AN INTERESTING
COINCIDENCE
I’m sure you were are all very excited about this last Wednesday. You had
been counting down for some time, and yes it finally arrived: Reformation Day!
It was on October 31, 1517 that the monk and theology professor Martin Luther
nailed his 95 Theses to the door of
In his 95 Theses
Luther questioned the authority of the pope to forgive sins and questioned the
practice of selling indulgences. He called the church to return to the
authority of the scriptures. The theses was taken
down, translated into German and reproduced on the newly-invented printing
press and was distributed throughout
One of the great gifts
of the reformation was the emphasis on the “five solas”:
1.
Sola Scriptura
(scripture alone): The Bible is our highest authority and has no equal. All
human authorities and church authorities are subject to biblical authority.
2.
Sola Gratia (by
grace alone): In salvation, we are rescued by God’s grace alone. Salvation is
not achieved, but received as a gift of God’s grace, entirely of his doing.
3.
Sola Fide (by faith alone): justification
is by faith alone. We receive God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
4.
Solus Christus
(through Christ alone): Salvation is accomplished by Christ alone. It is only
through his substitutionary work on the cross that we
have forgiveness and life.
5.
Soli Deo Gloria
(glory to God alone): because of this, God alone deserves our praise. Our
entire lives are to be lived before his face as a continual act of worship.
This Reformation
Day, remember to celebrate being protestant and the glorious truth that we are
saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory
of God alone, as revealed in the scriptures alone.
David Jones with excerpts from S.K.