What would Ulrich Zwingli say to us today? 1st of January 2019 will mark the 500th anniversary of systematic biblical exposition. It was on the 1st of January 1519 that Swiss reformer Ulrich Zwingli launched the Reformation in Switzerland by beginning expository preaching. Starting with Matthew 1 verse 1, he worked week by week, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, line by line, through every book, every word of the New Testament. And this bold action of replacing the Latin Mass with a preaching of the Word of God in the local language marked the beginning of expository preaching. Ulrich Zwingli called his people to return to the Word of God, to the Bible, as the sole standard of faith and practice, sola scriptura, and to recognize Christ alone as the head of the Church, sola Christus. Scripture alone is our ultimate authority. All authority is limited authority. All authority is delegated by God. All authority is answerable to God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The Bible is the scepter by which Christ rules His Church. we have no greater priority than to study the Word of God, to understand the will of God, to be able to apply the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life. Thus, seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and making disciples of all nations, teaching obedience to all things that He has commanded. So, as we enter this year, which is another Reformation 500 year, as in 2017 we remembered the return to the Bible that Martin Luther called for. This year we remember a return to studying every verse, every book of the Bible to understand the central message of the Word of God. How can we know God's will if we don't study His Word? Sir Ulrich Zwingli always recognized that his first duty was as a minister of the Word of God. So, to quote from Ulrich Zwingli, so I'm going to try and have this whole sermon, Words of Ulrich Zwingli, taken from his writings. Man is not alone the offspring of God. All his creatures are so. They are by birth of God and in God. And the nobler any animal is, the more it proclaims the divine glory and power, such as the eagle. But do not even the humblest of creatures proclaim the wisdom and providence of the godhead, the hedgehog. When with its spines he most cleverly carries a large quantity of fruit to its dwelling place, he rolls over the fruit and impales them on its spines. and thus is able to carry a large quantity to his hiding place. The alpine rats, or the marmots, what we call mountain rats, station one of the number upon an elevation, that as they run about and tend to their work, no sudden danger may fall upon them without his timely cry of warning. While meanwhile, the rest of the band carry off the softest of the food from all around. And since they have no wagons, they turn themselves into wagons by turns, one lying on his back and holding fast with all his feet, that food laid on his stomach and chest, while another sees him by his tail and transforms him into a wagon, pulling him, dragging him with a plunder to their dwelling place to enable him to sleep through the inclemency of the harsh alpine winter season. The squirrel drags a broad bit of wood to the shore by its mouth, using this wood as a boat, and hoisting its bushy tail, and thus being driven by the favorable breeze, needs no other sail than its tail. What word, what speech, pray, can proclaim the divine wisdom as well as these creatures, which are amongst the humblest of all living things? They bear witness that the might, the goodness, and the life-giving power of the Godhead are ever-present within and all God's creatures. A man complains that he has been confined to his bed many months and learned shortly afterwards how much good it brought him and how much harm he escaped. A house is burned, but a better one is raised in its place. And he to whom this disaster happened is humbled by it. All things are done by God's dispensations. The word of God is so sure and so strong that if God wills all things are done the moment that he speaks his word, for his word is living and powerful. Genesis 1 verse 1, And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. Note how alive and strong the word of God is, not merely ruling all things, but creating out of nothing that which it wills. With God, in fact, there is no such thing as past or future. He does not learn with time. He does not forget with time. But with unerring knowledge and perception, he sees all things present in eternity. It is in time that we are who are temporal, we find meaning and measure of longness and shortness. Yet what seems long to us is not long to God, but eternally present. If you think that God often fails to punish a wicked individual or a wicked nation, suffering their arrogance for far too long, you are mistaken. For no, they can never escape him. The whole world is before him. All of time is before him. When can they then hide from his presence? or from his justice, most certainly he will find them and he will deal with them. And if you think he does not punish or save according to his word, you are quite wrong. His word can never be undone or destroyed or resisted. For if it could, if God could resist it, it would not be almighty, but it must always be fulfilled. If it is not fulfilled at the time when you desire, that is not due to any deficiency of power, but only to the freedom of his will God will never leave his word powerless. Ezekiel 12, O you that are rebellious, I will say the word and I will perform it. The word which I have spoken shall be done. The gospel is a sure demonstration of what God has promised will certainly be performed. The one who has promised to the patriarchs, who has prophesied, has now been given unto us. In him we have this assurance of all our hope. As Simeon said in Luke 2, for what can he withhold when he has delivered up his own son to us? And how shall he not with him freely give us all things, as the apostle Paul writes in Romans 8. Truth does not necessarily lie with the majority. Indeed, truth is seldom with the majority. Be courageous to stand against the crowd. I do not doubt that God will allow such dangers to encounter you, and that you will see that he powerfully works for and he shelters you. When the dangers come, do not be frightened, for God will only let you have trials and tribulations so that, confessing the sole honor of God, you may recognize the certain help all the better. For he will lead you into need so that you will not trust yourself to help. He helps you out, for you will see exactly that all things come from Him alone, and He also undoubtedly helps us. It is clear that idolatry and other images and representations which we have in houses of worship have caused many to commit idolatry. They should not be allowed to remain there, nor in your house, nor in the marketplace, nor anywhere else where people may commit idolatry. Chiefly, they are not to be tolerated in a house of worship. If anyone desires to put a historic representation or monument on the outside of a church, that may be allowed so long as it does not incite people to worship. But when people begin to bow before images and to worship them, they are not to be tolerated anywhere in the whole wide world. But that is not just the beginning of idolatry, it is idolatry itself. Our confidence in Christ does not make us lazy. It does not make us negligent or careless. On the contrary, our confidence in Christ awakens us. It urges us on. It makes us active in living righteous lives and doing good. There is no self-confidence to compare with confidence in Christ. But Christian life is a battle. It's a battle so sharp and full of danger that effort can nowhere be relaxed without loss. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only way for salvation for all who were, are, and ever shall be. In the old covenant, people looked forward. to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Today, in the Day of Grace, we look back. One event, one atonement, one Saviour for all time. I shall allow myself to be taught better, but only from the Scriptures, based upon the Scriptures which are inspired by God, sola scriptura. All who say the Gospel is invalid without the confirmation of the Church, err and slander God. The Word of God is above the church. The sum and substance of the Gospel is that our Lord Jesus Christ, the true Son of God, has made known the will of our Heavenly Father, and with His innocence and atoning sacrifice, He has redeemed us from death and He has reconciled us to God. Christ is the only way to salvation. Solus Christus. Who so seeks or points out any other way errs. Yes, he is a thief and a murderer of souls. Therefore, all who consider other teachings equal to or higher than the gospel err, and they do not know what the gospel is. For Christ Jesus is the guide, the leader, promised by God. He is the fulfillment of all Messianic prophecies. He is an eternal salvation, and he is the head of all believers. Who has body? Outside of him we are dead in our trespasses and sins and can do nothing without him. All who abide in Christ are members of the church and children of God. The church, the communion of the saints, the bride of Christ. As the members of the body can do nothing without the control of the head, so no one in the body of church should do the least without the head. Christ Jesus, our Lord. As a man is mad whose limbs try to do something without the head, tearing and wounding and injuring himself, thus when the members of Christ undertake something without the consent of the head, Christ, they are mad, they injure and burden themselves. Hence we see in the clerical all foolishness, for they also do not agree with the head of the church, who is Christ, solus Christus. Thus they still rage. Where Christ is hearkened to, one learns clearly and plainly the will of God, and we are changed into Him. Therefore all Christian people shall use their best diligence to ensure that the gospel of Christ is faithfully preached everywhere. For in the faith rests our salvation, and in unbelief our damnation. You shall know the truth, the truth shall make you free. Human doctrines and decrees do not aid in the salvation of anyone. So does Christ. Christ alone is the only eternal High Priest. From which it follows those who have called themselves High Priests or Vicars of Christ have opposed the honour and power of Christ. The Pope is anti-Christ. Christ having sacrificed himself once for all is for eternity a certain and valid sacrifice for all the sins of his faithful elect, from which it follows that the Lord's Supper is not a sacrifice, it is not a Mass, it is a Eucharist, a remembrance of the sacrifice and assurance of the salvation that Christ has given us. Christ is the only mediator between God and us, solus Christus. God desires to give us all things in his name. We need no mediator except our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot pray to God through saints and images. When we pray for each other on earth, we do so through Christ alone. Christ is our justice. Our works, insofar as they are good, they are of Christ. But insofar as they are ours, they are neither good nor right. Christ spawned the luxuries and pomp of this world. Whence from it follows that those ministers who attract wealth to themselves in his name slander him terribly when they make him the pretext for the avarice, greed and willfulness. No Christian is bound to do those things which God has not decreed. God is displeased with nothing so much as with idolatry and hypocrisy. All is gross hypocrisy and prolificacy which is mere show before men. All Christian men and women are brethren of Christ and brethren of one another, and shall call no minister father on earth. We have one Holy Father who is in heaven. All which God has allowed or not forbidden is righteous. Hence, marriage is permitted for all men and women. All who are known as clergy sin when they do not protect themselves by marriage. Those who pledge and promise chastity, refusing matrimony, foolishly and childlessly take too much upon themselves. Those who make such vows do wrong. No person may impose a ban of excommunication upon anyone except the whole church, that is the full congregation of those amongst whom the one to be banned was, together with their watchdog. Rome has no authority or jurisdiction over Zurich. That one may only ban him who is of your congregation, who gives public offense through false doctrine, false teaching, blatant immorality, and unrepentant, scandalous immorality. The spiritual so-called powers of popes and cardinals have no justification for its pomp and pretense in the teachings of Christ. Scripture alone is our authority. Christ alone is the head of the church. The laity has power and confirmation from the deeds and doctrines of Christ, superior to that of cardinals and popes. All that the papacy claims to have of power and protection belongs to the laity of Christ's true church. The Church consists of born-again baptized believers faithfully studying the Word of God and applying the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life. Christians owe obedience only to Christ. Insofar as the Church leaders do not command that which is contrary to God's Word, the Bible, they are to be followed. All laws must be in harmony with the laws of God, as recorded in the Bible. No one may be condemned whom God's word does not condemn. If God is not offended, let us not take offense. If leaders are faithful, if leaders are unfaithful, and transgress the laws of Christ, they may be deposed in the name of God. Their realm is best and most stable, which rules in the name of God alone, and is worst and is most unstable, which rules in accordance with man's own laws. Real intercessors call to God in spirit, and truly prayer must be made without great ado performed before men. Pray to God, do not perform to please men. Hypocrites do their work so that they can be seen by men. They also will receive their reward only in this life. Hence it must always follow that the church activities sung in outcry without devotedness before God is only for fleshly reward and is seeking either fame before men or unrighteous financial gain. Whoever through stupidity or ignorance is offended without cause should be ignored. We may not consider that as a sin which is not a sin according to God, as clearly taught in his word. Greater offense I know not than that the Pope does not allow priests to have wives, but he permits them to hire prostitutes, out with this shameful scandal. God alone remits sin through Jesus Christ, the Son, who alone is our sovereign Lord. Whoso assigns power to forgive sins to human beings, fallible priests, detracts from the honor of God, and gives to him who is not God, this is real idolatry. The confession which is made to priests or neighbors should not be declared for remittance of sins, but only for seeking for spiritual advice and biblical counsel. Christ is born all in griefs and guilts. Therefore, whoever assigns works of penance to confessors attributes that which belongs to Christ. They err and they slander God. Whoever pretends to remit any sin to a penitent confessor could not be a vicar of God or of St. Peter, but he is of the devil. Such are antichrists. Whoever remits any sin only for the sake of money is the companion of Simeon and Balaam, and the real messenger of the devil is one of our antichrists. The true scriptures teach nothing about purgatory after this life. The sentence of the dead is known to God alone. The less God has let us know concerning any subject, the less we should undertake to know about it. Where the scripture is clear, we must be clear. Where the scripture is silent, we may not be dogmatic. To determine a period of time, therefore, seven years for mortal sin, for example, and to lie for the sake of gain, is not human but devilish. Faithful indulgences are antichrist. The scriptures recognize no priests except those who faithfully proclaim the word of God. All clerical superiors. should at once step down and take up the cross of Christ and not the money chest, or they will perish in hell forever. For I tell you, the axe is raised against the roots of the rotten tree. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but of the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is the discerner of the thoughts and intent of the heart. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for a proof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. It shall prosper the thing for which I sent it." Ulrich Zwingli testifies that when the plague hit Zurich, he re-examined his whole life and soul, and he'd been studying Erasmus' Greek New Testament. And after he survived the plague, he stayed in Zurich, treating people at the plague, which is highly contagious, and he himself almost died from the plague. After he's recovered from this debilitating illness, Zwingli wrote the Song of the Plague, in which he shows a vibrant faith in the all-sufficiency of God's grace in Christ Jesus. Help me, O Lord, my strength and rock. Low at the door I hear death's knock. Uplift thine arm once pierced for me that conquered death and set me free. Yet if thy voice in life's midday recalls my soul, then I obey. In faith and hope, earth, I resign, secure of heaven, for I am thine. My pains increase, haste to console, for fear and woe seize body and soul. Death is at hand. My sense has failed. My tongue is dumb. Now Christ prevail. Lo, Satan strains to snatch his prey. I feel his grasp. Must I give way? He harms me not. I feel no loss. For here I lie beneath thy cross. My God, my Lord, here by thy hand upon the earth once more I stand. Let sin no more rule over me. My mouth shall sing alone to thee. Ulrich Zwingli said, they may kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul. Whatever cannot be justified by the Bible is to be abolished. Religion is a personal spiritual experience which does not require sacraments or ceremonies to sustain it. The Bible is the law of God, and a truly Christian community must follow the Bible. Magistrates must not only keep order, but they must be seen as guardians of public morality. A church without the magistrate is mutilated and incomplete, as the church is a minister of grace, so the magistrate must be a minister of justice. A man who is inconsistent in his speech cannot be trusted. Here's one of the prayers of Oryx Wingly, which remains, Almighty, eternal, and merciful God, whose word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, open and illuminate our minds, that we may purely and perfectly understand thy word, and that our lives may be conformed to what we have rightly understood in the word, that nothing we may be displeasing unto thy majesty, through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.