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'O Gnade nur' - 15 September
2007
My dear friends
Recently, a good friend presented me with a DVD
on the leading Reformer Martin Luther. I am fascinated by what God did through that man.
His song 'Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott' (A mighty fortress is our God) echoes in my
innermost being.
A part of the film that got me thinking was the
spreading of the belief that some godly people during their earthly lives had done so
much good that they had more than enough good works to see them through to heaven.
So, the living could on paying the right price for the 'surplus' buy the souls of their
dead loved ones out of hell into heaven.
If you asked me on what scriptures that belief
was based then I would say that your guess is as good as mine.
We thank God for His men and women
through the ages whose lives inspire us but I am not aware of anyone of them who at
death marched off confidently, knowing that they had a treasure chest of good works
to present before the Lord - plus a spill-over for those who died in their sins.
It is my belief that saints would identify with
John Newton's 'Amazing grace':
"’Tis grace hath
brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home."
I was reminded of a German song that I heard
many years ago. The recurring phrase in that song was "O Gnade nur" (Oh grace
alone). Yes, it is by His grace alone that we are saved and sanctified.
Our Lord and Master has sobering words for us,
His servants,
"So
you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are
unworthy servants; we have only done our duty. ’" (Luke 17:10)
Have a blessed weekend.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
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