REFORMATION & REVIVAL

Pastor Rick Jackson

On October 31, 1517 "the priest and scholar Martin Luther approaches the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and nails a piece of paper to it containing the 95 revolutionary opinions that would begin the Protestant Reformation."

"In his theses, Luther condemned the excesses and corruption of the Roman Catholic Church, especially the papal practice of asking payment--called "indulgences"--for the forgiveness of sins. At the time, a Dominican priest named Johann Tetzel, commissioned by the Archbishop of Mainz and Pope Leo X, was in the midst of a major fundraising campaign in Germany to finance the renovation of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Though Prince Frederick III the Wise had banned the sale of indulgences in Wittenberg, many church members traveled to purchase them. When they returned, they showed the pardons they had bought to Luther, claiming they no longer had to repent for their sins.

"Luther's frustration with this practice led him to write the 95 Theses, which were quickly snapped up, translated from Latin into German and distributed widely. A copy made its way to Rome, and efforts began to convince Luther to change his tune. He refused to keep silent, however, and in 1521 Pope Leo X formally excommunicated Luther from the Catholic Church. That same year, Luther again refused to recant his writings before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Germany, who issued the famous Edict of Worms declaring Luther an outlaw and a heretic and giving permission for anyone to kill him without consequence. Protected by Prince Frederick, Luther began working on a German translation of the Bible, a task that took 10 years to complete.

"The term "Protestant" first appeared in 1529, when Charles V revoked a provision that allowed the ruler of each German state to choose whether they would enforce the Edict of Worms. A number of princes and other supporters of Luther issued a protest, declaring that their allegiance to God trumped their allegiance to the emperor. They became known to their opponents as Protestants; gradually this name came to apply to all who believed the Church should be reformed, even those outside Germany. By the time Luther died, of natural causes, in 1546, his revolutionary beliefs had formed the basis for the Protestant Reformation, which would over the next three centuries revolutionize Western civilization." [these quoted paragraphs were provided by the website www.history.com ]

Luther's ideas may have been revolutionary for a Catholic but the Baptists and other groups had always held many of these beliefs. For former Catholics it might have been a reformation, but for those whose colors had never dipped, whose faith had never faltered, whose foundation had always been the solid rock - a refocusing on these truths would be a revival not a reformation. Any Christian who gets away from these basic principles needs to refocus on these truths, repent of his backsliding and get revived by the Word of God, the Spirit of God and do the will of God.

What were the basic 5 tenets of the reformation/revival?

I. SOLA SCRIPTURA [II TM. 3:16-17]

Sola Scriptura does not mean the Bible is the only source of truth, but it does mean it is the only completely authoritative source for truth. And if any other source contradicts the Bible that source, on that point, is wrong. All Truth is God's truth. Truth is of God. God's Word is Truth [Jn. 17:17]. God's way is Truth [Jn. 14:6]. Men's conclusions or interpretations of truth are not always true. The evolutionist and the Creationist both look at the same evidence but their interpretations of the evidence differ. The evidence isn't wrong, the interpretation of the evolutionist is wrong.

The same is true in the areas of religion. When someone attempts to teach against the clear doctrine of the Bible with their own fanciful notions they are wrong. Either deliberately or in ignorance. Often arrogance will not accept their own ignorance even in otherwise "good" Christians. It's their way or the highway. The old maxim is still true, "In major things -Unity, in minor things -Liberty, in all things -Charity." A Jr. High student once confronted his teacher about a class lesson. He said the teacher was wrong in his interpretation. The next day the teacher showed the boy several commentaries that supported his teaching. The boy got mad. His attitude was, "Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is already made up!" This type of behavior is not limited to 7th graders.

Jesus constantly pointed to the Scriptures as proof of His person, His presence, His power (authority) and His Preeminence! "Search the Scriptures..."

II. SOLUS CHRISTUS [JN. 14:6]

Solus Christus refers to the doctrine of Christ's substitutionary work as being the one and only way for sinners to obtain salvation. Salvation is not found in the Church, good works, the baptismal pool, the 10 Commandments or the Golden rule. All of these are good and right BUT none of these aid in the actual work of the salvation of the soul. Christ's death and resurrection is the complete and only basis for salvation.

The song writer was correct:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

III. SOLA GRATIA [EPH. 2:8-9]

Sola Gratia refers to the fact that Christ's payment is a free gift and cannot be earned by any supposed merit or works. [Rm. 6:23]

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

IV. SOLA FIDE [EPH. 2:8-9]

Sola Fide refers to the accessing of the free gift of God by faith alone [Rm. 4:1-13].

V. SOLI DEO GLORIA

1 Corinthians 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Soli Deo Gloria completes and summarizes the rest. Think of it, the foundation is SOLA SCRIPTURA -God's Word, SOLUS CHRISTUS -God's Work -Christ did it all, SOLA GRATIA -God's Grace that bringeth salvation to all, SOLA FIDE -God's Way for sinners to access the grace, has to lead directly to SOLA DEO GLORY-God's glory. He did it all, He deserves ALL the glory!

1 Chronicles 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Isaiah 42:12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

Jeremiah wrote- Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. [Jeremiah 9:23-24]

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.