It Is Written

The Courage of One

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: John Bradshaw

Series Code: IIW

00:01 [It Is Written Theme]
00:08 >: It has stood the test of time.
00:12 God's book, the Bible;
00:17 still relevant in today's complex world.
00:22 It Is Written, sharing hope around the globe.
00:34 [sounds of thunder]
00:43 [relaxing melody]
00:51 JB: This is It Is Written.
00:52 I'm John Bradshaw.
00:54 Thanks for joining me.
00:55 And you're joining me outside the door of the Castle Church
00:58 in Wittenberg, Germany, where in the year 1517
01:02 a courageous Christian launched a revolution.
01:06 His name was Martin Luther, and Martin Luther
01:09 came here and to this door nailed his 95 Theses.
01:13 Ninety-five points where he believed the ruling church of
01:15 the day had departed from the Bible.
01:18 Luther taught that salvation came only through faith in
01:21 Jesus, not through human tradition or custom
01:24 or human authority.
01:27 Martin Luther's protest launched something that would
01:30 revolutionize the world.
01:39 When young Martin went to school as a child he was often bullied
01:42 by other students.
01:44 His family was so poor that Martin often had to go door to
01:47 door singing, in order to raise a little money so that he could
01:51 buy food.
01:53 And his upbringing gave him a rather unfortunate picture
01:56 of what God was like.
01:57 He didn't see God as loving and compassionate at all,
02:00 but he saw Him as cruel, vindictive, harsh, unforgiving,
02:05 and as a stern judge.
02:08 Martin Luther's father was a hard-working man.
02:10 He was an honest man and a man of strict integrity, which is
02:13 why he was so upset when Martin insisted on becoming a priest.
02:18 Hans Luther was well aware of the corruption that was so
02:20 rampant in the medieval Church, and he definitely did not want
02:24 his son to be a part of it.
02:25 So when Martin joined the monastery
02:27 without his father's consent, his father was so upset
02:31 that father and son were not reconciled
02:34 for another two years.
02:35 And even when they were, Hans Luther's opinion
02:38 of the Church remained completely unchanged.
02:42 At the age of 18 Martin entered the University of Erfurt.
02:47 He was a good student, and he was disciplined and diligent.
02:51 It wasn't long before his grades were among the highest
02:53 in the student body.
02:56 One day while in the library at school
02:58 Martin Luther found a copy of a Latin Bible.
03:02 He'd never seen a Bible before.
03:04 In those days the common people weren't
03:06 allowed to possess the Bible.
03:08 The only Bibles that existed were kept chained to walls and
03:11 monasteries and convents.
03:14 Martin Luther had heard portions of the Bible, parts of the New
03:17 Testament Gospels and parts of the epistles read
03:20 in worship services.
03:22 But he'd never held a Bible in his hands.
03:26 He turned the sacred pages with awe,
03:29 and as he read he came to realize more and more his true
03:32 sinful condition before God.
03:37 Because he wanted so much to be at peace with God, he committed
03:40 himself to the life of a monk.
03:43 He often said he was the strictest person in the whole
03:46 monastery when it came to obedience to the rules of the
03:49 order he had joined.
03:51 He spent every possible moment in the study of Scripture,
03:55 and he fasted and prayed frequently.
04:00 Then Luther met a man who introduced him
04:02 to the love of Jesus.
04:04 Instead of torturing yourself on account of your sins,
04:07 he told him, throw yourself
04:09 into the Redeemer's arms.
04:10 Love Him who first loved you.
04:13 This messenger of mercy made a deep impression on the young
04:16 earnest priest.
04:18 For the first time in his life he saw God as a God of love,
04:23 and peace flooded into his heart.
04:27 When Martin was ordained, he was invited to serve as a professor
04:30 of theology at the University here in Wittenberg.
04:34 At first, he was very shy about preaching in the pulpit,
04:38 but when he was finally convinced to do so,
04:40 his eloquence captivated the crowds.
04:43 Many of those who listened were convinced that God's special
04:47 blessing was resting upon Martin Luther.
04:50 [Ominous drone]
04:58 In Rome, in Italy, is found what's known as
05:01 the Holy Staircase, or Pilate's Staircase,
05:05 which according to tradition Jesus walked on when
05:08 He was leaving the Roman judgment hall
05:10 on His way to Calvary.
05:12 The story goes that this staircase was transported from
05:15 Jerusalem here to Rome.
05:18 In Martin Luther's time, devout men and women seeking the
05:21 approval of God received an indulgence for their sins
05:26 by walking up this staircase on their knees.
05:29 The same still happens today.
05:31 In fact, the only way you're allowed to walk up this
05:34 staircase today is on your knees.
05:40 Martin Luther had long dreamed of coming to the city of Rome,
05:43 and when it finally became possible for him to do so,
05:47 he made the long journey on foot,
05:49 staying at various monasteries as he traveled.
05:52 Once he reached Italy, he was shocked
05:55 at the luxury in the monasteries in which he stayed:
05:58 the splendid apartments, the costly robes of the monks,
06:02 and the sumptuous tables at which the clergy feasted.
06:06 He couldn't help contrasting this opulence
06:08 with the hardship of his own upbringing.
06:11 And he started to feel confused and perplexed.
06:17 At last he approached the fabled City of the Seven Hills and with
06:21 deep emotion prostrated himself on the earth.
06:25 "Holy Rome, I salute thee," he exclaimed.
06:29 He entered the city, visited the great churches and listened to
06:33 the tales told by priests, bishops and cardinals.
06:38 But soon his heart became deeply troubled.
06:41 Everywhere he saw evidence of moral depravity, even in houses
06:46 of worship.
06:48 He shuddered at the indecent jokes passed around by church
06:50 officials.
06:52 Later, Martin Luther would say "If there is a hell,
06:56 Rome is built over it."
06:59 In a moment, Martin Luther climbs the Holy Staircase on his
07:03 knees, and history will never be the same.
07:07 I'll be right back.
07:09 [Gentle melody] >: You are watching the weekly
07:12 It Is Written program with Pastor John Bradshaw,
07:15 but did you know that there's a daily program, too?
07:17 Every Word is a one-minute Bible-based daily devotional
07:21 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed especially
07:24 for busy people like you.
07:26 Look for Every Word on selected networks,
07:29 or watch it online every day on our website,
07:31 ItIsWritten.com.
07:33 Receive a daily spiritual boost.
07:35 Watch Every Word.
07:36 You'll be glad you did.
07:42 [Rythmic Melody]
07:49 JB: It can seem at times as though following Jesus
07:51 can come at great cost.
07:53 But look at what Jesus said in Luke 18 verses 29 and 30.
07:56 "There is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or
07:59 wife or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who shall not
08:02 receive, many times more in this present time and in the age to
08:06 come, eternal life."
08:08 Jesus says He'll give you many times more than what you were
08:11 ever called to give up when you followed Him.
08:13 And on top of that, He'll give you everlasting life.
08:16 If you've ever been tempted to think of salvation as costing
08:18 you something, keep things in perspective by keeping
08:21 your eyes on the prize.
08:23 Salvation cost Jesus something.
08:26 It's the best deal we'll ever get.
08:28 If you ever lose anything to follow Jesus, He'll make it
08:30 right up to you, with interest.
08:33 I'm John Bradshaw for It is Written.
08:35 Let's live today by every word.
08:42 [string ensemble with an air of pride]
08:54 JB: This is It Is Written.
08:56 I'm John Bradshaw.
08:57 Thanks for joining me today.
08:59 As a young priest, Martin Luther visited the city of Rome and he
09:03 did what so many people do when they visit Rome: He ascended
09:06 Pilate's Staircase on his knees.
09:10 But as he did so, he felt as though he heard a voice speaking
09:15 loudly to his heart.
09:17 The voice quoted the prophet Habakkuk and the Apostle Paul
09:20 and said, "The just shall live by faith."
09:25 Luther realized that manmade requirements wouldn't give him
09:29 peace with God and that they wouldn't make him righteous.
09:32 It was obvious to Luther that these things hadn't made other
09:35 people righteous.
09:36 Luther got off of his knees and fled,
09:39 and he never did penance again.
09:43 Martin soon returned to Wittenberg and obtained
09:46 a doctor of divinity degree.
09:49 He was now able to preach the Word of God like never before.
09:52 His former shyness was gone, and he preached from the pulpit
09:56 with increasing power.
10:00 Luther taught people of the dangers of exalting human ideas
10:04 above the Word of God.
10:06 He taught against the theories of the scholars and philosophers
10:11 and theologians who so often clouded the Word of God
10:15 in a fog of confusion.
10:17 The crowds hung on his words.
10:20 The assurance of a Savior's love,
10:22 the offer of pardon and peace filled thousands
10:24 of hearts with hope.
10:26 In Wittenberg, a torch was ignited whose brilliance would
10:29 illuminate the world.
10:35 It was at this time that Pope Leo X drew up plans
10:38 for the construction of St. Peter's Basilica.
10:42 Catholic tradition says this enormous church is built over
10:45 the grave of Saint Peter.
10:47 But who could afford to build a church this grand?
10:51 In order to raise funds for this project, Rome offered the sale
10:55 of indulgences: basically, the forgiveness of sin.
10:59 Even though Rome says today that indulgences, which are still
11:02 very much a part of the Vatican system,
11:05 do not buy forgiveness of sin, they say indulgences relieve
11:09 the temporal punishment that comes as a result of sin.
11:13 Back in Luther's day there was no question:
11:16 forgiveness was for sale.
11:19 Do you think this was an effective way of raising money
11:21 for the church?
11:22 Oh yes, it was.
11:24 Who wouldn't give the church a little money if it meant you'd
11:26 be forgiven, just like that.
11:29 But this totally unbiblical practice ended up
11:32 backfiring on the church.
11:35 A man by the name of Tetzel was appointed as an agent of the
11:38 church to sell indulgences on behalf of the church.
11:42 Now, Tetzel was no choirboy; he had been convicted of fraud
11:45 and embezzlement and, they say, immorality, but the church
11:48 had pardoned him for all of those offenses.
11:51 Tetzel would go into town and he would invent tall tales, playing
11:55 upon the superstition and the ignorance of the people, almost
11:58 guaranteeing that he would be able to sell these indulgences
12:01 so people would be freed of their sin.
12:04 Before he would get to town a messenger would go
12:06 before him and declare at the gates of the city,
12:08 "The grace of God and the Holy Father is upon you."
12:13 Tetzel would even make a sales pitch inside churches, a lot
12:17 like those people, those money changers Jesus threw out of the
12:20 temple in Jerusalem.
12:23 The Bible gives an explicit example of somebody who tries to
12:26 buy God's favor with money.
12:28 The man's name was Simon.
12:31 He saw Peter and the other apostles laying hands on people.
12:34 Those people were healed of physical illnesses and
12:37 they received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
12:40 Simon wanted that power for himself.
12:43 The book of Acts tells us what happened.
12:46 "Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles'
12:49 hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying,
12:54 'Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may
12:58 receive the Holy Spirit.'" But Peter said to him,
13:02 "Your money perish with you, because you thought
13:05 that the gift of God could be purchased with money."
13:08 Acts 8, 18 through 20.
13:11 I think most people today would find it hard to imagine that
13:14 there was a time people believed that they could buy
13:17 forgiveness of sin.
13:19 But in Martin Luther's day, the people were almost
13:21 completely ignorant about what the Bible said.
13:24 All they had to base their belief on was what they were
13:27 told by the priests, who knew little more about the Bible
13:30 than they did.
13:31 It truly was a case of the blind leading the blind.
13:35 But it's interesting that indulgences
13:38 are still offered today.
13:40 In the year 2009, 500 years after Tetzel, the New York Times
13:46 reported this: "In recent months,
13:50 diocese around the world have been offering Catholics a
13:52 spiritual benefit that fell out of favor decades ago:
13:57 the indulgence.
13:58 A sort of amnesty from punishment in the afterlife,
14:01 and reminding them of the church's clout in mitigating
14:05 the wages of sin."
14:07 The fact that many Catholics under 50 have never sought one,
14:11 and never heard of indulgences except in high school European
14:14 history, Martin Luther denounced the selling of them in 1517
14:18 while igniting the Protestant Reformation, simply
14:20 makes their reintroduction more urgent among church leaders
14:24 bent on restoring fading traditions of penance
14:28 in what they see as a self-satisfied world.
14:32 The Word of God that brought life and hope into the heart of
14:35 Martin Luther still declares, in Romans 1, verse 17, that
14:40 the just shall live by faith.
14:43 Only God can forgive sins, and He doesn't offer indulgences
14:47 for sale.
14:48 His gifts are to be received, as Isaiah said,
14:50 in Isaiah 55, verse 1, "Without money and without
14:54 price, forgiveness comes directly from the God
14:58 of heaven."
14:59 It's available to anybody who confesses and forsakes
15:02 their sins.
15:03 It's as simple as that.
15:05 Listen to what the Bible says about it:
15:08 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble
15:11 themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked
15:16 ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their
15:21 sin and heal their land."
15:23 Second Chronicles 7:14.
15:26 "He who covers his sin will not prosper, but whoever confesses
15:30 and forsakes them will have mercy."
15:33 Proverbs 28:13.
15:36 "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man
15:39 his thoughts.
15:41 Let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him.
15:45 And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
15:50 Luther was not about to let the sale of indulgences go
15:53 unchallenged, and his challenge to the church would reverberate
15:57 around the world.
15:58 ♪ Give me the Bible, ♪ ♪ star of gladness gleaming, ♪
16:03 ♪ To cheer the wand'rer ♪ ♪ lone and tempest tossed; ♪
16:08 ♪ No storm can hide that ♪ ♪ peaceful radiance beaming, ♪
16:13 ♪ Since Jesus came to ♪ ♪ seek and save the lost. ♪
16:19 ♪ Give me the Bible, ♪ ♪ holy message shining; ♪
16:24 ♪ Thy light shall guide me ♪ ♪ in the narrow way; ♪
16:28 ♪ Precept and promise, ♪ ♪ law and love combining, ♪
16:33 ♪ Till night shall vanish ♪ ♪ in eternal day. ♪
16:40 ♪ Give me the Bible, ♪ ♪ when my heart is broken, ♪
16:45 ♪ When sin and grief have ♪ ♪ filled my soul with fear; ♪
16:50 ♪ Give me the precious ♪ ♪ words by Jesus spoken, ♪
16:55 ♪ Hold up faith's lamp to ♪ ♪ show my Savior near. ♪
17:00 ♪ Give me the Bible, ♪ ♪ holy message shining; ♪
17:05 ♪ Thy light shall guide me ♪ ♪ in the narrow way; ♪
17:10 ♪ Precept and promise, ♪ ♪ law and love combining, ♪
17:15 ♪ Till night shall vanish ♪ ♪ in eternal day. ♪
17:22 ♪ Give me the Bible, ♪ ♪ all my steps enlighten, ♪
17:26 ♪ Teach me the danger ♪ ♪ of these realms below; ♪
17:31 ♪ That lamp of safety ♪ ♪o'er the gloom shall brighten,♪
17:37 ♪ That light alone the ♪ ♪ path of peace can show. ♪
17:42 ♪ Give me the Bible, ♪ ♪ holy message shining; ♪
17:47 ♪ Thy light shall guide me ♪ ♪ in the narrow way; ♪
17:52 ♪ Precept and promise, ♪ ♪ law and love combining, ♪
17:57 ♪ Till night shall vanish ♪ ♪ in eternal day. ♪
18:09 [Triumphant melody] JB: "Babylon Rising" is a
18:12 dynamic book that I've written, describing the significance of
18:14 Babylon in Bible prophecy, and I want you to have it.
18:18 Right now this powerful book is available free
18:20 from It Is Written.
18:21 Just call 1 (800) 253-3000, ask for the book
18:26 "Babylon Rising."
18:27 Or write to It Is Written at PO Box 6,
18:30 Chattanooga, TN 37401, and we'll mail a copy to your
18:34 address in North America.
18:37 For even faster access, you can download a free electronic
18:40 version of this book "Babylon Rising" from our website.
18:43 "Babylon Rising" is also a four-part seminar
18:46 that I have presented, that you can get on video.
18:49 For details please visit our website, ItIsWritten.com
18:52 and discover more about "Babylon Rising"
18:55 and other inspirational resources.
18:57 It Is Written is a faith-based outreach made possible
19:00 by viewer like you.
19:01 Thank you for your continued support.
19:03 Call us, 1 (800) 253-3000; visit us at ItIsWritten.com.
19:13 [pensive melody]
19:21 JB: People in Martin Luther's church here in
19:23 Wittenberg began coming to their pastor, asking to be forgiven
19:26 for their sins, because they had bought indulgences from Tetzel.
19:31 Luther was appalled, and what really horrified him is that
19:34 most of these people weren't the least bit sorry for their sins
19:37 and had no intention of changing their lives.
19:40 Luther saw like never before that only true repentance,
19:44 true sorrow for sin, can bring God's forgiveness
19:47 into a person's life.
19:49 He spoke more strongly than ever that human traditions
19:52 could never take the place of conversion and that what God
19:56 wants to see is a transformed heart, which can only be
19:59 achieved by the grace of God.
20:05 The Wittenberg church was a popular place because it had
20:07 many holy relics that people came to see.
20:11 Among these relics were vials which supposedly contained milk
20:14 from the Virgin Mary, straw from the manger
20:18 where Jesus lay; even the body
20:20 purportedly belonging to one of the babies killed in
20:23 Bethlehem by King Herod.
20:26 Many had the idea that just coming to see these relics was
20:29 enough to get their sins forgiven.
20:33 But as All Saints Day approached in the autumn of 1517,
20:37 Luther realized he had an opportunity
20:39 to make clear to the people the correct method of receiving
20:43 pardon and forgiveness from God.
20:46 He wrote up a list of 95 points where he felt his church had
20:49 departed from the truths of the Bible.
20:51 These became known as Martin Luther's 95 Theses, and he
20:55 nailed them to the doors of this very church.
20:59 October 31 is considered by many to be Halloween.
21:03 And it's fair to say that through the sale of indulgences
21:06 and the viewing of supposedly sacred relics as a means for
21:10 obtaining pardon and favor with God, the people were being
21:13 tricked and not treated.
21:15 Martin Luther believed that the deception had to end.
21:19 [light melody]
21:26 JB: Luther's teaching soon spread throughout Germany
21:28 and copies of his writings were quickly circulated around other
21:31 countries in Europe.
21:33 Barriers began to fall in the minds of many.
21:36 Eyes that for so long had been focused on manmade rights and
21:39 traditions were now opened to see that great truth declared in
21:43 the New Testament, that there is one God and one Mediator
21:47 between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.
21:51 And people began to understand that salvation came by faith
21:55 alone through grace alone.
22:02 But not everybody was happy to accept Martin Luther's message
22:05 about faith and forgiveness from the Bible.
22:08 People had for so long been accustomed to looking to the
22:11 church for forgiveness that they had a hard time adapting to what
22:14 Martin Luther was saying.
22:17 High officials in the church were furious that there was a
22:20 young monk who dared to stand alone and teach contrary to the
22:25 teachings of the church.
22:27 Before too long Martin Luther was summoned to Augsburg
22:30 to appear before a papal representative on charges
22:34 of heresy.
22:36 Again and again it was demanded that Luther retract
22:39 his positions.
22:40 But Luther demanded, every single time,
22:43 that he be shown from the Bible where his
22:45 positions were wrong.
22:47 And because there was no biblical evidence that Luther
22:49 was wrong, Luther stood his ground.
22:52 [Tense Melody]
22:58 JB: Finally, Pope Leo X issued the order excommunicating
23:02 Martin Luther from the Roman Catholic Church.
23:05 The reformer was denounced as cursed by heaven
23:08 and cast out of the church, and all who embraced his
23:12 teachings were threatened with the same.
23:15 The great struggle for the soul of Christendom commenced.
23:19 The Protestant Reformation had begun.
23:24 It was from Wittenberg that Luther left to appear before the
23:27 Diet of Worms.
23:28 And it was here in Wittenberg that Luther preached so
23:31 powerfully, studied the Scriptures with so many, and
23:35 taught the Word of God as the basis of faith.
23:41 Martin Luther was truly a light that shone in darkness.
23:45 What happened here in Wittenberg changed the world.
23:48 People were introduced to a Savior who forgave sin freely
23:52 and to a God who could be known personally on the basis of what
23:55 He had revealed about Himself in the Bible.
24:04 Walking the streets of Wittenberg today, it isn't hard
24:07 to imagine Martin Luther boldly striding to the doors that hung
24:10 here at the Castle Church and nailing to those doors
24:13 his 95 Theses.
24:15 It isn't likely that Luther intended to pick a fight with
24:18 his church, but by the time his work was done, people had the
24:21 Bible in their hands, truth burning in their hearts,
24:25 and light and not darkness shining on their pathway.
24:29 ♪ [happy theme] ♪
24:43 ♪ Marvelous, infinite, ♪ ♪ matchless grace, ♪
24:50 ♪ freely bestowed ♪ ♪ on all who believe! ♪
24:56 ♪ You that are longing ♪ ♪ to see his face, ♪
25:02 ♪ will you this moment ♪ ♪ his grace receive? ♪
25:09 ♪ Grace, grace, God's grace, ♪ ♪ grace that will pardon ♪
25:18 ♪ and cleanse within; ♪ ♪ grace, grace, God's grace, ♪
25:28 ♪ grace that is greater ♪ ♪ than all our sin! ♪
25:37 ♪ grace that is greater ♪ ♪ than all our sin! ♪
26:10 JB: In a distant corner of Germany, 500 years ago, Luther
26:13 saw to it that light began to shine in this world.
26:17 My prayer for you is that that light will shine in your heart.
26:21 Let's pray together.
26:22 Our father in heaven, one life, one individual who changed
26:29 the world under the influence of Your Holy Spirit.
26:32 Though not a perfect man, undoubtedly, Lord,
26:36 You used Martin Luther in magnificent ways.
26:40 And to anyone willing to receive the gift, the Bible is given
26:44 today as the sole rule of faith and practice for the believer
26:49 in Jesus.
26:50 Father, thank You for the freedom to know You,
26:53 the freedom to worship You, the freedom to read the Bible--
26:57 a freedom that not everybody in this world has.
27:00 Thank You for the great work of those men and women of God who
27:03 have gone before us.
27:06 May we not waste the great privileges that have been handed
27:10 to us as a legacy of their faithfulness to You.
27:14 Bless us as we know You, cling to You, and read
27:18 and study Your Word, I pray in Jesus' name.
27:22 Amen.
27:30 [music]
27:39 JB: Thanks for joining me today.
27:40 I look forward to seeing you again next time.
27:42 Until then, remember: It is written,
27:45 man shall not live by bread alone
27:48 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

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Revised 2015-06-18