The Lutheran Hour
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"I Can’t, God Can"
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Text: John 8:36
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Scripture tells us that Jesus has, in His life, His suffering, His death and resurrection done for us what we could not. The Savior has rescued us, restored us, renewed and redeemed us. May God grant that each of us may give thanks for this reformation which is God’s gracious gift to all who believe. Amen.
The large church was thinking about establishing a satellite congregation in a new city subdivision. Before they made a commitment of money and manpower, prayer and personnel, the congregation decided to do an unofficial survey of the new community’s need for a Bible-believing church. To that end they sent three couples to the new community’s gas station. The couples were armed with a list of ten questions about the Bible. The couples were instructed to direct their questions only to folks who said they were Christian.
When the pastor drew up the ten questions, he tried to word it so most people with a passing knowledge of Scripture would do pretty good. People were asked, “God gave Adam a wife. Her name was…?” One fellow incorrectly answered Adam’s wife was: “Sophia.” Next question: “God gave Moses Ten Commandments. Can you name one of them?” One lady thought for a while before she responded, “Thou shalt not do anything.” I hope you know her answer isn’t right. One man was pretty pleased with himself. He knew the answer to one of the questions: “The Bible talks about a man who was swallowed by a big fish. What was that man’s name?” The man almost shouted his answer: “Pinocchio.” Another person who thought he had it right was asked, “Joshua fought the battle of what city and the walls came tumblin’ down?” The man’s answer was close, but he got no cigar. After all, Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, not Geritol. Although people could correctly give the names of the Beatles, most were hard-pressed to name the writers of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Equally incorrect was the fellow who, when asked to name the disciple who betrayed Jesus, replied, “Judas Asparagus.”
By the time the afternoon was over the questioners were both saddened and gladdened. Saddened because so many Christians really knew nothing about the Bible and gladdened that the Lord had obviously opened a door for their congregation to do mission work. You know, their experience wasn’t the first time in history that such a discovery of ignorance has been made. Around the year 1528, almost 500 years ago, Martin Luther took an informal survey of some folks around Wittenberg, Germany, the college town where he lived and taught. Luther, and I’m not referring to Martin Luther King who wouldn’t be born for a few centuries, Martin Luther went and asked some preachers and some parents about their knowledge concerning God’s Word and the story of salvation which is contained therein. When He was done, Luther, like our questioners, had concluded, “When it comes to the Bible and their faith, most people don’t know nuthin’. Well, almost nuthin’.” Luther found people were pretty sure God was very, very angry with them.
Now there was a reason, a pretty good reason that the average Frieda and Fritz thought God was upset with the human race. That reason was an illness called the Bubonic Plague, aka, the Black Plague. Now YOU know the plague is spread by fleas who transmit the bacteria to people. You ALSO know that the plague is largely preventable. Which means you know a whole lot more than they did. All they knew was this: in the 14th century an estimated 45-50% of everybody in Europe died from the Black Plague. Writers of the time told how people were healthy and then they were dead. Although it was theologically unsound, one famous author said the plague’s victims ate breakfast with their families on earth and lunch with their ancestors in heaven. People died. Villages died. Cities were decimated. And nobody could explain why. You understand how they concluded: because of their sins, God was very angry with them.
And if you wonder why they didn’t go to the Bible and read how God is love and how He gave His only Son to be the ransom Price which would save their souls from Satan and sin, damnation and death, there is a reason for that, too. Actually there are a number of reasons. First, most of the people, including a fair percentage of the nobility, didn’t know how to read. That was okay because, quite frankly, even if they could read, there wasn’t much of anything to read. Without the printing press, which in the 15th century was in its infancy, books had to be copied laboriously by hand which made them incredibly rare and immensely expensive.
The end result was a catch-22. The people couldn’t read because there weren’t any books, there wasn’t a need for books because the people couldn’t read. And if these two reasons were not cause enough for people to avoid examining the Bible, there was a yet a third problem: almost every book was written in Greek or Latin. Now having your library filled with Greek and Latin books is fine if you happen to live in Greece or Italy, but it’s a serious handicap if you, like Luther, lived in Germany or anywhere else for that matter. The end result: people didn’t search the Scriptures; they didn’t find out about God’s great love. That’s why, when the plague showed up every few years, coupled with the normal onslaughts of nature, people developed the opinion that God was in a nasty frame of mind and the smart peasant ought to keep his head down and his mouth shut so he didn’t draw any undue heavenly attention to himself.
That’s the way most people felt in the 16th century. Most, but not all. The exception to the rule was the German monk, Luther. A well-educated Doctor of the Church, Luther knew how to read both Latin and Greek. Since he was a professor at Wittenberg University he had full access to books, many books…. including the Bible. Some might say it was natural curiosity which had him first open that great volume, but it was the Holy Spirit who took control of what He read. Luther’s studies in the Scripture taught Him that while God’s people can do good works to show their appreciation to the Lord, they cannot begin to balance the scales of justice and judgment. That was the beginning of the revelations which Luther was shown in Scripture.
Reading further he found the Bible did not revolve exclusively around our flaws and failings, our sins and shortcomings, our inadequacies and inabilities. Yes, it dealt in depth with those things, but the Bible’s prime purpose was to tell the story of a God of love. His love had first created the universe as a perfect place for people whom He made in His perfect image. When those people chose to reject His love, their disobedience didn’t change Him. On the contrary, the Triune God continued to love those who hated Him; He kept reaching out to those who were estranged from Him, and most importantly, He set into motion a plan to save those whose disobedience had destined them for damnation. In contrast to all he had once believed, Luther found that THIS CRYSTAL CLEAR TRUTH could not be denied: God is love. It was His love for lost souls which saw His Son born in Bethlehem. It was that love which had Jesus live His life for us; which had Jesus suffer and die on Calvary’s Cross for us. It was God’s love which made His Son the ransom Price paid so our sins could be forgiven and our eternal destiny might be heaven and not hell.
Moved by this newfound knowledge and faith, Luther tried to tell as many people as he could about this reformation God wanted to make in their hearts and minds. As we said earlier, Luther realized many folks didn’t know much about the Lord, and that which they did know was probably wrong. To help them see the truth of God Luther wrote his Large Catechism, that is a book based on Scripture designed to answer people’s questions about the Lord. When that book proved to be too difficult for many, Luther simplified it and wrote, you guessed it, a Small Catechism. When those books and what Luther had discovered in the Bible was rejected by many in the church, Luther had a brainstorm. “Why”, he said, “should people take my word? Humans can be wrong. Why not let them read the Bible for themselves… but this time we’ll translate it into German, a language they can actually read.” And so the Bible was restored to God’s people and a reformation within the church began.
Now all of this explains why people were ignorant of the Bible in Luther’s Day, but it doesn’t explain why people are so Scripturally ignorant today. Think about it: our judgment is not clouded by a catastrophic plague sweeping across the globe. Our nations are not filled with illiterate individuals and Bibles are not in short supply. So, why are people ignorant today?
I think there are a number of answers. First, we’re confused. We wonder: which translation is best… and if one translation is best why do we need the others? We’re confused by contradictory messages made by preachers. One confesses the deity of Christ, while another denies it. One pastor preaches salvation through living grace, and another proclaims salvation through graceful living. One minister appeals to Jesus’ shed blood, and another appeals for bloodshed. One denomination is concerned about divine revelation and another is dedicated to social revolution. Some talk about Christ’s accomplishments, another of man’s attainments. Who do you believe? We are confused.
We are confused by critics of the Bible, you know the best-selling books which say the church is involved in a conspiracy to hide what really happened in Jerusalem the day Jesus rose from the grave. We’re confused by supposedly wise men who have no greater sport than shooting holes in the faith of others. We’re confused by the science programs on TV, by the magazines delivered to our door, all of whom seem to contradict and undermine the Bible whenever and wherever they can. We’re confused by the multitudes of religions, divinities, and preachers each of whom claims to be right. No wonder we’re confused.
If you have been confused by all the religions of the world; if you have despaired of finding anything resembling absolute truth, you may be at peace. Listen as Luther points out why Christianity is unique and why Christ is the only Savior this world will ever see. In the Small Catechism, the simple book he wrote so fathers and mothers might be better able to share the Savior’s story of salvation with their little ones, Luther wrote, “I believe I cannot, by my own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him…..” That’s good. But it’s much too long. Let’s make it easy; listen again to the first two words: “I cannot.” That’s it. Those two words, “I cannot” is the confession which sets Christianity apart from all the other religions of the world. Please, investigate the hundreds of religions, the thousands of belief systems, the tens of thousands of divinities which have appeared and faded from the pages of human history. If you do, you will find that they all say, “You must try. You must try to bridge the gulf sin has created between you and god. You must try to pay the price for all you have done wrong. You must try to find a way that will transform your god’s frown into a smile.” “You must try” is what these faiths say and try is what their followers do. In trying they have worshipped holy cows and deified cats and rats. Some have run hooks through their bodies and suspended themselves in mid-air. People have blinded themselves by staring at the sun and some have eaten the decomposing bodies of people who have been buried for months. “You must try” said the gods of the Aztecs and they tried to appease their gods by tearing the beating hearts out of the chests of human sacrifices. I could go on, but time and your stomach’s sensitivity prohibit me from doing so.
Understand, I share these things not as a mockery of other faiths. Not at all, I stand in awe at their sincerity, the loyalty, the lengths to which people will go to win the favor of their divine. Of course, you will say, “Pastor, most people don’t do those things today.” I agree. Most of us don’t whip or starve our bodies as did Luther in his monastery cell. Certainly North American widows aren’t burned alive on their husband’s funeral pyres and our children are not offered up as living sacrifices to an ancient idol. No, most people don’t do those things; most people do other things.
Look at the world’s great religions. “I must” remains a doctrine of these faiths. Look at the Hindu who must suffer and sacrifice; look at Islam’s mandated pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina; the proscribed prayers, the legislated charities, even the suicide bomber who thinks by his act of sacrifice heaven’s doors will automatically open to him. See the Buddhist always searching, cleansing, striving, longing for a perfect enlightenment. See the Confucianist, who shoots off firecrackers and burns paper money to show his devotion to his ancestors.
Have I described your religion yet? No? Perhaps you do not hold to any of these faiths. Perhaps you do not cling to the idea that you must do something, say something, earn something, offer something, sacrifice something, buy something, if necessary, steal something, to make your god smile. Perhaps you don’t believe in a god, or if you do, you believe in a god who doesn’t care about you, and if he does care, he will like you just the way you are.
You are not the first to think such thoughts. You will not be the last. My friend, has it occurred to you that without God there Is no real right or wrong; there is nothing stopping you from doing exactly as you would like. Let’s take this thinking a step further. Let me ask; if there is no God, who has put into your heart a sense of outrage or a sense of justice? Who is telling you when you look to the heavens or into a newborn’s crib, that there is more than we can experience with our senses? If there is no God, who has given you a conscience which accuses you when you have done wrong? No, you may try to ignore God; you may try to wipe Him away, but He remains. He remains and He will return some day to judge you. That is bad news. Even worse is the news that you can do nothing to change things. On your own you are lost and on your own you will remain lost. That’s why Luther confessed, “I cannot. I cannot atone for my sin; I cannot earn heaven; I cannot make things right. I cannot please God. I cannot.”
This would indeed be a dark and dreary message if those words were the final thought I had to share with you. Thankfully, there is more to be said; there is good news to be delivered. God’s good news is this: “While we were yet sinners, Christ came to die for us.” Another passage underscores God’s good news when it says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life which comes through Jesus Christ.” God’s good news assures, “By grace are you saved, through faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior.” Luther was led to believe, as millions believe, as you need to believe: even though we sinners cannot fix things, God can. In other words: “Although I cannot, God can and God does.”
Armed with that good news Luther wrote, “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him, but.” That little word changes everything. I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel; He has enlightened me with His gifts, He can strengthen me, even as He has strengthened everybody who is given faith in Jesus as their Savior. You cannot, but God can, and God does.
See God’s changes in Scripture; see God’s victories in saved lives all around you. Look and you will see how our disobedience is countered by God’s love; how our rebellion is met by God’s love; how our stubbornness, our envy, our greed, our lust, all our sins are met and overshadowed by God’s love. Search as you will, you will find such truth only in Scripture. Only there you can learn about God’s grace which says, “He so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that Whoever believes on Him will not die but have everlasting life.” Now, because of God’s grace alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, we can be saved by faith alone.
We started out this message talking about a church questionnaire and how it exposed people’s ignorance about the Bible and their need for a Savior. It is my hope that you scored better than did the man who was asked, “”Do you pray before meals at your house?” His reply, “No, I don’t need to; my wife is an excellent cook.” Now that fellow may have scored points with his wife, but he’s missed the boat when it comes to his relationship with the Lord. How did you do on the questions? I hope you can improve upon the woman who, when asked, “How many people were saved in Noah’s Ark?” in ignorance had to reply: “All of them.”
Are you laughing? Why? Her answer is right. In fact, if you asked me how many people in the Lutheran Hour listening audience I would like to see saved by the blood of Jesus, I would give the same answer: “All of them.” To that end, if we can help, please, call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for October 28, 2012
Topic: Why Remember the Reformation?ANNOUNCER: Why remember the Reformation? I’m Mark Eischer, here on this Reformation Sunday with our Speaker Emeritus, Pastor Ken Klaus. Today’s question deals with why people should remember an event that happened way, way back in history.
KLAUS: 500 years back in history, Mark. 1517 is generally regarded as the beginning year of the Reformation.
ANNOUNCER: And why that date?
KLAUS: Well, it was on October 31st of that year that Dr. Martin Luther nailed a list of 95 debating points on a church door in the German city of Wittenberg.
ANNOUNCER: Now, why is it, in this age of ecumenism, when churches are working at getting together and unifying, that the Lutheran Church still remembers the Reformation? Some would say that’s when things started coming apart.
KLAUS: I could answer that question by saying it’s because some of us come from a German background which makes us incredibly stubborn and not prone to forget things.
ANNOUNCER: And would that be your final answer?
KLAUS: Goodness, no. My real answer would have quite a different tack to it.
ANNOUNCER: All right. Please continue.
KLAUS: I think my real answer would have to begin with the reasons why Luther wrote those 95 sentences… they also have been called 95 Theses. One of the reasons he didn’t write them was to cause a church division. On the contrary, there were some things happening in the church that made him very uncomfortable. He wanted to debate these issues and thereby get to the truth of things.
ANNOUNCER: Can you tell us a little bit about the things that were happening… the things which upset Luther?
KLAUS: It’s a complicated thing, but let’s give it a try. The western church, that is the Latin Church which was administered out of Rome, was raising money for a big building project.
ANNOUNCER: Right, St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome.
KLAUS: In order to do that there were representatives out in the field who were making promises to people… promises which Luther was pretty sure they couldn’t keep.
ANNOUNCER: What kind of promises?
KLAUS: Well, they were saying that if the people bought a piece of official paper, a paper called an indulgence, they could be forgiven of a past sin or even a sin they might commit in the future.
ANNOUNCER: In which case, it becomes a license to sin.
KLAUS: Yeah, they could also get an indulgence to help people escape punishment in purgatory… the place the Church said Christians went after death to make further amends for sins they had committed when they were alive. Only after they had somehow balanced the judgment scale would they be admitted into heaven and that would be changed if people bought one of these indulgences.
ANNOUNCER: And Luther had problems with that?
KLAUS: Oh, just as we might have problems today with pastors and preachers who say, “Give to my ministry and the Lord is mandated, He has to bless you with all kinds of financial gifts.”
ANNOUNCER: What was Luther’s position on all this?
KLAUS: Well, first, let’s sum up the main problems. The 95 debating points all lead to two basic doctrinal differences with the church in that time. First, if the church has the power to forgive sins for a few people because they paid a price, why doesn’t the church do it for everybody and why doesn’t it do it for free? Second, if people have to earn their way into heaven, what was the point of Jesus’ dying and rising? That’s basically saying Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t enough.
ANNOUNCER: Does Luther say that in so many words?
KLAUS: No, he doesn’t, but that’s kind of where it all leads.
ANNOUNCER: All right, what was the response of the church to all of that?
KLAUS: The church said that over the centuries they had developed various traditions and rulings and doctrines which said indulgences were okay.
ANNOUNCER: And Luther said?
KLAUS: Luther said that he had taken a look at the historical record and found out one council said this and another said something completely differently. They contradicted each other. He concluded that he had no problem with the fact that these learned men did their best and he respected them for their efforts, but the bottom line was this; these men were sinners, and as a result, their opinions may not have been right; they may have made mistakes.
ANNOUNCER: Did he say anything else?
KLAUS: He did. He said, “I’m going to trust God and His Word. That doesn’t contradict itself, and that doesn’t change.”
ANNOUNCER: Ultimately, why should we remember the Reformation today?
KLAUS: For the same reason Luther did. The preacher who stands in the pulpit and the people who sit in the pews are all sinners. They make mistakes. But God’s Word remains and we can stand confident and strong upon that, God’s Word and not the latest and greatest opinion of sinners.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Music Selections for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission.
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” arr. Carl Schalk. From The Church Sings On (© 1998 VUCA Media)
“Salvation Unto Us Has Come” From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)
“Prelude on ‘Ein Feste Burg'” arr. David Cherwien. From Hymns We Love to Sing by the National
Lutheran Choir (© 2005 National Lutheran Choir) The Lorenz Corporation