Articles and thoughts by Steve Green.
Reformation Day
October 31st, 2006On this day in 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, thus igniting a firestorm within the Catholic church and causing a huge upheaval of distrust in Papal authority.
Unable to bear up under the crushing weight of a holy God’s righteous demands, nor able to appease his conscience by strenuous works and penance, Luther finally saw the truth of the gospel in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans. “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’.” Romans 1:16-17 (emphasis mine)
The five great affirmations of the Reformation are:
- Sola Scriptura – Scripture is the norm of norms and is alone our ultimate trustworthy guide and source of authority. Sola Scriptura affirmed the perfection of Scripture in its Necessity, Sufficiency, Perspicuity (clarity), and Authority.
- Sola Christus – Christ alone is necessary and sufficient for salvation.
- Sola Gratia – We are saved by grace alone, which comes to us freely from God.
- Sola Fide – We receive the grace of God through faith alone, not by our effort or works or sincerity.
- Sola Deo Gloria – We are called and freed to do all things for the glory of God alone.
1 Comment »
It is so refreshing to see more and more contemporary artists defending and promoting the truths of the Reformation process. My kids grew up on the Bible Memory songs, and I’ve listened to your music since the mid 80s. Thanks.
Comment by Melinda Hemphill — March 9, 2008 @ 3:07 pm