There is Still Much to Be Done

As we celebrate the 508th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, we should not be unaware that the work of the Reformation has not been completed. Many of you are probably wondering how so.

Let's be honest. There is still so much confusion on what doctrines are biblical and what are not. The body of Christ still links up with false teachers without regarding the damage they can and have caused. The church is confused on what is a gospel issue and what is not. The church sings songs that are self-centered rather than those that glorify God and make much of Jesus.

The church has failed to distinguish the difference between Christianity and false religions. There are many in our churches that have a poor idea on what the gospel is. Some have drifted away to join false religions such as Roman Catholicism and Mormonism. 

We are not marking and avoiding those who are causing division in the church. We are not marking and avoiding those who will lead people astray. Wolves are in our churches and some of them are behind the pulpit. 

There is still much work to be done after 508 years later.  Pray for the church as we strive to be the body of Christ that honors the Lord in this world. 

Robert Godfrey on the Necessity of the Reformation

The church is always in need of reform. Even in the New Testament, we see Jesus rebuking Peter, and we see Paul correcting the Corinthians. Since Christians are always sinners, the church will always need reform. The question for us, however, is when does the need become an absolute necessity?

The great Reformers of the sixteenth century concluded that reform was urgent and necessary in their day. In pursuing reform for the church, they rejected two extremes. On the one hand, they rejected those who insisted that the church was essentially sound and needed no fundamental changes. On the other hand, they rejected those who believed that they could create a perfect church in every detail. The church needed fundamental reform, but it would also always need to be reforming itself. The Reformers reached these conclusions from their study of the Bible.

In 1543, the Reformer of Strasbourg, Martin Bucer, asked John Calvin to write a defense of the Reformation for presentation to Emperor Charles V at the imperial diet set to meet at Speyer in 1544. Bucer knew that the Roman Catholic emperor was surrounded by counselors who were maligning reform efforts in the church, and he believed that Calvin was the most capable minister to defend the Protestant cause.

Calvin rose to the challenge and wrote one of his best works, “The Necessity of Reforming the Church.” This substantial treatise did not convince the emperor, but it has come to be regarded by many as the best presentation of the Reformed cause ever written.

Calvin begins by observing that everyone agreed that the church had “diseases both numerous and grievous.” Calvin argues that matters were so serious that Christians could not abide a “longer delay” for reform or wait for “slow remedies.” He rejects the contention that the Reformers were guilty of “rash and impious innovation.” Rather, he insists that “God raised up Luther and others” to preserve “the truth of our religion.” Calvin saw that the foundations of Christianity were threatened and that only biblical truth would renew the church.

Read the entire post here.

Keith Foskey: Did James Contradict Paul on Faith Alone?

Lyric Video: Grace Alone from the Modern Post

Gabriel Hughes on Justification by Faith Alone

The Bible Turned Europe Around During the Reformation

No one can read the history of Christendom as it was six hundred years ago and not see that darkness covered the whole professing church, even a darkness that could be felt (Exodus 10:21). So great was the change that had come over Christianity that if an apostle had risen from the dead, he would not have recognized it, but would have thought that heathenism had revived again! 

The doctrines of the gospel lay buried under a dense mass of human traditions. Penances, pilgrimages, indulgences, relic worship, image worship, saint worship, and worship of the Virgin Mary formed the sum and substance of most people’s religion. The Roman Catholic Church was made an idol. The priests usurped the place of Christ. By what means was all this miserable darkness cleared away? By none so much as by once more bringing forth the Bible.

It was not merely the preaching of Martin Luther and his friends that established Protestantism in Germany. The grand lever that overthrew the pope’s power in that country was Luther’s translation of the Bible into the German language. It was not merely the writings of Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformers that cast down Roman Catholicism in England. 

The seeds of the work thus carried forward were first sown by John Wycliffe’s translation of the Bible many years before. It was not merely the quarrel of Henry VIII and the pope of Rome that loosened the pope’s hold on English minds. It was the royal permission to have the Bible translated and set up in churches so that everyone who wanted to read it could do so.

J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion: What True, Biblical Christianity Should Look Like

Joel Beeke: You Need THESE 4 Things to Overcome the World

This message is from the 2024 Reformation Conference:

Another Q&A Session from the 2024 Reformation Conference

Tom Pennington: Too Many Christians Have This Dangerous View of Scripture

This message from Tom Pennington was preached during the 2024 Reformation Conference:

Joel Beeke: If You Lack This Doctrine, You’re in TROUBLE

This message from Joel Beeke was preached during the 2024 Reformation Conference:

Is The Reformation Over?

Nathan Busenitz:

In the contemporary age of ecumenism and pluralism, many in broader Christendom would suggest the issues at stake during Reformation are no longer relevant. Nothing could be further from the truth. As noted above, the Reformation flowed from the conviction that Christ is the head of the church. That fountainhead doctrine motivated the Reformers’ commitment to the authority of Scripture and informed their understanding of the gospel. 

Those biblical convictions remain as relevant today as they were in the sixteenth century. Faithful churches are characterized by their wholehearted exaltation of Christ as Lord, their unwavering adherence to His Word, and their bold proclamation of His gospel. These are not merely Reformation principles. They have marked true believers in every generation.

When we celebrate the Reformation as evangelical Christians, we not only commemorate an important part of our spiritual heritage. We also identify ourselves with these core biblical convictions. Reformation month is not about putting the Reformers on a pedestal; it’s about re-affirming the principles for which the Reformers lived and died. It reminds us of our commitment to the primacy of Christ, the priority of Scripture, and the purity of the gospel. To that end, may we honor the Lord exclusively, follow His Word consistently, and preach the gospel of grace courageously.

Read the entire post here.

The Importance of Reformation Day

On October 31, much of the culture will be focused on candy and things that go bump in the night. Protestants, however, have something far more significant to celebrate on October 31. It’s Reformation day, which commemorates what was perhaps the greatest move of God’s Spirit since the days of the Apostles. But what is the significance of Reformation Day, and how should we consider the events it commemorates?

At the time, few would have suspected that the sound of a hammer striking the castle church door in Wittenberg, Germany, would soon be heard around the world and lead ultimately to the greatest transformation of Western society since the apostles first preached the Gospel throughout the Roman empire. Martin Luther’s nailing of his ninety-five theses to the church door on October 31, 1517, provoked a debate that culminated finally in what we now call the Protestant Reformation.

An heir of Bishop Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther is one of the most significant figures God has raised up since that time. This law student turned Augustinian monk became the center of a great controversy after his theses were copied and distributed throughout Europe. Initially protesting the pope’s attempt to sell salvation, Luther’s study of Scripture soon led him to oppose the church of Rome on issues including the primacy of the Bible over church tradition and the means by which we are found righteous in the sight of God.
This last issue is probably Luther’s most significant contribution to Christian theology. Though preached clearly in the New Testament and found in the writings of many of the church fathers, the medieval bishops and priests had largely forgotten the truth that our own good works can by no means merit God’s favor. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, and good works result from our faith, they are not added to it as the grounds for our right standing in the Lord’s eyes (Eph. 2:8-10). Justification, God’s declaration that we are not guilty, forgiven of sin, and righteous in His sight comes because through our faith alone the Father imputes, or reckons to our account, the perfect righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).

Martin Luther’s rediscovery of this truth led to a whole host of other church and societal reforms and much of what we take for granted in the West would have likely been impossible had he never graced the scene. Luther’s translation of the Bible into German put the Word of God in the hands of the people, and today Scripture is available in the vernacular language of many countries, enabling lay people to study it with profit. He reformed the Latin mass by putting the liturgy in the common tongue so that non-scholars could hear and understand the preached word of God and worship the Lord with clarity. Luther lifted the unbiblical ban on marriage for the clergy and by his own teaching and example radically transformed the institution itself. He recaptured the biblical view of the priesthood of all believers, showing all people that their work had purpose and dignity because in it they can serve their Creator.

Today, Luther’s legacy lives on in the creeds and confessions of Protestant bodies worldwide. As we consider his importance this Reformation Day, let us equip ourselves to be knowledgeable proclaimers and defenders of biblical truth. May we be eager to preach the Gospel of God to the world and thereby spark a new reformation of church and culture.

Source: What Is Reformation Day All About? by Robert Rothwell

Book Review: The Reformation and the Irrepressible Word of God

The Reformation has to be one of the most critical points in the history of the church. This movement started by Martin Luther began to look at what the Bible says about what does it take to be saved. This movement also looked at the Bible as the final authority for the believer in faith and practice.

Nearly two years ago, we celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which had many conferences and books on the subject. The Reformation and the Irrepressible Word of God is a collection of essays written by men from the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School address the message of the Bible as the heart of the Reformation. Scott Manetsch wrote, "The Reformation was not first and foremost about changing the social or political order but rather about recovering from Scripture the central message of Christianity - the God extends grace to sinners who trust in Jesus Christ alone - and applying that theological insight to the spiritual needs of men and women as well as the practical concerns of church and community."

The book is divided into four sections. The first deals with how the Bible was interpreted in the Reformation. We see how important it was during that time for the proper interpretation of the Bible and how to pass it along other protestants. We also see the development of Martin Luther's Christology in the interpretation of the Bible. The second section address the preaching and pastoral care during the Reformation. The third section looks at the doctrine of justification in the Reformation and how justification is addressed today. Finally, we look at the Christian life during the Reformation, which one chapter addresses the sainthood for all believers which is grounded in the doctrine of justification.

This book is strictly academic but it is very useful in one's study of the Reformation.

Thanks InterVarsity Press for letting me review this book.

Costi Hinn on the Protestant Reformation vs the New Apostolic Reformation

Book Review: Saving the Reformation: The Pastoral Theology of the Canons of Dort by Robert Godfrey

Over the years, there has been a resurgence of Reformed Theology. Many have reading books from men such as John Calvin, John Owen, and Jonathan Edwards. Some have embraced a Reformed confession whether it is the Westminster Confession or the London Baptist Confession. These confessions are just simply an affirmation of what the Bible teaches. These statements of faith has been around for hundreds of years.

Of course over the years, Reformed Theology has been assaulted by those outside of it. Many have defined Reformed Theology and have written books on the subject. 400 years ago, there was a document was written in response to these attacks on Reformed Theology called the Canons of Dort. Robert Godfrey's latest book, Saving the Reformation: The Pastoral Theology of the Canons of Dort, takes us through what this document is all about.

Godfrey gives us the historical and theological background as to why the Canons of Dort were written. Godfrey clarifies that this is not a confession but rather "a clarification and defense of some points in the Belgic Confession and the Heidelberg Confession." So in a sense, you can say that the Canons of Dort is a commentary to the two confessions that Godfrey mentions.

The next part of the book is the entire Canons of Dort in five heads of doctrine with Godfrey giving his own interpretation to it. The heads of doctrine deal with predestination, Christ's death, the corruptions of humans, conversion, and the perseverance of the saints. Each head of doctrine express what it affirms based on what God has revealed in His Word and what it rejects. This is followed by an exposition by Godfrey on the Canons of Dort.

This was good book on a document from years ago that defended the Christian faith. Not to mention it is also a good read on church history. This book is another great edition to add to your study on the Reformation and church history.

Thanks Reformation Trust for letting me review this book.

Music Monday: The Five Solas by PSALLO

Around The Web-December 14, 2018

ESV Premium Bibles are 50% off at WTS Books

The Controversial Birth of Jesus from R.C.Sproul

Romans 7: The Mature Christian’s Struggle by Jordan Standridge

The Five Solas of the Reformation (Lecture Series) conducted by James White

Porn Stars Bear God’s Image by Russell L Meek

The Error of Prosperity Theology by Jared Sparks

Why Do I Feel Spiritually Dry? by Josh Buice

Todd Friel on whether or not people hear the voice of Jesus

Stephen Nichols on Why We Celebrate Reformation Day

A single event on a single day changed the world. It was October 31, 1517. Brother Martin, a monk and a scholar, had struggled for years with his church, the church in Rome. He had been greatly disturbed by an unprecedented indulgence sale. The story has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster. Let’s meet the cast.

First, there is the young bishop—too young by church laws—Albert of Mainz. Not only was he bishop over two bishoprics, he desired an additional archbishopric over Mainz. This too was against church laws. So Albert appealed to the Pope in Rome, Leo X. From the De Medici family, Leo X greedily allowed his tastes to exceed his financial resources. Enter the artists and sculptors, Raphael and Michelangelo.

When Albert of Mainz appealed for a papal dispensation, Leo X was ready to deal. Albert, with the papal blessing, would sell indulgences for past, present, and future sins. All of this sickened the monk, Martin Luther. Can we buy our way into heaven? Luther had to speak out.

But why October 31? November 1 held a special place in the church calendar as All Saints’ Day. On November 1, 1517, a massive exhibit of newly acquired relics would be on display at Wittenberg, Luther’s home city. Pilgrims would come from all over, genuflect before the relics, and take hundreds, if not thousands, of years off time in purgatory. Luther’s soul grew even more vexed. None of this seemed right.

Martin Luther, a scholar, took quill in hand, dipped it in his inkwell and penned his 95 Theses on October 31, 1517. These were intended to spark a debate, to stir some soul-searching among his fellow brothers in the church. The 95 Theses sparked far more than a debate. The 95 Theses also revealed the church was far beyond rehabilitation. It needed a reformation. The church, and the world, would never be the same.

One of Luther’s 95 Theses simply declares, “The Church’s true treasure is the gospel of Jesus Christ.” That alone is the meaning of Reformation Day. The church had lost sight of the gospel because it had long ago papered over the pages of God’s Word with layer upon layer of tradition. Tradition always brings about systems of works, of earning your way back to God. It was true of the Pharisees, and it was true of medieval Roman Catholicism. Didn’t Christ Himself say, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light?” Reformation Day celebrates the joyful beauty of the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is Reformation Day? It is the day the light of the gospel broke forth out of darkness. It was the day that began the Protestant Reformation. It was a day that led to Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and may other Reformers helping the church find its way back to God’s Word as the only authority for faith and life and leading the church back to the glorious doctrines of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It kindled the fires of missionary endeavors, it led to hymn writing and congregational singing, and it led to the centrality of the sermon and preaching for the people of God. It is the celebration of a theological, ecclesiastical, and cultural transformation.

So we celebrate Reformation Day. This day reminds us to be thankful for our past and to the Monk turned Reformer. What’s more, this day reminds us of our duty, our obligation, to keep the light of the gospel at the center of all we do.

Adapted from What Is Reformation Day by Stephen Nichols

Around The Web-October 31, 2018

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Do Not Invite Jesus to Your Divorce Party by Josh Buice

Why Was the Reformation Necessary? by Robert Godfrey

Ask Pastor John: Is It Sinful to Gamble on Fantasy Sports?

What’s Wrong with the Prosperity Gospel? from Tim Challies

Why I Hope You’re Celebrating October 31st by Allen Nelson IV

2 Essential Doctrines of the Reformation from Matthew Barrett

This video show clips from R.C. Sproul reflecting on the Five Solas

Around The Web-October 26, 2018

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Quiz on the Reformation from Josh Buice

Are prophecy and tongues still for today? from Denny Burk

Michael Reeves on the message that Spurgeon wouldn't stop preaching