Paul was not talking about God's righteousness, but rather a righteousness that was made available

to believers by faith. And so Luther said, whoa, you mean the righteousness by which I will be

saved is not mine? It's what he called an alien righteousness, a righteousness that belongs

properly to somebody else. It's a righteousness that belongs properly to somebody else.

It's a righteousness that is outside of us, namely the righteousness of Christ.

Why did Martin Luther stand up against popes and emperors in defense of the gospel?

Because he had finally understood the gospel. He now knew what made the good news good.

This is the Wednesday edition of Renewing Your Mind. Thanks for joining us.

We're walking in the footsteps of Martin Luther this week to better understand the significance

of the Protestant Reformation.

We're also offering a significant resource package that includes the Luther and the Reformation

DVD set, digital access to that series and its study guide, digital access to the Justified by Faith

Alone series and its study guide, and the hardcover book, The Legacy of Luther, when you make a

donation this week in support of renewing your mind at renewingermind.org. I'll be sure to remind you

again at the end of today's message.

Well, Luther knew that God is holy, that God is righteous, but he also knew that he wasn't.

And he had looked for answers in a monastery.

He took a pilgrimage to the city of Rome.

But it was during his studies in Paul's letter to the Romans that the good news became clear.

And to quote Luther, the doors of paradise swung open and I walked through.

Here's R.C.'s scroll on this critical moment in Luther's life, and as it would turn out,

also in the life of the church.

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