NULL
Illustration
Object:
Martin Luther was a troubled Augustinian monk trying to gain the assurance of his personal salvation. He had a kindly mentor, Dr. Johann von Staupitz, who suggested he pursue a doctor's degree and begin teaching the Bible at the university in Wittenberg. Luther set out to expound the scriptures, and he began to lecture on the book of Psalms in 1513. In the fall of 1515 he lectured on Paul's Letter to the Romans but he was frustrated by constantly coming across "the righteousness of God," which appalled him. He felt he could never match up to "the righteousness of God."
Then one day it happened. In his own words, Luther wrote: "Then I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole of scripture took on a new meaning, and whereas before the 'justice of God' had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love...."
Then one day it happened. In his own words, Luther wrote: "Then I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole of scripture took on a new meaning, and whereas before the 'justice of God' had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love...."
