Monthly Archives: January 2025

Martin Luther

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Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door of the Catholic Church on October 31, 1517, which became the foundation for The Reformation.  We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, not by works! (Ephesians 2:8-9)

All Saints’ Church, also known as Schlosskirche (Castle Church), is a significant Lutheran church in Wittenberg, Germany, where Martin Luther is believed to have posted his Ninety-five Theses in 1517, marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. The church is a UNESCO World Heritage site and houses the tombs of Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon. It serves as both a place of worship and a historical site, featuring the original Latin text of the 95 Theses on its door.

How do I get right with God?

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In order to get “right” with God, we must first understand what is “wrong.” The answer is sin. “There is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3). We have rebelled against God’s commands; we “like sheep, have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6).

The bad news is that the penalty for sin is death. “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Ezekiel 18:4). The good news is that a loving God has pursued us in order to bring us salvation. Jesus declared His purpose was “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10), and He pronounced His purpose accomplished when He died on the cross with the words, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).   Having a right relationship with God begins with acknowledging your sin. Next comes a humble confession of your sin to God (Isaiah 57:15). “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:10).   This repentance must be accompanied by faith – specifically, faith that Jesus’ sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection qualify Him to be your Savior. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Many other passages speak of the necessity of faith, such as John 20:27; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:16; 3:11, 26; and Ephesians 2:8.

Being right with God is a matter of your response to what God has done on your behalf. He sent the Savior, He provided the sacrifice to take away your sin (John 1:29), and He offers you the promise: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21).

A beautiful illustration of repentance and forgiveness is the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The younger son wasted his father’s gift in shameful sin (verse 13). When he acknowledged his wrongdoing, he decided to return home (verse 18). He assumed he would no longer be considered a son (verse 19), but he was wrong. The father loved the returned rebel as much as ever (verse 20). All was forgiven, and a celebration ensued (verse 24). God is good to keep His promises, including the promise to forgive. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Reasons to be confident in the Belief in the Sinlessness of Jesus Christ

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† Nothing in the synoptics is incompatible with apostolic witness to Jesus’ sinlessness

† James believed, in part, because he witnessed Jesus’ sinless life as his brother

James and his other siblings remained skeptical (John 7:5). However, after Jesus’ resurrection, James witnessed his brother’s sinless life and the miraculous events following his death, which convinced him of Jesus’ divine nature. Specifically, James saw Jesus after his resurrection, which is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:7, and this encounter, along with the consistent witness of Jesus’ sinless life, transformed James into a believer.

† Jesus started His ministry with a call to repentance, never voicing a need for His own repentance

Jesus began His ministry with a call to repentance, as recorded in Mark 1:15, where He proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” This call emphasizes that repentance and faith are interconnected, as believing in Jesus as the Lord who saves naturally leads to a change of heart about one’s sin and self. Repentance involves changing one’s mind and turning from sin, while faith is trusting in Jesus and His teachings.

† None of His recorded prayers requested forgiveness on His own behalf.

  • John 17: This is often referred to as the “High Priestly Prayer” and is a significant prayer Jesus offered to God before His crucifixion. In this prayer, Jesus asks for the protection and unity of His followers, and for the glorification of God.
  • Garden of Gethsemane: Before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prayed fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane. He expressed His willingness to accept God’s will despite the suffering He knew was coming. (Matthew 26:36-46)
  • On the Cross: Jesus prayed for forgiveness for those who were crucifying Him, demonstrating His compassion and forgiveness even in His most painful moment. (Luke 23:34)
  • Before Meals: Jesus is also recorded to have prayed before meals, such as during the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-23) and the supper at Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
  • Before Important Decisions: Jesus prayed before making significant decisions, such as when He spent the night in prayer before choosing His twelve apostles.
  • That the early testimony of Paul (2 Cor 5:21) is not explicitly restated in the Gospels may show that His sinlessness was a well-accepted fact.
  • Ancient heretics never attacked the idea of Jesus’ sinlessness.
  • Knowing the moral failings of OT forebearers, Jewish authors would not feel compelled to hide any shortcomings of Jesus, were they known.
  • Good spiritual teachers often use their own failures for object lessons.  Jesus did not.