FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT THE REFORMATION
I had a friend recently say, “isn’t it interesting that more and more Protestants are flocking to ‘reformed’ churches yet have no more idea of what the Reformation is about than they do artificial intelligence (AI). The comment made me pause, and giggle. Truth is, I wasn’t sure my friend was that far off. I mean, if I stopped 10 people in my church and asked them what the reformed faith stood for, would they be able to answer? Would I be able to answer? Do we truly know if the church we attend is really preaching the reformed faith consistently?
Where did “reformed” theology get its roots in the first place?
Well, over five hundred years ago, you might recall a guy named Martin Luther who nailed his thesis to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany as an invitation to leaders of the church to debate issues of significant relevance. On the surface, that doesn’t sound like a very earth-shattering move, but truth be told, his thesis blew up years and years of dogma and tradition that was hiding the Gospel from the world. It was explosive because prior to his thesis being revealed, the Gospel of grace had been horribly overlaid with hundreds of years of additions related to human merit…
Everywhere one looked, believers were seeking to save themselves by good works…by their own “virtuous” endeavors.
While there were certainly many religious debates back in the 16th century including the sale of indulgences, the role of the papacy, purgatory, Mother Mary, or even the saints, the central focus of the day was on how a person was justified. Then, as now, the definition of justification in the “church” can pretty much be summed up in one of two ways:
- Arminian/Roman Catholics: Faith (by grace) + Works = Justification
- Protestants: Faith (by grace) = Justification – Period! Hopefully resulting in good works.
Even today, while we might be drawn to continue the denominational fighting over what we believe, the truth is that such issues are trivial compared to Justification.
When it comes to the topic of Justification, the Gospel itself is at stake! It answers the question raised by the Philippian jailer to Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” Whether to sprinkle, dip or immerse is not the issue. Salvation is! It is the most important question we have as Christians. It is about God’s justice – God is just and you and I aren’t. As David spoke in Psalm 130: 3-4 “If you, GOD, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped.”
So, if God is not going to negotiate His justice, how are we saved?
This was the debate of the 16th century between Martin Luther and Rome, and which continues today.
- Does God wait until we become just before He declares us just, or
- Does God declare us just in His sight before we are just?
Martin Luther believed to the core that we are justified by the work of Christ, yet we still sin. Rome’s response was that this would be unworthy of God – not to mention make Him a liar – to declare a person just before they are indeed just. Roman Catholics believe justification occurs when God declares one to be just, but He does not do so until one is indeed just. Are you with me? In their eyes, you and I must become just, before our Savior will declare us just. How is that working out for you?
Reformers counter that God declares one just based on the real work – the life and the death of Jesus. That one is justified by faith, and that the little word “by”, is the means through which one is justified as Christ both lived and died for us.
Roman Catholicism has two instrumental causes of justification, baptism, and penance. Protestantism has only one – faith that lays hold of the merit of Christ. The critical questions then are:
- Is justification infused through the Roman sacraments of baptism and penance, or
- Is justification imputed (transferred) to us by the righteousness of Christ? Arighteousness that is not in the believer, but a righteousness that is for the believer.
Reformation (or Protestant theology) holds to the latter.
Justification for Protestants means to have the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ clothe them as a white robe, as their sins were ALL assigned to Christ at Calvary, leaving us faultless to stand before the eyes of an all-holy God. Salvation for Protestants is by grace alone through Christ alone. It is unearned, undeserved, and unmerited. It is received by a simple trust in Jesus.
Case closed.
A word of caution for Protestants, however, is that today too many believe grace is permission to do what they want. This is not what Martin Luther, other Reformers, and the Bible means by “grace.” Grace is not permission to do what we want, but to do what we should; that is to love and serve the risen Christ with all our mind, heart, and strength.
This is what the Reformation was and is all about.
Joe Bouch
FORGE Winter Springs
