This week, in our final glance into the life of the reformer, Martin Luther, we look at his life from an angle we have yet to consider. This consideration is important as we examine the life of any man, and Luther is no exception. We must acknowledge that, though Luther was used by God in a phenomenal and extraordinary way, Luther was, undoubtedly, a mere man. And a sinful man at that!
It is undisputed that Luther could be a crude individual. It seems, too, that he was prone to a quick temper and is also believed by many to have been anti-Semitic, at least during various moments in his life. Though we ought to extend grace to him in this regard, especially into a time and place with which we are unfamiliar and into an unquestionably pivotal and intense moment in human history, his coarseness and intensity were, at times, needlessly offensive. I feel safe in assuming that his manner of speaking and his behaviors were very likely a stumbling block to some, which we are warned repeatedly against (I Corinthians 10:32).
So, what good does it do us to tarnish a good man's reputation by acknowledging his shortcomings? First, we must be truthful, as these things about Luther are true. But, more than that, Martin Luther's sins serve to emphasize to us the greatest reality there is. And that reality is, there is but one who is sinless and neither we, nor Luther, are Him. There is but one hope of salvation. There is but one suitable mediator between God and man. That one is the God/man himself, Jesus Christ.
We will close our look into the life of Martin Luther by reading the words of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1-10 and considering the work of Jesus and what He has accomplished -
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Dear friend, we have no hero save Christ alone. We need no hero save Christ alone. The work of Jesus is enough! Wholly trust Him now.
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