REFORMATION DAY OCTOBER 31, 2009

REFORMATION DAY OCTOBER 31, 2009

This Saturday, October 31 is Reformation Day. While many are dressing up and celebrating Halloween, an important historical event is overlooked. On this day in 1517, 492 years ago, Martin Luther nailed to the Wittenberg door his 95 theses in order to prompt a debate.

But what prompted Luther’s action? Luther was responding to the actions of John Tetzel (1465-1519). Tetzel was a Dominican friar best known for the fundraising jingle, "As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs." Tetzel was raising money from German peasants to build a building - St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Tetzel claimed that contributions would help the souls of others and/or shorten the time in purgatory for the contributor. Luther was sufficiently angered by Tetzel's antics that he posted his famous 95 Theses on the university chapel door in Wittenberg.

John Tetzel has become the example of preachers who promise to grow the Kingdom and the message of salvation through contributions received in response to a plausibly deniable effort to achieve personal gain and to further their ministry’s financial position.

But Luther and the Reformers saw that the heart of the biblical gospel was God's free gift of righteousness and justification.

The Roman Catholic church had taught a progressive salvation that may be gained by progressively working up a sacramental ladder. The Reformers proclaimed salvation received in its entirety here and now by self-abandoning faith in God's promise, and in the Christ of that promise, as set forth in the pages of the Bible.

Rome had said, God's grace is great, for through Christ's cross and his Church salvation is possible for all who will work and suffer for it; so come to church, and toil! But the Reformers said, God's grace is greater, because through Christ's cross and his Spirit, salvation is given completely and freely once and forever to all who believe; so come to Christ, and trust and take, and enjoy the unlimited guarantee of eternal joy!

The Reformers reclaimed the Biblical position that:
Salvation is by faith only, without our being obliged to work for it;
it is by grace only, without our having to earn or deserve it first;
it is by Christ only, without there being need for any other mediator, whether priest, saint, or virgin;
it is by Scripture only, without regard to such unbiblical and unfounded extras as the doctrines of purgatory and of pilgrimages, the relic-cult and papal indulgences as devices for shortening one's stay there;
and praise for salvation is due to God only, so we are unable to take any credit for His acceptance of us.

The Reformation started because Luther’s conscience was so troubled by the actions and doctrinal faults of the church he had served for years. Eventually, to protect his conscience, he had no choice but to walk away from that church. Because of Luther’s concern for the Biblical Gospel, the Reformation began so long ago.