It is probably quite unnecessary to remind readers of that occasion when Martin Luther, facing an unsympathetic Council at Worms in 1521, concluded his defence by uttering those immortal words, "Here I stand, I can do no other". For many years he had sought for firm spiritual ground as he entered a monastery, endured self-chastisement in his cell and later made a pilgrimage to Rome and climbed the "Scala Sancta".

There came a day, however, when he discovered the glorious truth that "The just shall live by faith", and that only Christ and His finished work provide a sure foundation. Quoting a later hymn, he could then have declared,"On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand":

So it was that he could confidently declare in the presence of his enemies, "Here I stand".

It may be asserted that his stand, his reliance, and his trust were based upon three things. He stood upon the Word of God, in the grace of God, by the power of God.

1. HE STOOD UPON THE WORD OF GOD
In 1 Corinthians 15:1 we see the words, "the gospel .... wherein ye stand", a phrase which may be applied not only to the message of salvation but to "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).

He knew the Word of God, not as a result of his training as a priest, for this would have been in the realm of philosophy rather than scripture, but perhaps later on as he studied it with a view to being equipped for the lectures he was to give at Wittenberg. At this university he taught Psalms, Romans, and Galatians, so it is possible that even then the phrase, "the just shall live by faith", found in both of the latter books, had already begun to make an impression upon him.

That he studied well is apparent from some of his sayings. "I study my bible as I gather apples. First, I shake the whole tree that the ripest may fall, then I shake each limb, and when I have shaken each limb I shake every branch and every twig. Then I look under every leaf." "I am well satisfied with the gift of the Holy Scriptures, which give me abundant instruction and all that I need to know both for this life and for that which is to come."

Had he not been so well acquainted with the Bible, and have had such confidence in it, how could he later have written those words,"God's word, for all their craft and force, One moment will not linger, But, spite of hell, shall have its course; Tis written by His finger"?

He also was not afraid to invoke the Word of God. "No believing Christian", he said at Leipzig, "can be coerced beyond Holy Writ. By divine law we are forbidden to believe anything which is not established by Divine Scripture" and, at Worms, "Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason .... my conscience is captive to the Word of God." In this he did, of course, follow the example of Jesus who defeated Satan with the simple, yet powerful, words, "It is written", and of Paul who asked, "What saith the scripture?" (Rom.4:3). No doubt he would have agreed with the statement of Leon Morris, "The Bible was the only book that Jesus ever quoted, and then never as a basis for discussion, but to decide the point at issue".

Luther was not alone in his reliance upon Scripture. We may, for example, think of John Wesley, "I am a homo unius libri - a man of one book"; Hudson Taylor, "Thy Word is eternally true. So, spite of feelings and circumstances I do now believe it and count it true"; and John Bunyan, "I was never out of my bible".

We can give thanks to God that even in these days of "a falling away" (2 Thess.2:3) there are those who declare, "Here I stand... upon the eternal Word of God" - faithful ministers, Bible-believing churches, and ordinary believers.

May we, in our day, four and a half centuries after Luther, not neglect this treasure, which is not only the gift of God, but the result of the labours and sacrifices of men of God, some of whom have laid down their lives that we may have God's Book. May we ever stand upon its teaching and under its authority.

2. HE STOOD IN THE GRACE OF GOD
Paul speaks of "this grace wherein we stand" (Rom.5:2). Grace is the essence of the gospel message - the grace of God received through Godgiven faith exercised by the convicted sinner (Eph.2:8,9). It is so simple, yet not universally acceptable. People have an inherent tendency to prefer their own way, their own works, and their own efforts.

Did not the servants of Naaman have to plead with their master? "If the prophet had bid thee to do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?" Naaman would have fought a Goliath, made a pilgrimage, sacrificed a thousand sheep, paid a king's ransom, rather than in simple faith heed the words of Elisha. There was, however, only one way - to realise his own unworthiness as an enemy of God's people, believe and obey the prophet's instructions, humble himself, and immerse himself in the Jordan, symbolically washing away his disease that typifies sin.

Mankind does not change! Still today the majority of those who become aware of their need of salvation seek to do some great thing, penances, payments, piety and, like Luther, self-effort. Yet the only effective way is so simple for, by the grace of God,"He that believeth on the Son, 'tis true, Hath everlasting life".

Romans 5:1, 2 explain so clearly that it is by faith we are justified, by faith we have peace with God, by a faith we have "access into this grace wherein we stand" : May we ever stand fast in that grace and "be not moved away from the hope of the gospel" (Col. 1:23). Let our testimony always be, "Here I stand in the grace of God".

3. HE STOOD BY THE POWER OF GOD
Here we may reread the verses of the text in Ephesians 6:10 -13. Luther was utterly dependent upon that power. At Worms he prayed, "O God ...do Thou help me against all the wisdom of the world". He also wrote, "If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day", and, "Prayer is that mightiest of weapons that created natures can wield". He acknowledged clearly his utter helplessness apart from the Divine dunamis!

In the text we, too, are exhorted to stand in the power of God. In verse 10 we find three words which are almost synonymous, yet have slight differences of emphasis. The first is `be strong'; that is, make yourselves strong with that dynamic which comes from God alone. The second is "in the power", that is, the victorious power, the power which brings mastery over the enemy. The third is "of His might', that is, permanent, everlasting, unfailing power, that of which Isaiah wrote, "they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength" (40:31).

By this threefold power we shall experience threefold stability. We shall "stand against" (Gr. histemi pros), firmly facing the enemy without wavering or fearing his onslaught (6:11). We shall "withstand", actively and successfully engage the foe (6:13). We shall remain standing, "having done all to stand", in spite of all Satanic opposition (6:13).

Verse 14 gives us the practical application, commanding us to "stand therefore", an imperative, not an option! Stand in the whole armour of God, stand in God's strength, power and might, and above all remain in constant touch with the source of that power, "Praying always" (6:18), using God's communication system and power line!

"Here I stand by the power of God." "He is my defence I shall not be greatly moved" (Psalm 62:2). This was Luther's experience. May it be yours and mine!

The Dark Ages needed a man who dared to say, "Here I stand". Israel needed an Elijah who stood firm against pagan idolatry. The fledgling church needed a man like Paul who stood fast in spite of all the attacks of Satan, and in this twenty-first century there is need of men and women who will remain true to the Word of God and to the great principles of the Reformation. May they re-echo the Reformer's determined words, " Here I stand, I can do no other".

David I Johnson

Originally published in January - February 2005 issue of Protestant Truth.