Monday, October 31, 2022

           Happy Reformation Day!  On this day, October 31, we recall the actions of a priest named Martin Luther who nailed ninety-five theses or protests to the door of the Catholic Church in Wittenberg.  He led the way in the rediscovery of salvation by grace through faith—not by works or papal prerogative.  This basic gospel message remains under assault today by opponents who would seek to add to it or detract from it.  When thinking about Luther and salvation by grace through faith, we can think of Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  And therein lies the gospel.  Christ gave Himself for us and we receive that offering and gift by faith.
            The great themes of the Reformation are worth remembering on a day such as this—grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone and the glory of God alone.  These five pillars allow us to build a sturdy house of faith that can withstand the winds and trials of life.  Faith and belief are the manner by which we receive God’s gift of grace and acknowledge what the cross means for us personally.  Paul wrote, “So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Galatians 3:6).  God calls us to believe in Him and to take Him at His Word.  He desires obedience above sacrifice.  And Luther’s rediscovery of biblical truth continues to bless believers like us even to this day.
            The gospel calls for clarity in understanding and in proclamation.  If the enemy can deceive us into losing sight of the gospel, then we are in a troubling place.  Remember the price that was paid for salvation and the power of the cross.  Do not depart from these essential values and truths.  In Paul’s day, he was baffled by the tendency of the Galatians to turn from the gospel and to embrace the latest fad that came their way.  This conundrum was not unlike the circumstances that we face today.  Paul wrote, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7). 
            May we recognize that Satan is the author of confusion, chaos and disorder.  He would be happy for you to settle for almost anything other than the gospel.  He often whittles away at the gospel—a little at a time until we are deceived into both believing and living in ways that are at odds with the gospel.  As we observe Reformation Day, be clear about what the gospel says and is.  Refresh your mind and heart by reading Galatians and Ephesians (and if you are really ambitious today, give Romans another read).  Luther considered Romans a “gospel of iron or steel.”  And base your gospel on the inspired text of Scripture and not whatever the enemy happens to be peddling or selling.  Have a wonderful Monday and remember you can worship any time at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.