On October 31, 1517, a German monk approached a church door with parchment in his hand and determination in his heart. As he secured the document to the door, positioning it so that anyone entering the church for mass would see, he likely knew that his actions meant excommunication, persecution, or even death.
But for Martin Luther, the glorification of Christ was more important than the consequences he could face for challenging the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The posting of Luther’s “95 Theses” sparked a movement throughout Europe that Christians today refer to as the Protestant Reformation.
More than 500 years after that fateful day in Germany, the Church today is still flourishing from the changes that began on Reformation Day. And though many believers may not do anything specific to commemorate this significant day in Church history, it is still important to live out the principles that Luther risked his life for centuries ago.
Saved by Grace Alone
“The right and true treasure of the Church is the most Holy Gospel of the glory and grace of God.” -Martin Luther, “95 Theses”
One of the central points of Luther’s theses is that salvation is obtained through grace alone, not by works. Many Roman Catholics in his time believed they could buy indulgences from church officials as a way of releasing their responsibility for penitence from sin. Indulgences were also believed to limit the amount of time the purchaser’s loved ones would spend in Purgatory.
Luther emphasized in his theses that one could not purchase his way into God’s Kingdom. Rather, it is by grace through faith in the work that Jesus accomplished on the cross that one is saved (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Today, the enemy still tries to convince believers that they are not good enough to get into Heaven. Many buy the lie that if they do enough good works, never sin, go to church, and read their Bible, they will be good enough for God. But God shows His love for us in offering salvation while we are still sinners (Romans 5:8). We cannot possibly be good enough to earn God’s love and forgiveness. It is a gift He freely offers us.
If you are a follower of Jesus, are you resting in the fact that your salvation was purchased through Christ’s finished work on the cross? If you are believing the lie that God will never love you because you are not good enough for Him, remind yourself of the gospel and rest in the free gift of salvation.
Free to Read God’s Word
“Let the man who would hear God speak read Holy Scripture.” -Martin Luther
When Luther wrote the “95 Theses,” the Bible was only beginning to become more widely available to the general public. Before then, it was discouraged—and even illegal in some instances—to translate or read the Bible outside of the ministry of priests.
But soon, scholars and theologians who read God’s Word began to question the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, which included buying indulgences. It was in this context that Luther adopted the belief that the Bible should have authority over the teachings of church officials.
Luther desired for all believers to read and learn from the Bible and see the truth within its pages. Luther himself published his German translation of the New Testament in 1522. Today, the Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages.
While reading the Bible will not earn someone salvation, God has given believers His Word to learn, teach others, and draw closer to Him. As a believer, are you taking advantage of reading God’s Word in your native language? Do you study it, seeking to understand God’s character more? The Bible is a gift from the heart of God that is meant to be enjoyed.
Where the Reformation Has Not Gone
People like Luther helped bring the message of the gospel and the authority of the Bible back into the Church. His actions and the actions of others like him reformed the Church for centuries afterward.
But around the world, there are places where this reformation has not reached. Billions of people don’t know the gospel that Luther stood for or have access to the Bible he labored to make accessible. These people have never heard of Jesus, much less of the monk who devoted his life to his Lord.
As you rest in the truth of the gospel and enjoy the gift of God’s Word this Reformation Day, will your heart also be burdened for those who don’t know Jesus as you do? Will you take a step to ensure the gospel and God’s Word reach all nations?
One of the greatest ways believers can commemorate Reformation Day is to shine God’s light to the ends of the Earth, marching with the gospel and determination in their hearts as Martin Luther did more than 500 years ago.
“If there is anything in us, it is not our own; it is a gift of God. But if it is a gift of God, then it is entirely a debt one owes to love, that is, to the law of Christ. And if it is a debt owed to love, then I must serve others with it, not myself.” -Martin Luther