On the last Sunday of every October we celebrate the Reformation.
The Protestant Reformation of the 1500s was one of the most important events in church history. At a time when much of Christendom was shrouded in spiritual ignorance and superstition, the Reformers called the church back to the truths of God’s Word. They challenged teachings that obscured the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ and rediscovered wonderful biblical truths that we must continue to treasure today.
The heart of the Reformation was the rediscovery that salvation is not something we earn through our own efforts, religious performance or worthiness. It is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ alone. The message was not that God helps those who help themselves, but that God saves those who cannot save themselves!
The Reformers expressed these biblical convictions through five key principles: Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone, Faith Alone and the Glory of God Alone.
Scripture Alone reminds us that the Bible, rather than church traditions or human opinions, is our ultimate authority.
During the Reformation, there was a renewed determination to translate the Bible into ordinary people’s languages so that everyone could read and understand God’s Word. The development of the printing press helped make the Scriptures more widely available. Many Reformers suffered persecution, and some were executed, because they were convinced that people needed access to the Bible. We should never take for granted the privilege we have today of reading God’s Word in our own language.
Grace Alone, Christ Alone and Faith Alone remind us that our salvation rests entirely on what God has done for us in Jesus.
We do not earn God’s forgiveness by performing religious rituals or doing enough good works. Jesus died to bear the penalty for our sins, and his sacrifice is sufficient. We are forgiven, not because we deserve it, but because of God’s amazing grace. We receive this gift through faith, trusting in Christ rather than ourselves.
This also changes how we respond when we sin. We do not need to try to earn our way back into God’s favour. Instead, we confess our sins to God, trusting his promise in 1 John 1:9 that he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. What wonderful assurance we have in Jesus!
Finally, To the Glory of God Alone reminds us that salvation is entirely God’s work, from beginning to end.
He deserves all the praise. We cannot boast in our own achievements, but we can rejoice in what God has done for us through his Son.
These truths are not merely historical doctrines to remember once a year on Reformation Sunday. They remain essential for the health of the church today. We still need churches that teach the Bible faithfully, proclaim salvation by grace through faith in Christ, and give God all the glory. We need to keep hearing God speak to us through his Word rather than allowing our culture, traditions or personal preferences to determine what we believe.
As we celebrate the Reformation, let us be thankful for the biblical truths rediscovered by the Reformers and for the churches that continue to teach them. May we never lose sight of the wonderful good news at the heart of the gospel: our salvation depends not on what we have done for God, but on what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.
How deep the Father’s love for us! In Christ alone our hope is found.