Martin Luther's
Salvation
lthough the words of Staupitz planted the seed of Truth, it had not taken hold and Luther was still taken by fits of depression. The vicar-general, still residing at the convent of Erfurt, consoled Luther, encouraging him to look to Jesus. Staupitz continued to give Luther valuable direction concerning his studies. He told him to lay aside the teachings of the school and the church fathers and let the study of the Scriptures be your favorite occupation. It was at this time Staupitz gave Luther a precious gift, a Latin Bible. From this point on, Luther abandoned the studies of the church fathers, except Augustine, and devoted himself to the Scriptures.
The Light was beginning to shine in Luther’s heart, but conversion had not yet taken hold. It wasn’t until a later time when Luther, attacked with a sickness, was brought close to death, laying on his bed in agony and terror, an old monk came to visit him. We do not know this monks name, but Luther opened his heart to him. The old monk was not as versed in the Scriptures as Staupitz, but he knew the Apostle’s Creed. The old monk recited this and when they came to say, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins”, Luther’s eyes were awakened, and the Truth had made its way to his soul. He exclaimed, “Ah!, the thing to be believed is not merely that David’s or Peter’s sins are forgiven; this the devils believe: God’s command is, to believe that our own sins are forgiven.” From this moment light sprung up from within his heart and he pronounced, “My sins are forgiven!”. He renounced the idea of meriting salvation, and put his confidence in the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. From this moment Luther realizes he has no need of the Church, he has received salvation directly from God Himself, and from this point forward Roman Catholicism is destroyed within him. The health his spirit had found, also gave health to his physical body.
The Light was beginning to shine in Luther’s heart, but conversion had not yet taken hold. It wasn’t until a later time when Luther, attacked with a sickness, was brought close to death, laying on his bed in agony and terror, an old monk came to visit him. We do not know this monks name, but Luther opened his heart to him. The old monk was not as versed in the Scriptures as Staupitz, but he knew the Apostle’s Creed. The old monk recited this and when they came to say, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins”, Luther’s eyes were awakened, and the Truth had made its way to his soul. He exclaimed, “Ah!, the thing to be believed is not merely that David’s or Peter’s sins are forgiven; this the devils believe: God’s command is, to believe that our own sins are forgiven.” From this moment light sprung up from within his heart and he pronounced, “My sins are forgiven!”. He renounced the idea of meriting salvation, and put his confidence in the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. From this moment Luther realizes he has no need of the Church, he has received salvation directly from God Himself, and from this point forward Roman Catholicism is destroyed within him. The health his spirit had found, also gave health to his physical body.