Hymn Study #3 - Martin Luther

This week at the Ponderosa, we are studying the life of Martin Luther as well as the hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God.

Martin Luther was a man of God whom God used in a mighty way to change the course of world history as well and the course of the church of Jesus Christ. Luther grew up in a home that practiced the Catholic faith and ended up at a monastery, but God was already working on opening his eyes to the fallacy and evils of the Roman Catholic church. He fought and fought hard, but finally ended up having to hide to save his life. God protected him and in the process, he wrote this hymn. I am thankful for his fight.

The last stanza is this hymn states:

"That word above all earthly powers,

no thanks to them, abideth;

the spirit and the gifts are ours,

thru him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go,

this mortal life also;

the body they may kill;

God's truth abideth still;

his kingdom is forever.

Martin Luther had a firm faith (without works) in the Lord. He did not fear death. He trusted in the Sovereign Creator for his life and death.