Dear Congregation,
October is Reformation month, in which Luther’s action of nailing 95 points for discussion on the
The pivotal action of course was much earlier when in the midst of his own personal struggle with God and seeking peace with God from a troubled and troubling conscience he found that the church could not help. However, he did find help where the church should’ve pointed but largely was unable to. He read it in the bible – the Bible which the church had largely hidden from the common person. It was here, in reading the letter to Romans that he came to understand the free gift of the redeeming grace of God in Jesus Christ to all who believed in Him.
He came to understand that righteousness is not only something that God demands from us, it is a gift He gives to us in Jesus Christ. He said, “Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates. There a totally other face of the entire Scripture showed itself to me.”
The Holy Spirit had lit a fire of God’s grace in his heart. Luther, Germany, all of Christendom would never be the same.
With that came an awareness of the need to make the Bible accessible, to be put back into he hands of the common person. Luther as it were, drew out the sword of the Spirit and put it in the hands of sinners who found it not only the means of making one “wise unto salvation”, but also of it as the power of God for a life of godliness, “equipping the man of God for every good work.” As Paul wrote to encourage and exhort Timothy,
“and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:15–17)
Two things from our human perspective are stressed here that were vital for the Reformation – and continue to be so for a true and effective church today:
Firstly, the importance of true preachers of the Word who are faithful, biblical, Spirit-empowered preachers.
The Reformers taught that ‘through the words of the preacher, the living voice of the gospel is heard’ (Carl Beckwith). Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones recognised this importance, saying, ‘The real function of preaching is not to give information, it is to give more heat, to give life to it, to give power to it, to bring it home to the hearers.’
Secondly, the importance of a people who hunger for the Word and as a result esteem true preachers, being faithful hearers and receivers of the Word.
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21)
True reformation and revival of the church takes place when under the Spirit and by His Word, pastor and people work in concord filled with confidence in the Word, governed by the constraint of the Word to be conformed to all the Word declares for faith and life. That is not to guarantee the blessing of God on it, who is sovereign in His grace, but it is to recognise that we cannot rightly pray let alone in faith long and anticipate such blessings apart from such a high view of God’s Word and its proclamation to our hearts and from our lips.
Over to you – who will stand with Luther and those Christians who gave their life to give back to the church and world the Word of God?
Sola Scriptura – by Scripture alone!
Together in Christ’s love and service,
John
Your Pastor