October 31
“We have the prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” 2 Peter 1:19-21.
On the secular calendar, October 31 is designated as being Halloween, and places of business and many families make a big deal about it. An enormous amount of money is spent for clothing to dress up the children as ghosts and goblins and for tricks and treats.
On the church calendar of Lutheran churches, October 31 is designated as the anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. It was on October 31, 1517, that Dr. Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses or Sentences to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. He was calling for a debate with reference to what he considered abuses in the Roman Catholic Church. That act of his sparked the Reformation.
What was the real power in the Reformation? The real power was not in the person, but rather in the Word of God, through which the Holy Spirit touched the hearts and consciences of some clergy and especially the lay people. It opened their eyes to the fact that the church of Rome was not teaching the truths revealed in the Bible, and that man’s word was replacing the Word of God.
By the grace of God, the Word of God was first given and preserved for the church, and the Word of God as preserved in the Bible is the only source and norm for the teaching of all truths about sin and salvation, about the Law and the Gospel. Peter writes that the prophetic Word, which at that time was only the Old Testament, is confirmed; it is clearly established as the source for teaching in the Church, and it is “a light that shines in a dark place.” The written Word of God is a burning lamp to enlighten people spiritually. The psalmist wrote, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” Psalm 119:105. God’s Word clearly shows us the way of salvation, not by our works but by faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior, who suffered and died on the cross to wash away our sins and who rose from the grave to conquer death and the devil.
The prophetic Word did not come by the will of man. Moses and the prophets did not decide on their own that they were going to write the Word of God. Peter wrote, “Prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit moved the men to write; He gave them the impulse to write, and He gave them the exact words to write. This applies to both the Old and the New Testament. The apostle Paul wrote, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches,” 1 Corinthians 2:13.
The written Word of God brought about the Lutheran Reformation, and the written Word of God which we have in the Old and New Testament brings us to faith in Jesus Christ as our only Savior and keeps us in the faith. On bended knee, thank God for His clear revelation about our sins and our Savior. Jesus tells us to search the Scriptures to learn of Him, our Savior.
“We have a sure prophetic Word,
By inspiration of the Lord;
And tho’ assailed on ev’ry hand,
Jehovah’s Word shall ever stand.
By pow’rs of empire banned and burned,
By pagan pride rejected, spurned,
The Word still stands the Christian’s trust,
While haughty empires lie in dust.
Abiding, steadfast, firm, and sure,
The teachings of the Word endure.
Blest he who trusts this steadfast Word;
His anchor holds in Christ, the Lord.” Amen.