Gospel Prism

I am reading a biography on Martin Luther by James M. Kittelson entitled, Luther, the Reformer. I can’t tell you what a joy it has been to read this book. I find that I have a hard time putting it down, but due to my personal time limitations, I have had to put it down. But it has been a delight to read about a man whose life was given over to the Lord as he faced incredible pressures in preaching a Gospel-centered theology in a works-based religious culture.

You have to appreciate Luther’s style. He is obviously a brilliant man intellectually, but he comes off as an “ordinary guy,” especially in his choice of words. What has really struck me is the richness of the Gospel in Luther’s writings. I wish I read Luther along with the Bible when I first came to appreciate Christ. I think I might have come to understand the Gospel much more with Dr. Luther alongside me.

Here’s a letter ML wrote in April 1516 as he was first beginning to explain justification by faith alone:

Therefore, my sweet brother, learn Christ and him crucified; despairing of yourself, learn to pray to him, saying, ‘You, Lord Jesus, are my righteousness, but I am your sin; you have taken on yourself what you were not and have given me what I was not.’ Beware of aspiring to such purity that you no longer wish to appear to yourself or to be, a sinner.’” (p. 95)

You have to remember, NO ONE was thinking along such lines during Luther’s day. To utter such words could lead you to the stake.