Reformation
Jason Martin
Why did the reformation matter?
1. October 31, 1517 is said to be the day when a young catholic monk named Martin Luther brought a hammer (not to fix the door, but to fix the theology) and nailed his 95 thesis to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther felt that the traditions of the roman catholic church -which included selling indulgences to forgive sins for money and speed up time spent in “purgatory” - needed to be reformed back to what Jesus and the apostles originally taught
2. We believe in the 5 Solas taught in Scripture
a. Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone - is not the only, but it is the Final and Ultimate Authority since it is the Word of God
b. Sola Gratia - by grace alone
c. Sola Fide - through faith alone
d. Solus Christus - in Christ alone
e. Soli Deo Gloria - to the glory of God alone
• The basis of Christian Doctrine
The Word is the final Authority - Sola Scriptura
Read 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
a. raised in the Scriptures
b. Scriptures teach us how to be saved through faith in Jesus
a. Scripture is Gods inspired Word
i. 2 Peter 1:21 “21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
b. Scripture is profitable for teaching doctrine, reproof / conviction, correction, and training in righteousness
i. So that the child of God may be complete and equipped for every good work
ii. Some of the profit - or value - of the Scripture is that it corrects false teaching while building up believers to live godly lives
a. preach what? - The Word
b. when? - in season and out of season
c. in what way? - reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and understanding
d. why? - the time is coming when people wont endure sound teaching of doctrine
• Paul is telling Timothy that the Church must submit to Scripture, not Scripture submitting to the church.
• Council of Trent:
• April 8, 1546 in response to the Protestant Reformation.
• Declared that Christian revelation was transmitted through both:
• Written Scripture.
• Unwritten apostolic traditions.
• Both were to be received and venerated with equal affection and reverence.
• Biblical interpretation:
• The Church would determine the authentic interpretation of Scripture in matters of faith and morals, and individuals were not permitted to interpret Scripture contrary to the Church's established understanding.
• In other words, the institutional Church claimed the final authority to determine the authentic interpretation of Scripture.
• But we maintain that the Church must submit to Scripture, not Scripture submitting to the church.
There is only one Gospel
Read Galatians 1:6-10
1. There is only one Gospel
a. Galatians 1:6–7 “6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
i. Ephesians 2:8–10 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
2. Even religious authorities can distort it to satisfy people
a. Galatians 1:8–9 “8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”
3. Our allegiance is to Christ
a. Galatians 1:10 “10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
• The Gospel or Good News of Jesus Christ that saves - is not ours to change
The righteous live by faith
• Martin Luther lived the life of a Roman catholic monk - but lived in constant fear of God’s judgment
• He did everything he could to be righteous through religious discipline
• He struggled with how a sinful man could enter the presence of a righteous God
Romans 1:16–17 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.””
Genesis 15:6 “6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”
Read Romans 3:21-28
1. The righteousness of God
a. Romans 3:21–22 “21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:”
i. manifested = revealed / made known
2. The universal problem of sin
a. Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
3. Justification by grace, through faith
a. Romans 3:24–26 “24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
i. Philippians 3:8–9 “8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—”
4. We are saved for good works, not by good works
a. Romans 3:27–28 “27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
i. Titus 3:5–7 “5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
• Faith is the root, works are the fruit
• Only God gets the glory
Closing call to action
Read Mark 7:6-13
1. The greatest danger to the Church isn’t always persecution from the outside
a. Colossians 2:8 “8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
b. Acts 17:11 “11 Now these Jews (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
i. Even what we consider good traditions - must submit to God’s Word
2. In 1302, Pope Boniface VIII issued a document called ‘Unam Sanctam’, which said - "It is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff."
a. Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ
i. John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
b. He is our righteousness
i. 1 Corinthians 1:30 “30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,”
c. He is our Mediator
i. 1 Timothy 2:5 “5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”
d. He is our Sacrifice
i. Hebrews 10:14 “14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
e. He is the founder and perfecter of our faith
i. Hebrews 12:2 “2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
3. The Church isn’t reformed by making it;
a. more acceptable to the changing culture
b. more entertaining
c. more religious
4. The Church is reformed by bringing it back under the authority of the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ
a. Colossians 1:18 “18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”
b. John 14:15 “15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
c. James 1:22 “22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Exported from Logos Bible Study, 2:50 PM October 31, 2026.