Unless I'm convinced by sacred Scripture, or by evident reason, I cannot recant.

For my conscience is held captive by the Word of God and to act against conscience is neither right nor safe.

Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.

Those courageous words of Martin Luther, just read by R.C. Sproul, have given countless Christians courage to stand firm in their day.

And today we must likewise stand firm and not compromise.

You're listening to renewing your mind and I'm your host, Nathan W. Bingham.

Tomorrow is Reformation Day, October 31st, because on that date in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Castle Church door in Vittenburg, Germany.

But his bold stand in a city called Verms, three and a half years later, took even more courage as he refused to recant.

Today, R.C. Sproul describes the events leading up to this bold stand by Luther, dramatically recounting his speech and the surprising escape that ensued. Here's Dr. Sproul.

In our last session, mentioned Luther's visit to Heidelberg and how that was a wonderful occasion for winning many more people in Germany to the Lutheran cause.

Well, the next great crisis took place the same year, 1518, when instead of Luther's going to Rome to be tried for heresy, Rome came to Germany in the person of their most able theologian Cardinal, K.J.P.

Luther was promised safe conduct if he would meet with K.J.P. in the city of Augsburg. Now, some of his friends urged him not to go fearing that he would be betrayed and would be carried off the Rome and be burned at the stake as a heretic.

But Luther wanted to go because this was his wish come true, that he would have the opportunity to have a reasoned debate and discussion with the princes of the church about these matters.

Well, in Augsburg, Luther had four interviews with Cardinal K.J.P. and they did not go as Luther had hoped. Instead of an open discussion and debate, the Cardinal just insisted that Luther would first of all repent, second of all, recant his teachings,

and third promise that he would never teach these things again. And Luther grew more and more frustrated as K.J.P. became more and more angry.

But the students of history say that in a very clear manner, K.J.P. in his area edition really got the best of Luther because he was able to maneuver Luther into taking a position that clearly brought him in conflict with the Roman Catholic church.

Much of their discussion there in Augsburg focused on the treasury of merits and the issue of indulgences that Luther had challenged in his 95 theses.

K.J.P. armed with the knowledge of church history pointed out to Luther that in 1300 Pope Boniface VII had authorized by papal authority the whole principle of indulgences and their sale.

And later in 1343, still in the 14th century, Pope Clement VI in his papal encyclical eunogentia developed and authorized the doctrine of the treasury of merit.

And so with these historical teachings by the popes themselves, K.J.P. was able to show that by Luther's antagonism toward the treasury of merit and the sale of indulgences was in conflict with two historic popes.

At which point Luther said, but this is not in the Bible and he dared to challenge the authority of the popes in these matters saying that the popes in these cases simply erred.

They have to understand that the doctrine of papal infallibility had not yet been officially decreed.

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