Remembering the Reformation

It was on this day, October 31st, in 1517 that Martin Luther walked up to the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany, and nailed The Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences, commonly known as the 95 theses, to the door. While the Reformation had actually started in the 14th century with John Wickliffe and John Hus, Luther’s bold step in 1517 is the most well known single act of the Reformation, and for good reason.

What was the Reformation?

In part, the reformation was a revolt against the ecclesiastical abuses of the Roman Catholic Church, but Luther himself saw the Reformation as something far more important than a revolt against ecclesiastical abuses. Luther believed that the reformation was a fight for the gospel. Luther even stated that he would have happily yielded every point of dispute to the Pope, if only the Pope had affirmed the gospel.And at the heart of the gospel, in Luther's estimation, was the doctrine of justification by faith—the teaching that Christ's own righteousness is imputed to those who believe, and on that ground alone, they are accepted by God.That doctrine, often called the Material Principle of the Reformation, is what the apostle Paul taught as well: "To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5).

What is a Reformer?

Reformers are Men who desire to look back to the foundations of the Word of God and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in light of human traditions and ecclesiastical corruption. To “reform” something is to “make right that which is wronged” or to “amend, rectify, or remedy” something. The reformers desired to “rectify or amend” the corrupt traditions of the Roman Catholic church and turn it back to the Bible’s authority alone. Reformers were not needed merely for this single time in history, the term can be used throughout church history, including today. The church is not perfect, and will never be perfect. It should continue to be reformed and amended before God in all its ways. The term Semper Reformanda “always reforming” should be true of the church throughout history.

The content of this victorious reaffirmation of biblical doctrine can be summed up in the five slogan terms of the Reformation, the five Solas:

Sola Sciptura: Scripture alone is the standard
Soli Deo Gloria: For the Glory of God alone
Sola Christo: By the work of Christ alone are we saved
Sola Gratia: Salvation is by grace alone
Sola fide: Justification is by Faith Alone

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Romans 3:28