I’m not trying to be patronizing.  Actually, I’m pretty certain you have heard of the Reformation.  My real question is: Do you know what it was about?  And why am I bringing up the Reformation anyway?  This is the season for Halloween, ghosts and goblins!

Wittenberg Door

Actually, a major event of the Reformation occurred on October 31, 1517.   That was the day Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-Five Theses on the Wittenburg Door.

(And in case you are interested in some really trivial information, that “W” is pronounced “V”…particularly if you really want to sound like you know what you are talking about when you are around german/historical people.  You never know when you might want to impress one of them.)

Out of the Reformation came, among other things, the Five Solas:

• Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone
• Solus Christus – Christ Alone
• Sola Gratia – Grace Alone
• Sola Fide – Faith Alone
• Soli Deo Gloria – The Glory of God Alone

Faith Alone in Christ Alone by Grace Alone !

Did you realize that these truths are basic to orthodox Christianity?  In Martin Luther’s day, some of these concepts were considered way outside the norm of orthodoxy.  Can you imagine?  People died for these truths.  People suffered for them.  To say nothing of the cost Christ paid!

Yes, as he, and many of those who struggled over these doctrines thought, prayed and read God’s Word, they realized they could not escape the messages of books like Galatians, Romans and many of the Epistles…to say nothing of the overall message of Scripture.

Yes, our salvation is by Faith alone in Christ alone by Grace alone according to Scripture alone.  To the Glory of God alone be praise and glory for ever!

photo: © Thomas Cannon | Dreamstime.com