This year is a big one for Evangelicals. 31 October will mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. That event sparked what we call the Protestant Reformation.
Luther and his friends rediscovered the gospel. At its heart is the glorious reality that ‘the just shall live by faith’ (Romans 1:17). Justification — our being made right with God — is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Add merit to grace and it is no longer biblical grace. Add works to faith and it is no longer gospel faith. Add anything to Christ and you take away everything from his finished work on the cross at Calvary.
Luther and Calvin
After centuries of darkness, the light shined again. John Calvin and others built on the work of Luther and his friends. The Bible was once more front and centre, which led to a thoroughgoing reformation of doctrine, worship and practice.
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