Why 31 October is a Vital Date!

While the world runs mad after Halloween, it is refreshing to be able to take time out and reflect on a much more significant marker that is attached to this day, 31 October. Since it is the day when, in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, signalling the start of the Reformation in Europe, we do well to reflect on the leading truths of this tremedous work of revival.

Known as The Five Solas, Reformation truth is as necessary today as it was almost 500 years ago.

Far from being dusty or dead doctrine, these rallying cries still thrill our souls today – and point the way to future blessings. - “Sola Scriptura” (Scripture Alone); - “Sola Gratia” (Grace Alone); - “Sola Fide” (Faith Alone); - “Solus Christus” (Christ Alone); - and “Soli Deo Gloria” (To God Alone Be Glory). These “five solas” were developed in response to particular perversions of the truth that were taught by the Roman Catholic Church. • The Roman Church taught that the foundation for faith and practice was a combination of the scriptures, sacred tradition, and the teachings of the magisterium and the pope; but the Reformers said, “No, our foundation is sola scriptura.” • The Catholic Church taught that we are saved through a combination of God’s grace, the merits that we accumulate through penance and good works, and the excess merits that the saints before us accumulated; the reformers responded, “sola gratia.” • The Catholic Church taught that we are justified by faith and the works that we produce, which the righteousness that God infuses in us through faith brings about. The reformers responded, “No, we are justified by faith alone, which lays hold of the alien righteousness of Christ that God freely credits to the account of those who believe.” • The Catholic Church taught that we are saved by the merits of Christ and the saints, and that we approach God through Christ, the saints, and Mary, who all pray and intercede for us. The Reformers responded, “No, we are saved by the merits of Christ Alone, and we come to God through Christ Alone.” • The Catholic Church adhered to what Martin Luther called the “theology of glory” (in opposition to the “theology of the cross”), in which the glory for a sinner's salvation could be attributed partly to Christ, partly to Mary and the saints, and partly to the sinner himself. The reformers responded, “No, the only true gospel is that which gives all glory to God alone, as is taught in the scriptures.” We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for God’s glory alone. James Martin Gray puts it well: Naught have I gotten but what I received; Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed; Boasting excluded, pride I abase; I’m only a sinner saved by grace! Once I was foolish, and sin ruled my heart, Causing my footsteps from God to depart; Jesus hath found me, happy my case; I now am a sinner saved by grace! Only a sinner saved by grace! Only a sinner saved by grace! This is my story, to God be the glory, I’m only a sinner saved by grace! This is reformation thinking and teaching, and we will need it always.