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When Luther Let the Cat Out of the Bag

 
The fire of the Protestant Reformation had been smouldering for some time, but it officially broke out on October 31, 1517 when a monk named Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses protesting church corruption to the door of Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany.

But there is a significant fact often overshadowed by the other accomplishments of the Reformation. It was through personal study of the Word of God that Luther and the other Reformers became convinced that the Roman Catholic Church was corrupt in both doctrine and practice and in need of reform. It was their belief in the right to private interpretation and personal study of Scripture, a truth based on the scriptural teaching of priesthood of the believer, which let the cat out of the bag.

Once out, there was no putting it back. Their actions unchained the Bible from the clergy and put it back into the hands of the common man to read and study personally. The result was the propagation of Protestantism and is the main reason behind the proliferation of Protestant denominations the world over. Although the core beliefs of Protestants are the same, the belief in the right of private interpretation produces variations in beliefs and doctrinal emphases and subsequently, the broad denominational spectrum we see today —  over 20,000 Protestant groups.

The return to The Book led to the articulation of five Solas — foundational concepts, which became the rallying cry of the Reformation — concepts we need to hear again in a day when much of the evangelical church has lost its connection to its roots and its sense of history. More importantly, we need to hear the Solas again in a day when the popes of personal experience, pop-psychology, relativism, and biblical illiteracy have replaced the authority of Scripture in many believers’ lives.

Sola Scriptura

This is the belief that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority for life and faith. Popes, Councils, personal experiences, and traditions are fallible and therefore insufficient guides. Whatever does not agree with Scripture must be changed or rejected. In 1521 at the historic interrogation of Luther at the Diet of Worms, he declared, “Unless I am overcome with testimonies from Scripture or with evident reasons — for I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils, since they have often erred and contradicted one another — I am overcome by the Scripture texts which I have adduced, and my conscience is bound by God's Word.”

Soli Deo Gloria

With this doctrine, the Reformation reclaimed the Scriptural teaching of the sovereignty of God over every aspect of the believer's life. All of life is to be lived to the glory of God. In contrast to the monastic division of life into sacred versus secular perpetuated by the Roman Church, the reformers saw all of life to be lived under the Lordship of Christ. Every activity of the Christian is to be done for the glory of God.

Solo Christo

The Reformation called the Church back to faith in Christ as the sole mediator between God and man. In contrast to the Roman church's teaching about purgatory and prayer to saints, the Reformers taught that salvation was by Christ's work alone. It was Christ alone who stepped in, took the punishment upon Himself and bore the judgment due to sinners. With His death He paid for the sins that made us enemies of God, thereby satisfying Him. In Christ alone is all we need for salvation.

Sola Gratia

A central cry of the Reformation was salvation by grace alone. Though the Roman church taught the Mass is propitiatory — in it God is appeased and grants us forgiveness — the Reformers returned to the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. Our righteous standing before God is imputed to us by grace because of the work of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sola Fide

The final main principle of the Reformation was justification by faith alone. By faith we receive and rest on Christ and His righteousness alone. Thereby we are justified — declared righteous by God. “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” (Galatians 3:10,11 NIV)

Luther and the other Reformers helped rekindle a flame that has burned brightly for almost 400 years. It was sparked by their personal and private attention to the Word — a legacy they passed on. That is our heritage as people of The Book. Let's recognize our privilege and responsibility and hold to it.

About the Author:  Steve Johnson


 
Steve Johnson