward signs of change.
This is the beginning of the paradox that is our Lutheran theology. We are sinners, yet dare to live as saints (cleansed by trust in Jesus). But we cannot become "lazy" or make the gift of grace a "cheap grace" that doesn't produce faithful change.
Where might you be changing your life more toward Jesus today?
Lord, may my sincere joy in knowing that you have saved me, a sinner, lead me to live a life that witnesses to your grace. Amen.
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