When do you think of when you think of October 31st? My guess is Halloween. And before you think this will be some annual diatribe against that particular holiday, think again, my friend. In my world view, October 31st should be honored as Reformation Day.
It was on October 31, 1517, that a young Augustinian monk and university professor called Martin Luther nailed 95 topics (or theses) for debate to a church door in Wittenburg, Germany. And when he did, the Reformation was born.
The true gospel of Jesus Christ had been lost amidst the pomp, ceremony, false teaching, and religiosity of the church. But God, as always, had a remnant wholly committed to Him and His Truth. During that time, councils and popes spoke with authority which they said was equal to Holy Scripture; Luther called them on it. He used slogans which the average layman could remember: Sola Scriptura, Scripture alone is the authority for faith and life, and Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christos, which means that it is by faith alone through God's grace alone through the Person of Jesus Christ alone that we are declared righteous and pardoned by God.
What will you be doing this October 31st? Among other things, I'll be breathing a prayer of thanks to God for courageous men and women who brought forth the Light of the Gospel from the darker recesses of the Middle Ages.
For an excellent and brief overview of the Reformation, click here.
It was on October 31, 1517, that a young Augustinian monk and university professor called Martin Luther nailed 95 topics (or theses) for debate to a church door in Wittenburg, Germany. And when he did, the Reformation was born.
The true gospel of Jesus Christ had been lost amidst the pomp, ceremony, false teaching, and religiosity of the church. But God, as always, had a remnant wholly committed to Him and His Truth. During that time, councils and popes spoke with authority which they said was equal to Holy Scripture; Luther called them on it. He used slogans which the average layman could remember: Sola Scriptura, Scripture alone is the authority for faith and life, and Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christos, which means that it is by faith alone through God's grace alone through the Person of Jesus Christ alone that we are declared righteous and pardoned by God.
What will you be doing this October 31st? Among other things, I'll be breathing a prayer of thanks to God for courageous men and women who brought forth the Light of the Gospel from the darker recesses of the Middle Ages.
For an excellent and brief overview of the Reformation, click here.
