Posted on 10/31/2010 6:58:53 AM PDT by RnMomof7
Reformation Day is a religious holiday celebrated on October 31st or the last weekend in October in remembrance of the Reformation.
Martin Luther posted a proposal at the doors of a church in Wittenberg, Germany to debate the doctrine and practice of indulgences. This proposal is popularly known as the 95 Theses, which he nailed to the Castle Church doors. This was not an act of defiance or provocation as is sometimes thought. Since the Castle Church faced Wittenberg's main thoroughfare, the church door functioned as a public bulletin board and was therefore the logical place for posting important notices.
Also, the theses were written in Latin, the language of the church, and not in the vernacular. Nonetheless, the event created a controversy between Luther and those allied with the Pope over a variety of doctrines and practices.
While it had profound and lasting impacts on the political, economic, social, literary, and artistic aspects of modern society, the Reformation was at its heart a religious movement.
The Reformation was the great rediscovery of the good news of salvation by grace through faith for Christ's sake. For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church had been plagued by false doctrines, superstition, ignorance, and corruption. Since most ordinary Christians were illiterate and had little knowledge of the Bible, they relied on their clergy for religious instruction and guidance. Tragically however, monks, priests, bishops, and even the popes in Rome taught unbiblical doctrines like purgatory and salvation through good works.
Spiritually earnest people tried to justify themselves by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions, but they were left wondering if they had done enough to escape God's anger and punishment. The truth of the gospel -- the good news that God is loving and merciful, that He offers each and every one of us forgiveness and salvation not because of what we do, but because of what Christ has already done for us -- was largely forgotten by both clergy and laity.
The Holy Spirit used an Augustinian monk and university professor named Martin Luther to restore the gospel to its rightful place as the cornerstone doctrine of Christianity. Martin Luther and his colleagues came to understand that if we sinners had to earn salvation by our own merits and good works, we would be lost and completely without hope.
But through the working of the Holy Spirit, the reformers rediscovered the gospel -- the wonderful news that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again to redeem and justify us. As Luther wrote in his explanation of the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed: I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
On Reformation Day, we glorify God for what he accomplished in 16th century Germany through His servant, Dr. Martin Luther -- the recovery of the gospel of salvation by grace through faith for Christ's sake.
We also earnestly pray that God would keep all of us faithful to the true gospel and help us to joyfully declare it to the world. This lovely hymn verse encapsulates the theme of our
Reformation celebration:
By grace God's Son, our only Savior,
Came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of your own merit
That Jesus died your soul to win?
No, it was grace, and grace alone,
It brought Him from His heav'nly throne.
I was going to ask if you still become Luther ..I remembered that from some years ago and recount it to reformed friends :)
Dr. Luther may well make a visit tonight.
Pity of it, though, is that I always miss him!
Great Sunday !
Happy reformation day to you Nares !
Happy Reformation day !
Could you show us where Jesus taught purgatory or indulgences?
Sure, just as soon as you tell us where Jesus taught any of the five Solas and explained why you needed five "onlys".
Nobody is opposed to traditions, like Easter and Christmas or annually recognizing any event, even as much as a birthday.
It’s traditions taught as if they were oracles of God Himself, on level with Scripture and necessary for salvation that people object to. It’s making up traditions hundreds or thousand(s) of years after the fact, when all true facts have been lost in time and there’s no way to verify or corroborate them, and declaring them as truth that people object to.
You'd be surprised metmom. Every Christmas and Easter around here the anti-holiday folks come out of the woodwork. Anyhow, have a good day!
Its not over. Another 15,000 post thread?
This is not a "holy day" honoring a "saint" (although no doubt Martin Luther is a Saint..)This is a day honoring the Gospel of Christ...and that is the good news of the bible..
The saved are free to celebrate holidays BTW because we enjoy the liberty in Christ
Act 10:15 And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common.
2Cr 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.
Happy Reformation day
They may actually get into heaven before they even die :)
LOL No mention of purgatory or indulgences huh?
Jesus actually taught Sola Scripture by His very example.. He did not initiate any new traditions. He used the OT scriptures to answer Satan and to teach who He is.. and the God ordained Holidays tat pointed to Him.., nothing new ..
In all His teachings He referred to the divine authority of the Old Testament (Mt. 5:17-18; 8:17; 12:40-42; Lk. 4:18-21; 10:25-28; 15:29-31; 17:32; 24:25-45; Jn. 5:39-47). He quoted the Old Testament 78 times, the Pentateuch alone 26 times. He quoted from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Micah, and Malachi. He referred to the Old Testament as The Scriptures, or the word of God.
God's Plan for Man
Sola Scriptura
Theses are the Key words here..works ordained by God, not to be saved :)
LOL....your best defense of Sola Scriptura is not found in Scripture.....LOL. Do you not see how ridiculous that is?
Funny I thought the words and teachings of Christ meant something...
They mean everything which is why your Sola's and little "reformation" are so ridiculous.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.