I am thankful to God for the movement that this day commemorates.  Four hundred and ninety-two years ago, today, Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses On The Power And Efficacy Of Indulgences, on the door of Castle Church, located in Wittenberg, Germany.

The drive of the reformation movement, to which the posting of the Ninety-Five Theses represents, can be summarized well in point number sixty-two of the Luther’s Theses.

62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.

This gospel treasure, preserved for us in the holy scriptures, is what the reformers desired to live and die for.  They derived from the scriptures the following five solas (Latin) of true Christian religion, to preserve and proclaim the gospel of Jesus as the supremely valuable treasure of the church:

Sola Scriptura – “Scripture Alone”

Sola Fide – “Faith Alone”

Sola Gratia – “Grace Alone”

Solus Christus – “Christ Alone”

Soli Deo Gloria – “Glory to God Alone”

You and I have benefited from the price that the reformers paid in returning to the doctrines of scripture.  They have much to teach us today, even beyond the five solas of the reformation.

The reformers used another Latin phrase, “semper reformanda,” which means be always reforming.  In other words, as sinful people, we need to be looking to the scriptures daily to listen carefully to the message of God in its pages, conforming our thought patterns and lifestyles to what is revealed to us therein.

But not only do our thoughts and actions need reformation, but also our affections.  Our affections are in need of continual purification so that God may increasingly become our all consuming passion, through Jesus Christ.  How are we to reform our affections?  Humans cannot change what they love.  Our only hope is to seek out the one true Reformer, the only one who can change our hearts.  In light of our need, let us ardently seek God together, casting ourselves at the feet of the only one who can rescue us from our passion for things that will destroy us.

God, you are the one true reformer of the minds and hearts of mankind.  Only you can salvage our deeply corrupted souls.  Only you can sanctify us, and set us on the path to true salvation, through Jesus Christ.  And oh God, you do it so well!  You are a good and mighty King!  It is amazing how you serve your church through broken and sinful men, bringing us to reformation around your word, and true faith in Christ!  Cause us to follow in these reformers footsteps as they follow you.