Page 374 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

LUHITH - LUTHERAN

LUHITH (elevated place). Is. 15:5. (De. 12:15; Ja. 4:5); (2) of sinful desires in general (Ps.
LUKE (luminous). Luke was the author of the gospel 78:18; 81:12; Ro. 13:14; Ga. 5:16; Ep. 2:3; 4:22; 1 Ti.
bearing his name as well as the book of Acts. Compare 6:9; 2 Ti. 2:22; 4:3; Ja. 1:14; 4:1, 3; 1 Pe. 1:14; 2:11; 2
Acts 1:1-2 and Luke 1:1-4. He was one of Paul’s faithful Pe. 1:4; 1 Jn. 2:16-17); and (3) of unlawful sexual
co-workers. He is called “my fellowlabourer” (Philemon desires (Ro. 1:24, 27; 1 Co. 10:6; 1 Th. 4:5; 2 Ti. 3:6; 1
24) and “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14). Though he Pe. 4:2-3; 2 Pe. 2:10, 18; Jude 18). Jesus said that if a
was not an eyewitness of the life of Christ, he gathered man looks upon a woman to lust after her, he commits
information from those who were (Lk. 1:2) and wrote adultery with her in his heart (Mt. 5:28; Pr. 6:25). [See
with “perfect understanding” (Lk. 1:3), meaning by Adultery, Covet, Concupiscence, Fornication, Heart,
divine inspiration. He was an eyewitness to many of the Lascivious, Modesty, Nakedness, Sodomy.]
events that he describes in Acts. He first includes LUTHERAN. Lutheranism was founded by Martin
himself in the action on the second missionary journey Luther (1483-1546) in Germany. He was educated by
at Philippi (Acts 16:10-13, 16). This is where Luke the Brethren of the Common Life who were loosely
appears in the Scripture record. It appears that he Roman Catholics but who put less emphasis on the
stayed in Philippi while Paul finished his second sacraments and more upon a personal relationship with
missionary journey. Luke then joined Paul at Philippi on Christ and godly living. In July 1505, when he was a
the third missionary journey and became a part of his student in a law school, Luther was knocked to the
permanent traveling entourage. Luke journeyed with ground by a flash of lightening during a fierce storm.
Paul from Philippi to Troas (Acts 20:6), from Asos to Frightened by this event, he determined to enter a
Miletus (20:13-15), from Miletus to Caesarea (21:1-8), Catholic monastery and give his life to religious
and from Caesarea to Jerusalem (21:17). Luke concerns. At an Augustinian monastery in Erfurt,
accompanied Paul from Caesarea to Rome (Acts 27:1-7, Germany, Luther began to study the Bible, and he came
15-20, 26-29, 37; 28:10-16). He was with Paul in Rome to understand that God’s salvation in Jesus Christ is
on his first imprisonment (Phile. 24; Col. 4:14). And he offered freely through His grace. Luther joined the
was with Paul when he was put to death (2 Ti. 4:11). faculty of the University of Wittenberg in 1511 and
“He would appear, from Col. 4:10, 11, and his intimate became the head of the theology department a year
acquaintance with the Greek language, as well as from later.
his Greek name (Lucas), to have been of Gentile In 1517, he challenged the Catholic Church to
extraction; and according to Eusebius and others, he defend the doctrine of indulgences, whereby the pope
was a native of Antioch. From the Hebraisms occurring promised to forgive the sins of the living and the dead
in his writings, and especially from his accurate upon the payment of money. Pope Leo X desperately
knowledge of the Jewish rites, ceremonies, and customs, needed money to finance his luxurious lifestyle and
it is highly probable that he was a Jewish proselyte, and extravagant plans, such as the completion of St. Peter’s
afterwards converted to Christianity” (Treasury of cathedral, and he sent representatives throughout parts
Scripture Knowledge). of Europe to push the sale of indulgences to the gullible
LUKEWARM. Spiritually neutral; neither hot nor cold populace. The indulgence was thought to be like a letter
(Re. 3:16). This was the condition of the church at of credit that the purchaser could use to have his own
Laodicea at the end of the apostolic era. It was already sins forgiven or to assist someone in purgatory. The
apostate from the truth and in need of the Lord’s “bigger” the sin, the more expensive the indulgence.
salvation (Re. 3:18). Christ is seen standing outside this One of the pope’s indulgence agents, Dominican
church, knocking at the door of the hearts of individuals monk John Tetzel, came to towns near where Luther
(Re. 3:20). [See Apostasy, Apostate, Heresy, Prophecy, was living. After being ushered into the city in royal
Roman Catholic Church, Tares.] style, sitting on a chariot and holding a large red cross
LUNATICK. The Greek word translated “lunatic” is in his hand and an order of the pope on a velvet cushion
seleniazomai, which was a term for the insane, but before him, he gathered the people together and
Matthew says they were demon possessed (Mt. 17:15). shouted out his effective sales pitch: “There is no sin so
[See Devils.] great that an indulgence cannot remit. But, more than
LURK. To hide; to lay in wait (Pr. 1:11, 18; Ps. this, indulgences avail not only for the living but for the
17:12). dead. Priest! noble! merchant! wife! youth! maiden! do
LUST. Strong desire. The Greek word translated lust you not hear your parents and your other friends who
(epithumetes) is also translated “covet” (Ro. 7:7), are dead, and who cry from the bottom of the abyss?
“concupiscence” (Col. 3:5; 1 Th. 4:5), and “desire” (Lk. Why, the very instant your money rattles at the bottom
17:22; Ph. 1:23; 1 Th. 2:17; He. 6:11). The term “lust” of the chest, the soul escapes from purgatory, and flies
is used in three ways: (1) of desire in a general sense liberated to heaven.”

374 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity