Introduction to the Reformation: Part 2 of 2

Teaching of the Reformation

Scripture alone (sola scriptura)

   The reformers believed that Scripture was the only source of Christian revelation. The cry of the Reformation was “sola scriptura” or “scripture alone.” Scripture, not tradition or the words of mere men, was and is God's sole authority in the church. The word of God is inspired, sufficient, infallible, and authoritative. The Apocrypha was not thought to be inspired or canonical. The scriptures were proclaimed and translated in the languages of the people. The word of God was being heard, read, treasured, obeyed, understood, preached, and sung. Regular people, not the educated alone or priests, were able to read the Bible for themselves. This was unheard of before the Reformation. The Reformation was also a revival!

   I will not reproduce quotations from the reformers here. They went back to the scriptures, so that will be what I do- quote the word of God. Note also that the word “alone” is key to the doctrines of the Reformation. Rome will not use the word “alone.” Without that word, the doors are opened to a myriad of corruptions, errors, heresies, false-hopes, and false-conversions. With the word “alone” those doors are shut and sealed. They serve to guard the bride of Christ from unchaste suitors and adulterous evils. That one word changed the world. That one word turned the world upside down. Praise God!

Quotations from Scripture

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Ps. 19:7-11)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps. 119:105)

And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2Pet. 1:19-21)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2Tim. 3:16-17)

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2Tim. 4:1-4)

Christ alone (solus Christus)

   Christ alone is the mediator between God and man. He is the Prophet, Priest, King, Head of the church, and only Savior. Christ offered himself in the place of sinners as the one and only perfect sacrifice for sin. There is no need for a continual sacrifice. Salvation is to be found only in Christ. Salvation is found in the person and work of Christ, not in a ceremony, traditions, works, or the church.

Quotations from Scripture

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus... (1Tim. 2:5)

Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. (Acts 3:22)

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (Heb. 7:23-28)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1Pet. 2:24)

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Grace alone (sola gratia)

   Salvation is only by the grace of God. Salvation is God's free gift accomplished by the death and resurrection of Christ.  This is the work of God alone- man does not cooperate with God or add to his salvation. This salvation is wrought by the Spirit through the proclamation of the gospel. Man does not merit the grace of God by observing the sacraments. Salvation is by grace alone, not by grace and the works of man.

Quotations from Scripture

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ---by grace you have been saved- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:4-9)

[W]ho saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel... (2Tim. 1:9-10)

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? (Rom. 10:14-15)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Tit. 2:11-14)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Tit. 3:4-7)

Faith alone (sola fide)

   Justification by faith alone was the central issue during the Reformation. The very gospel was at stake. If the gospel was at stake, then souls were at stake as well. That was the case back then, and still remains the case today. Protestants and Catholics proclaim a radically different gospel. Ironically, the doctrine of justification by grace through faith in Christ and his imputed righteousness alone is proclaimed primarily in the epistle to the Romans- the very name of the church (Roman Catholicism) that denies and corrupts it.

   Justification is only by faith in the person and finished work of Christ. Salvation is merited only by Christ and must be accepted by faith. Sinners are declared righteous by God because of Christ's righteousness being imputed to them as a free gift. Faith is the believing, resting, receiving, and trusting Christ and his righteousness. This act of faith is not a work- faith itself is the gift of God. Also, justification is not sanctification. The justified are progressively sanctified, or made more like Christ. Those who are declared righteous will slowly be made righteous by the Spirit working in them. Justification cannot be lost or undone. Those whom God justifies, he will glorify.

Quotations from Scripture

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Rom. 3:21-25)

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith... (Phil. 3:8-9)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Cor. 5:21)

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way;and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Is. 53:5-6)

God's glory alone (soli Deo gloria)

   God gets all the glory. There is no glory reserved for man, the church, the dead, other sacrifices, sacraments, or any other person, being, or thing. God does all things for his honor and glory. This includes creation, salvation, the spread of the gospel, the destinies of mankind, the life of the church, and the conquering of sin, Satan, death, and evil. God is jealous for his glory- he will not give it to another.

   God is manifoldly glorified, beyond compare, in the wrath-absorbing, atoning death of his Son and our enjoying the benefits of it, and worshiping God because of it, and suffering the sin-slaying effects of it, and becoming more like Christ as a result of it, and desiring more of the Spirit that was given as a gift purchased by it, and aching to conquer the enemies that were defeated and doomed by it, and hungering for sweeter communion that was made possible by it, and thirsting for more of God's glory that was revealed by it, and longing to be in the presence of the thrice holy, majestic, sovereign, beautiful, Lord of the universe that was accomplished by it.

   God is not glorified when his chief means of being magnified is marred and mutilated beyond recognition. When the doctrine of Christ and his salvation is altered, God cannot be pleased. The redemption of fallen humanity is the central theme throughout Scripture. When God is replaced by man in the scheme of salvation, man is deified and receives all the glory that belongs to God. When, by false religion, man is deified, God is humanized. God is not glorified when his glory is given to creatures, or when the efficacy of Christ's death is rendered insufficient and given to a ceremony, or when Mary is elevated to a sinless position as mediator, or when a mere man is elevated to Christ's vicar, or when the work of Christ is rendered impotent and the works of man are declared sufficient.

Quotations from Scripture

I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. (Is. 42:8)

I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. (Is. 43:6-7)

For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. (Is. 48:9-11)

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:33-36)

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ^'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.' (Rev. 4:8-11)

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.' Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!' And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!' And the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Rev. 5:8-14)

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.' (Rev. 7:9-12)

Results and effects of the Reformation

1. If there was no Reformation, there would have been no pilgrims, and therefore, no America.
2. Before the Reformation, the Catholic church governed Europe; the Reformation affected politics, law, and government by causing a separation between church and countries.
3. The word of God was translated into the languages of the people; before the Reformation, the Bible was only available in Latin.
4. Protestant denominations were formed due to religious freedoms brought about by the protests and reforms.
5. There was a tremendous increase in biblical scholarship, theological books, commentaries on Scripture, biblical and exegetical preaching, biblical schools, confessions of faith, godly music, and literacy.
6. There was an increase in scientific investigation; prior to the Reformation, the Catholic church controlled all investigations and endeavors.
7. The Reformation resulted in the freedom to follow individual conscience; people were freed from religious bondage.
8. The Reformation led to the rediscovery of the gospel and an increase in missions.
9. The Reformation impacted the economy by stressing a hard work ethic and godliness in all vocations.
10. The Reformation stressed biblical and doctrinal accuracy which culminated in the priesthood of all believers, biblical leadership, the word of God centralized, biblical worship, and justification through faith alone by grace alone in Christ alone as found in Scripture alone for the glory of God alone.

   Truly, the Reformation was used by God for the glory of God. Protestants must continue to thank God for removing the darkness and revealing the light. He raised up godly men and gifted them in order to invoke change in the religious climate. And change occurred. It must continue to occur. The Reformation is not over. As long as the bride of Christ is on earth, she remains imperfect and weak, vulnerable and susceptible to error and attack. She must continue to be purged of all evil and sin.

   The Reformation is not over. It must continue. It is an ongoing work. We must not stop or give in. There remains false gospels and false religions in the world. Many name the name of Christ but deny him by their doctrine and actions. We Protestants must stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before and by the grace of God and for the glory of God, lead the church into holiness, doctrinal purity, gospel accuracy, biblical literacy, and Trinity centered worship. We must proclaim that the scriptures alone teach salvation in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, all for the glory of God alone. To God be the glory, now and forever, amen! Soli Deo gloria.