Glory to God Alone- Introduction to the Reformation- Lenten Devotion

A Reformation

Primer

On the 500^th Anniversary

(A 6 Week Devotional Study)

  Glory to God Alone

DEDICATED To those who Teach me to reform and be ever reformed according to the Word of God:
Kay Yarborough Sloan, Rebekah Sloan Gilliam, Sarah Sloan Batson, John Benson Sloan Jr, Etta Sloan Batson, Josie Bellotte Sloan, Sarah Bellotte Sloan, Earle Dendy Sloan Sr., Marcus Dupre Sloan, Blaine Hill, Tracie Stewart, Jim Glatz, Danny Murphy, Paul Peterson, Barry Jenkins, Richard Burnett, Alice Ridgell.

Solo Dei Gloria                                                                                       

Dr. J. Ben Sloan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) Background of the Reformation- Climate, Pavers of the Reformation Road

2) Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura)

3) Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)

4) Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
5) Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be Glory)

6) Solus Christus (Christ Alone)

7) Priesthood of All Believers

8) Reformers to Know

9) Summary

A word about the five solas.  These are five theological principles found in each other Reformers of the Reformation.  However, the recognition of these five was made in the 20^th century. In  (1916) by Theodore Engelder, a Lutheran scholar recognized three: faith alone, grace alone, Scripture alone.  Emil Brunner added Soli Deo Gloriam (glory alone to God).  Karl Barth added solo Christo as another common theme of the Reformation leaders.  Others have added church alone and love alone- but these are clearly secondary ideas that do not distinguish the Protestant from the Roman Catholic church.  Others still have added the “Priesthood of all Believers.” 

The Reformation radically changed the church.  The Roman Catholic reaction at the Council of Trent took some of these reforms to heart.  Vatican I and Vatican II especially opened the doors for mutual respect of Protestant and Roman Catholic churches.  The Roman Catholic church (until Vatican I) discouraged the reading of the scriptures in the vulgar language and the Mass was primarily in Latin and not understood by most.  Vatican II recognized some validity in Protestant churches. 

This study is not just about the past, it is perhaps more relevant than ever in our Post-modern, Post-Christian, Post-truth world.  Many are denying any idea of truth or thoughts of holy living.  In a pluralistic society that values tolerance above most other values to say just the words “alone” appear to be proud or offensive.  The claims that “scripture alone is our standard”, “that salvation is of Christ alone”, or that “our good deeds do not save us” rubs many the wrong way.  Yet, false hope is no real hope at all.  The hope is not that truth doesn’t matter or that what we believe is ambivalent.  True north means false directions are not true. While we know we need to be gracious and kind to all does not mean that behavior or holiness is passé.  The hope is to always hold love and truth together.  The world still needs both. 

4/10/14- Pilate and Jesus

28Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

31Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

38“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

40They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.  (John 18:33-40)

Thoughts: It is clear the only motive for bringing Jesus to Pilate was so that he would be condemned and executed.  Pilate had been on thin ice with the Jewish leaders before and was in trouble in the way he ruled over the people.  He had been shown as insensitive by bringing Roman banners needlessly into Jerusalem and stirring up riots.  He had people killed to show he was in control.  For Pilate, truth and righteousness were not primary values of life as much as power and control.  The movie, "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" is a reminder that truth and care should overule keeping power and remaining in office.
    The apostle John portrays Pilate as a reluctant judge of Jesus.  He tried to release Jesus.  However he did not.  In the end, Pilate was pushed by his ambivalence of truth and the evil of those who felt so strongly that Jesus must die.  Pilate would not give up his job for a stranger, for justice, or for truth.  Truth and justice can be twisted and spun.  In our day, propaganda machines speak lies with gusto- loudly and often in hopes of drowning out truth.  There seems to be a philosophy that the one who shouts loudest and longest wins the debate.  So the shouts "crucify him!" drowned out all opposition and won the day.  But in the long run, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and wins in the end.
       Pilate amazingly asked, "What is truth" when Jesus- the living truth- stood right before him.   In our Postmodern age, we believe that "what is true for you may not be true for me."  Such thinking means that any behavior could do, and any way of thought is as good as anything else.  Such thinking leads to emptiness and puposelessness. The danger of such thinking is that if there is not truth- and behavior does not really matter- then the good people- like Jesus- get crucified.  Jesus is a living testimony- a real living testimony (after the resurrection) that there is truth to believe in- and that our beliefs and behavior matter. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to recognize you- and your truth.  Help me to stand for you and your truth as well. 

3-19-14 Jesus Shows His Love

1It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:1-17)

 

Thoughts: One of the last things Jesus did besides the last supper was to train His disciples on the concept of service and love.  First the Master played the role of a slave, washing the dirty feet of His apostles.  He teaches not only that He washes us and cares for us, but that He came in humility.  For us to follow Christ, we must not want the first place at the table, nor want everyone to respect us.  The Lord wishes us to serve others in love and humility. 
     The Last Supper is prominently in the background.  John mentions it here (13:2) and later in 13:22-27- not in the same sense as the synoptic gospels.  John does not emphasize the sacrificial/Passover nature of the meal.  He mentions the preparation of the meal- washing feet by the Lord.  Then John mentions the betrayal at the meal.  But above all that is mentioned is the humility, servitude and love.  Jesus was teaching the embodiment of the Christian ethic he taught in the Beatitudes.  One translation says of this act: "He showed them the full extent of His love."  So we are called by Jesus' example to humble ourselves, serve others, and love in His name.

 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your beautiful example of love.  Help me to love in humility and service because you have loved me. 

 

(Jesus washing Peter's feet- 1876 Ford Maddox Brown)