How Martin Luther Went from Catholic Monk to Protestant Reformer - Stephen Nichols

But I want to look at it theologically But I want to look at it theologically and ecclesiologically with you. What and ecclesiologically with you. What and ecclesiologically with you. What what was going on what was going on what was going on at the turn of the 1500s? at the turn of the 1500s? at the turn of the 1500s? We can use two slogans to get at it. I We can use two slogans to get at it. I We can use two slogans to get at it. I don't think they had bumper stickers don't think they had bumper stickers don't think they had bumper stickers back then, but if they did have bumper back then, but if they did have bumper back then, but if they did have bumper stickers, one of them would have been stickers, one of them would have been stickers, one of them would have been this. this. this. In the midst of life, In the midst of life, In the midst of life, we die. we die. we die. What a bleak world view that is. What a bleak world view that is. What a bleak world view that is. But as bleak as it is, it's actually But as bleak as it is, it's actually But as bleak as it is, it's actually pretty close to the mark. I don't think pretty close to the mark. I don't think pretty close to the mark. I don't think that phrase would do well in our world that phrase would do well in our world that phrase would do well in our world today. We've distanced ourselves from today. We've distanced ourselves from today. We've distanced ourselves from death. We quarantine our elderly off and death. We quarantine our elderly off and death. We quarantine our elderly off and we have bought into the myth that we we have bought into the myth that we we have bought into the myth that we just might live forever. just might live forever. just might live forever. But in those days, But in those days, But in those days, you didn't have such uh you didn't have such uh you didn't have such uh abilities and you didn't have those abilities and you didn't have those abilities and you didn't have those opportunities at your disposal. opportunities at your disposal. opportunities at your disposal. Death confronted you harshly and Death confronted you harshly and Death confronted you harshly and relentlessly.

relentlessly. relentlessly. And so it worked its way into the And so it worked its way into the And so it worked its way into the liturgy liturgy liturgy and even up until recently was in the and even up until recently was in the and even up until recently was in the book of common prayer. This saying in book of common prayer. This saying in book of common prayer. This saying in the midst of life we die. the midst of life we die. the midst of life we die. So, one way to get at this world into So, one way to get at this world into So, one way to get at this world into which Luther was born, where is he which Luther was born, where is he which Luther was born, where is he coming from? He's coming from a point of coming from? He's coming from a point of coming from? He's coming from a point of death death death and that death was there because it was and that death was there because it was and that death was there because it was a place of darkness. We're going to hear a place of darkness. We're going to hear a place of darkness. We're going to hear about John Calvin soon and that great about John Calvin soon and that great about John Calvin soon and that great motto of Calvin's Geneva. It's all over motto of Calvin's Geneva. It's all over motto of Calvin's Geneva. It's all over the city if you get an opportunity to the city if you get an opportunity to the city if you get an opportunity to visit there. Post Tennibros looks after visit there. Post Tennibros looks after visit there. Post Tennibros looks after darkness light. But let's flip it darkness light. But let's flip it darkness light. But let's flip it around. Prelooks around. Prelooks around. Prelooks tennibros. tennibros. tennibros. The time of the 1500s was a time of The time of the 1500s was a time of The time of the 1500s was a time of darkness. darkness. darkness. Now we're talking about what is going to Now we're talking about what is going to Now we're talking about what is going to become, as it was mentioned earlier, the become, as it was mentioned earlier, the become, as it was mentioned earlier, the formal principle of the reformation and formal principle of the reformation and formal principle of the reformation and the material principle of the the material principle of the the material principle of the reformation. The darkness was there reformation. The darkness was there reformation. The darkness was there because the Bible was obscured.

The light of the gospel The light of the gospel was taken by that institution which was taken by that institution which was taken by that institution which should have known better should have known better should have known better and should have been better. and should have been better. and should have been better. But instead that institution, But instead that institution, But instead that institution, the Roman Catholic Church obscured that the Roman Catholic Church obscured that the Roman Catholic Church obscured that light. light. light. And because the light of the gospel was And because the light of the gospel was And because the light of the gospel was not proclaimed, death death and no clear solution to that. and no clear solution to that. and no clear solution to that. If we were to poll, If we were to poll, If we were to poll, do a Gallup poll in the 1500s, do a Gallup poll in the 1500s, do a Gallup poll in the 1500s, what is it that you fear the most? what is it that you fear the most? what is it that you fear the most? Put that question to yourself. I'll put Put that question to yourself. I'll put Put that question to yourself. I'll put it to myself. What do I fear the most? I it to myself. What do I fear the most? I it to myself. What do I fear the most? I don't know. Speaking to 8,000 people don't know. Speaking to 8,000 people don't know. Speaking to 8,000 people after being introduced by Tim Keller. Fear of death.

Fear of death. This is where Luther is coming from. And This is where Luther is coming from. And This is where Luther is coming from. And no one knew the harsh realities of the no one knew the harsh realities of the no one knew the harsh realities of the beginning of the 16th century more than beginning of the 16th century more than beginning of the 16th century more than Martin Luther. Martin Luther. Martin Luther. This was not some abstract historical This was not some abstract historical This was not some abstract historical description for him. It was the reality description for him. It was the reality description for him. It was the reality that death that death that death was right in front of him and there was was right in front of him and there was was right in front of him and there was no solution. no solution. no solution. There were pretended solutions. There were pretended solutions. There were pretended solutions. We go back to Luther's home. What is at We go back to Luther's home. What is at We go back to Luther's home. What is at the center of his home? There's a shrine the center of his home? There's a shrine the center of his home? There's a shrine to St. Anne. Tradition has her to be the mother of Tradition has her to be the mother of Mary. Mary. Mary. We don't know what Mary's mother's name, We don't know what Mary's mother's name, We don't know what Mary's mother's name, but that didn't stop the medieval church but that didn't stop the medieval church but that didn't stop the medieval church from giving an answer. from giving an answer. from giving an answer. And so, here's St. Anne, and she becomes And so, here's St. Anne, and she becomes And so, here's St. Anne, and she becomes the the saint of minors, this profession the the saint of minors, this profession the the saint of minors, this profession of Luther's father. And so being a good of Luther's father. And so being a good of Luther's father. And so being a good medieval Catholic family, they would medieval Catholic family, they would medieval Catholic family, they would have had a shrine to St. Anne.

have had a shrine to St. Anne. have had a shrine to St. Anne. This is Luther. He's he's caught in the This is Luther. He's he's caught in the This is Luther. He's he's caught in the thunderstorm in June of 1505. thunderstorm in June of 1505. thunderstorm in June of 1505. He's a law student. He's completed his He's a law student. He's completed his He's a law student. He's completed his bachelor's degree. He's completed his bachelor's degree. He's completed his bachelor's degree. He's completed his master's degree. He's about to become a master's degree. He's about to become a master's degree. He's about to become a lawyer. And he travels home after lawyer. And he travels home after lawyer. And he travels home after completing that spring's course of completing that spring's course of completing that spring's course of study. and it's end of June and a study. and it's end of June and a study. and it's end of June and a thunderstorm breaks out. And normally we thunderstorm breaks out. And normally we thunderstorm breaks out. And normally we look at Luther as a genius, but in this look at Luther as a genius, but in this look at Luther as a genius, but in this case, a storm breaks out and he goes and case, a storm breaks out and he goes and case, a storm breaks out and he goes and finds a tree on a on a little hillside finds a tree on a on a little hillside finds a tree on a on a little hillside and goes up under the tree and goes up under the tree and goes up under the tree and there's a rock and there's a rock and there's a rock and he throws his arms around that rock and he throws his arms around that rock and he throws his arms around that rock and what's his impulse? and what's his impulse? and what's his impulse? Help me, Saint Anne. Help me, Saint Anne. Help me, Saint Anne. How revealing that impulse is How revealing that impulse is How revealing that impulse is doesn't even think to say help me God to say help me God or help me Christ.

or help me Christ. or help me Christ. Oh the distance Oh the distance Oh the distance between Luther and God. between Luther and God. between Luther and God. And in between were all these mediators. And in between were all these mediators. And in between were all these mediators. But let's think this through. But let's think this through. But let's think this through. St. Dan St. Dan St. Dan lived lived lived and died. And this And this is who we trust in. is who we trust in. is who we trust in. These were props. These were props. These were props. These were props. These were props. These were props. And you know, most of Luther's And you know, most of Luther's And you know, most of Luther's contemporaries were content to live with contemporaries were content to live with contemporaries were content to live with the props, the props, the props, but not Luther. but not Luther. but not Luther. And he sensed what our And he sensed what our And he sensed what our fear is and what our true need is. fear is and what our true need is. fear is and what our true need is. But because of this darkness, But because of this darkness, But because of this darkness, there was no solution in sight. there was no solution in sight. there was no solution in sight. So what does Luther become about? Well, So what does Luther become about? Well, So what does Luther become about? Well, we need to go back to that thunderstorm we need to go back to that thunderstorm we need to go back to that thunderstorm because the second half of that is help because the second half of that is help because the second half of that is help me St. Anne and I will become a monk.

me St. Anne and I will become a monk. me St. Anne and I will become a monk. And so he does. As Roland Baiton, the And so he does. As Roland Baiton, the And so he does. As Roland Baiton, the famous biographer of Luther says, God famous biographer of Luther says, God famous biographer of Luther says, God kept his promise and so Luther kept his. kept his promise and so Luther kept his. kept his promise and so Luther kept his. Survives the thunderstorm, enters the Survives the thunderstorm, enters the Survives the thunderstorm, enters the monastery. monastery. monastery. And it's sort of like taking one step And it's sort of like taking one step And it's sort of like taking one step forward and two steps back because now forward and two steps back because now forward and two steps back because now he's confronted every day with his sin. he's confronted every day with his sin. he's confronted every day with his sin. When he was a law student, he could When he was a law student, he could When he was a law student, he could avoid it. He literally did. the the path avoid it. He literally did. the the path avoid it. He literally did. the the path from his his bedroom to his classroom from his his bedroom to his classroom from his his bedroom to his classroom took him past this place of the church, took him past this place of the church, took him past this place of the church, the cathedral there of the university the cathedral there of the university the cathedral there of the university town where there was a symbol of Christ town where there was a symbol of Christ town where there was a symbol of Christ with a sword protruding from his mouth with a sword protruding from his mouth with a sword protruding from his mouth carved into the side of the church. carved into the side of the church. carved into the side of the church. And young Martin as a law student And young Martin as a law student And young Martin as a law student didn't even want to walk under that for didn't even want to walk under that for didn't even want to walk under that for fear that it would almost come into fear that it would almost come into fear that it would almost come into reality as if Christ were ready to pull reality as if Christ were ready to pull reality as if Christ were ready to pull that sword and go right after Luther that sword and go right after Luther that sword and go right after Luther himself. himself. himself. So he would get up early and take a So he would get up early and take a So he would get up early and take a longer path longer path longer path so he could avoid that statue. But now so he could avoid that statue. But now so he could avoid that statue. But now he's in the monastery and he can't avoid he's in the monastery and he can't avoid he's in the monastery and he can't avoid this at all. His confessor doesn't know this at all. His confessor doesn't know this at all. His confessor doesn't know what to do with him. Luther spends hours what to do with him. Luther spends hours what to do with him. Luther spends hours in the confessional, leaves the in the confessional, leaves the in the confessional, leaves the confessional only to turn right around confessional only to turn right around confessional only to turn right around and come back in because he had yet and come back in because he had yet and come back in because he had yet another sin. At one point later in his another sin. At one point later in his another sin. At one point later in his life, Luther's going to say, "If ever a life, Luther's going to say, "If ever a life, Luther's going to say, "If ever a monk got to heaven by monkery, monk got to heaven by monkery, monk got to heaven by monkery, I was the monk.

I was the monk. I was the monk. Can you see him?" 1505 1506 1507 1508 Can you see him?" 1505 1506 1507 1508 Can you see him?" 1505 1506 1507 1508 1509 white knuckling his way somehow 1509 white knuckling his way somehow 1509 white knuckling his way somehow to God. to God. to God. Finally his confessor sends him to Rome Finally his confessor sends him to Rome Finally his confessor sends him to Rome in 1510. Luther claims climbs the famous in 1510. Luther claims climbs the famous in 1510. Luther claims climbs the famous St. Dcala the holy stairs. These are the St. Dcala the holy stairs. These are the St. Dcala the holy stairs. These are the steps leading up to Pontius Pilate. steps leading up to Pontius Pilate. steps leading up to Pontius Pilate. Constantine had them removed from from Constantine had them removed from from Constantine had them removed from from Jerusalem and brought to Rome as a gift Jerusalem and brought to Rome as a gift Jerusalem and brought to Rome as a gift to his mother. to his mother. to his mother. Very pious woman. Very pious woman. Very pious woman. And so there are the pilgrims on their And so there are the pilgrims on their And so there are the pilgrims on their knees. They're still there in Rome. And knees. They're still there in Rome. And knees. They're still there in Rome. And you can still see them today. you can still see them today. you can still see them today. Not see the stairs. See the pilgrims on Not see the stairs. See the pilgrims on Not see the stairs. See the pilgrims on their knees up and down, up and down. their knees up and down, up and down. their knees up and down, up and down. Taking years off of purgatory. Taking years off of purgatory. Taking years off of purgatory. Luther gets to the top and famously is Luther gets to the top and famously is Luther gets to the top and famously is said to have uttered, "Who knows if this is true?"

"Who knows if this is true?" utterly disillusioned utterly disillusioned utterly disillusioned by his church by his church by his church and defeated and defeated and defeated and ready to surrender. and ready to surrender. and ready to surrender. He returns from his pilgrimage to Rome. He returns from his pilgrimage to Rome. He returns from his pilgrimage to Rome. Stalitz sends him off to seminary. Stalitz sends him off to seminary. Stalitz sends him off to seminary. We'll distract him in his spiritual life We'll distract him in his spiritual life We'll distract him in his spiritual life by having him go study theology. by having him go study theology. by having him go study theology. That was a joke. That was a total joke. That was a joke. That was a total joke. That was a joke. That was a total joke. And I I hope you all got that. And he racks up now his theology And he racks up now his theology degrees. degrees. degrees. But here again, it's another one step But here again, it's another one step But here again, it's another one step forward, two steps back because he has forward, two steps back because he has forward, two steps back because he has to read Peter Lumbard's sentences and to read Peter Lumbard's sentences and to read Peter Lumbard's sentences and master that to to become a scholar. And master that to to become a scholar. And master that to to become a scholar. And he reads Lumbard and Lumbard quotes he reads Lumbard and Lumbard quotes he reads Lumbard and Lumbard quotes Augustine. Augustine. Augustine. And he goes back and he reads Augustine And he goes back and he reads Augustine And he goes back and he reads Augustine and he finds it's worse. and he finds it's worse. and he finds it's worse. My my problem is not sins. See, by the My my problem is not sins. See, by the My my problem is not sins. See, by the time we get to the Middle Ages, very time we get to the Middle Ages, very time we get to the Middle Ages, very simply, they quantified sin.

simply, they quantified sin. simply, they quantified sin. And therefore, they quantified And therefore, they quantified And therefore, they quantified righteousness. And so, you have demerits righteousness. And so, you have demerits righteousness. And so, you have demerits and merits. And it's okay if you don't and merits. And it's okay if you don't and merits. And it's okay if you don't have enough merits because there are have enough merits because there are have enough merits because there are people who have more merits than they people who have more merits than they people who have more merits than they need. And they're called saints. And need. And they're called saints. And need. And they're called saints. And those merits are gathered in a treasury those merits are gathered in a treasury those merits are gathered in a treasury up in heaven. They're called works of up in heaven. They're called works of up in heaven. They're called works of super arrogation, works above and super arrogation, works above and super arrogation, works above and beyond. They are in the treasury in beyond. They are in the treasury in beyond. They are in the treasury in heaven. And the pope holds the keys. And heaven. And the pope holds the keys. And heaven. And the pope holds the keys. And through the sacraments governed by the through the sacraments governed by the through the sacraments governed by the church, you can tap into that merit. church, you can tap into that merit. church, you can tap into that merit. And then you have purgatory to expunge And then you have purgatory to expunge And then you have purgatory to expunge of the remaining demerits. Everything's of the remaining demerits. Everything's of the remaining demerits. Everything's quantified. quantified. quantified. But here's Luther. What does he find? He But here's Luther. What does he find? He But here's Luther. What does he find? He finds this Latin word radics. finds this Latin word radics. finds this Latin word radics. Not like radical, Not like radical, Not like radical, more like radish. more like radish. more like radish. We are sinners at the root. We are sinners at the root. We are sinners at the root. Our problem is not sins. Our problem is not sins. Our problem is not sins. Our problem is that we are a sinner. Our problem is that we are a sinner. Our problem is that we are a sinner. And now here is the defeat of the And now here is the defeat of the And now here is the defeat of the monkery.

monkery. monkery. No amount of white knuckling No amount of white knuckling No amount of white knuckling will ever overcome will ever overcome will ever overcome that you are a sinner at the root. that you are a sinner at the root. that you are a sinner at the root. And a holy God And a holy God And a holy God can only judge you. can only judge you. can only judge you. And so what does Luther say? And so what does Luther say? And so what does Luther say? I hate this righteous God. But he's reading in the right places. But he's reading in the right places. And his reading of Augustine And his reading of Augustine And his reading of Augustine takes him to Paul and he starts takes him to Paul and he starts takes him to Paul and he starts lecturing on some biblical books. He's lecturing on some biblical books. He's lecturing on some biblical books. He's lecturing on Psalms and he's lecturing lecturing on Psalms and he's lecturing lecturing on Psalms and he's lecturing on Galatians and he's lecturing on on Galatians and he's lecturing on on Galatians and he's lecturing on Romans. Romans. Romans. And as it was explained for us in the And as it was explained for us in the And as it was explained for us in the previous session, he comes to realize previous session, he comes to realize previous session, he comes to realize the solution to being a sinner at the the solution to being a sinner at the the solution to being a sinner at the root. root. root. The righteousness that God demands of me The righteousness that God demands of me The righteousness that God demands of me is not something I produce.

It's Christ who accomplishes it for me. It's Christ who accomplishes it for me. Luther calls it his breakthrough. Luther calls it his breakthrough. Luther calls it his breakthrough. And this is what Luther is about. He is And this is what Luther is about. He is And this is what Luther is about. He is about speaking to those two fundamental about speaking to those two fundamental about speaking to those two fundamental problems of darkness and death. And so problems of darkness and death. And so problems of darkness and death. And so you look at what Luther focused on. You you look at what Luther focused on. You you look at what Luther focused on. You look at his labors. You you look at what look at his labors. You you look at what look at his labors. You you look at what he was relentless and tireless in his he was relentless and tireless in his he was relentless and tireless in his efforts and was defending the authority efforts and was defending the authority efforts and was defending the authority of scripture and defending the doctrine of scripture and defending the doctrine of scripture and defending the doctrine of justification by faith alone.