Sermon Index
October 22, 2017
At the time of the Reformation and for the next 500 years, there are a number of themes that have been very important in the Lutheran Church. We even name them in Latin: “Sola Gratia: Grace Alone, Sola Fide: Faith Alone, Solus Christus: Christ Alone, Sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone.” Today, let’s talk about “Sola Scriptura: Schripture Alone.” A. What is “Scripture”? B. Why this theme was important at the time of the Reformation. C. Why it is important for us today.
A. The word “scripture” means something that is written, something that is scripted, words that are written down. In the Church this means the Holy Bible. The word “bible” is the common Greek word that means “book.” [In modern English, “bible” has come to mean an authoritative guide book, so a handbook on cars can be called an “automobile bible,” and it is only a little bit blasphemous.] God is holy, and so the “Holy Bible” means that it is God’s book. It is about God and it is written by God the Holy Spirit. Therefore it is special and accurate and authoritative.
Why do we believe the Bible? Personally, the reason I believe the Bible is because Jesus died for my sin and rose on the third day to give me salvation. First, the Holy Spirit has led me to faith through that Gospel, and now I see that the Bible is a faithful proclamation of that, so I accept it. Without faith, it is like a pagan reading a novel. But with faith, it is the revelation of God.
The interpretation of the Bible is based on the Bible, not on human ideas or philosophy or science or what makes me feel good. The expression is “scripture interprets scripture.” More on this in a moment.
B. At the time of the Reformation, the question was about the proper interpretation of Scripture and who has the authority to dictate interpretations of it. People have been interpreting the Bible since St. Paul showed how Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. In the early church, there were questions about the Holy Trinity, whether Jesus was both divine and human. At the Worldwide [Ecumenical] Church Council in Nicea in the year AD 325, the Nicene Creed was adopted as the proper definition of the Trinity. But there were people who wrote books with their private ideas that became popular and spread throughout the church. These ideas were given authority and became official doctrine when the Pope approved them. And so teachings about indulgences and prayers to the saints and purgatory and penance and marriage of priests, etc., etc., came into the church.
Martin Luther studied the Bible and did not find many of those things in the Bible; in fact, he found that many of them were against the teachings of the Bible. And so Luther wrote his 95 Theses and many other books and tracts. Since Luther’s writings were against the official teaching of the church, the church demanded that he recant, that he publicly say that he was wrong and that the church was right. At the meeting before the Emperor in the city of Worms, Germany, Martin Luther gave his famous speech.
“Since then Your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted [convinced] by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
In other words, Luther said, “Scripture alone.”
C. For us in the church today, it is important that we take our stand on the words “Scripture Alone.” First, because we live in a world that wants to “leave Scripture alone,” that is, to ignore it. Second, because we live in a church that sometimes wants to “leave Scripture alone,” meaning, don’t change the way we have interpreted the Bible for the last 100 years, and we have to use the King James Version.
There are those who want to add to the Bible. The Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses and others have writings that they think are better than the Holy Bible.
There are those who want to subtract from the Bible. They want to erase those inconvenient passages that prohibit the sin that they want to do. Or they erase the original meaning and then reinterpret them in a more convenient way that allows their behavior, orientation, sin or greed or discrimination, etc. Then there are those who want to subtract from the Bible things like miracles and prophesies; the resurrection of Jesus, etc.
There are those who want to add personal visions and inspiration and interpretation to the Bible. This is dangerous. It can lead to cults and divisions in the church; it can lead people away from the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
But the best reason to take our stand upon the Word of God Alone is because it is pure Gospel and sweet comfort and the strength of God for our lives. It is like “Sola Gratia: Grace Alone, Sola Fide: Faith Alone, Solus Christus: Christ Alone.” We depend 100% on Scripture: because it is the Word and Promise and Covenant of Jesus Christ. This gives the guidance of the Holy Spirit to our lives; it gives the strength of God to our lives. “Sola Scriptura.” When we live solely by the Bible it means that everything else in the world is interpreted by the Word of God. And so we search for and find God in the world. Or rather, by word and deed, we spread the word of God’s love into the world.
Here we stand; we can do no other. God help us. Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church