On 31st October, What Will You Celebrate?
Halloween OR Reformation Day?
October is 'Reformation Month'. 31st October is 'Reformation Day'. The Sunday closest to 31st October is 'Reformation Sunday'. On Reformation Day, we celebrate the great Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther, and the Reformation Movement that God raised up under his ministry - the greatest move of God since the Day of Pentecost.
Reformation Day is a civic holiday in parts of Germany (Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia). It is also commemorated in Orthodox countries like Ukraine; and Roman Catholic countries like Slovenia and Chilie. |
On 31st October 1517, Martin Luther is understood to have nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. In this document, he attacked the Roman Catholic Church’s corruption and the indulgence-for-sale system that it had spawned.
The Reformation had a massive impact on global Christianity. Millions of people across Europe were swept into the Kingdom of God as whole nations received the good news of Jesus Christ. In stark contrast to the unbiblical practices of Romanism, Luther called the Church back to the true gospel salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Rather than tradition or papal decrees, Luther believed that the Word of God was the supreme authority for the Christian Faith. He therefore translated the Bible into German, wrote many books and tracts, preached numerous sermons, and composed a large number of hymns (many of whom are still sung today). |
In 1521, Martin Luther was brought to trial before the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, who demanded that he recant his views. Luther stood firm and refused to give in. His response was both inspirational and uncompromising: “I cannot choose but adhere to the Word of God, which has possession of my conscience; nor can I possibly, nor will I even make any recantation, since it is neither safe nor honest to act contrary to conscience! Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God! Amen.”
From Germany, the Protestant Reformation spread throughout Europe, influencing the work of John Calvin in Geneva, Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich, and John Knox in Scotland. The movement that Luther inspired also sparked the English Reformation. These great works of God, in turn, influenced the spread of Christianity to the Americas and everywhere throughout the world where European exploration took place. South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand all felt the impact of Luther’s hammer in Wittenberg.
Robert Rothwell has noted, “Today, Luther’s legacy lives on in the creeds and confessions of Protestant bodies worldwide. As we consider his importance on 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.” |
Reformation Day ought to remain a central rallying point for all who follow Christ by faith, according to His Word.
This special day commemorates the actions of a man who was willing to stand against the unscriptural ideas of his day and present God’s Word as our only guide for salvation (John 3:16) and Christian living.
The Reformation was, and still is, all about the Lord Jesus Christ, His Gospel and His Word.
Reflecting upon what God was doing in his life and ministry, Martin Luther had the following to say on 10th March 1522: “In short, I will preach it, teach it, write it, but I will constrain no one by force, for faith must come freely without compulsion. Take myself as an example. I opposed indulgences and all the papists, but never with force. I simply taught, preached and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank ... with my friends Philipp and Amsdorf, the Word did everything.”
This special day commemorates the actions of a man who was willing to stand against the unscriptural ideas of his day and present God’s Word as our only guide for salvation (John 3:16) and Christian living.
The Reformation was, and still is, all about the Lord Jesus Christ, His Gospel and His Word.
Reflecting upon what God was doing in his life and ministry, Martin Luther had the following to say on 10th March 1522: “In short, I will preach it, teach it, write it, but I will constrain no one by force, for faith must come freely without compulsion. Take myself as an example. I opposed indulgences and all the papists, but never with force. I simply taught, preached and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank ... with my friends Philipp and Amsdorf, the Word did everything.”
Do you know Luther's Saviour?
Has his Saviour become your Saviour? Receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal and only Saviour. Trust in Him, and Him alone, for entry into Heaven. May God bless you as you do it. Please click here for further information about how to make sure that you are going to Heaven. |