Title: Words of October 31st
Contents
The principle of church reform (Ephesians 2:8-9)
We think differently depending on our interests. That is why reforms and conservatives are at odds with each other. However, the reformation and restoration of the church is centered on the Bible, which is the absolute truth. Reform is to return to the truth of the Bible, and remuneration is to keep it from moving away from the truth of the Bible. As a result, reform and remuneration are the same thing.
Today is Reformation Sunday. This year marks the 487th anniversary of the Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther wrote and pasted the 95 Theses on the front door of the Holy Gate Church in Wittenberg, and the Reformation began. He pointed out the biblical error of Romanism at that time. Thus, Catholicism and Protestantism were divided into Romanism and Protestantism. The reformation of the church did not end once in the days of medieval Martin Luther. The church must continue to be reformed. The Reformers proposed five principles of church reform: grace alone, faith alone, the Bible alone, Christ alone, and the glory of God alone.
I. Only grace (SOLA GREATIA)
“For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). I mean. It says that no human action or merit is necessary for salvation, but it is entirely by the grace of God. "We are saved by the grace of God alone" This is the truth of the Bible. Also, this was the flag of the Reformation. Karlbarth said that the difference between Protestantism and Romanism lies in SOLA and BUT "only" and "but". Protestants are saved only by the grace of God. Romanism is saved by God, but it must also have human merit. In human sense, it seems so.
But the Bible is saved only by the grace of God. It is said that not even 1% of human merit is necessary. Why? Because humans are completely corrupted beings. They are completely incompetent to do good before God. It is possible only through God's grace, because it is impossible to be justified before God, to be saved, and to receive eternal life. Dear all! Please always keep in mind that you are saved only by the grace of God. So, I pray that you will become saints who live your life of faith with a humble heart and a grateful heart.
Ⅱ. Only Faith (SOLA FIDE)
Those who have been justified by God. The righteous live by faith, and receive salvation and eternal life. Faith in salvation and eternal life is faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ bore my sins for me and died on the cross so that all my sins were cleansed with His blood.
Ⅲ. Only the Bible (SOLA SCRIPTURA)
In our Reformed Church, we believe that the Bible is the only law of faith. Why only the Bible? “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16), because God gave the Bible writers the breath of God and the Holy Spirit to write them with the Holy Spirit, so that the Bible was free from errors or errors. If we look at the history of the church, when we increase the authority of the Bible, the church overflows with vitality, and when we ignore it, the church becomes corrupt. The Reformed church exalts the authority of the Bible over the church or the experience of the Holy Spirit.
< It means that Christ is our only Savior, and Christ is our only Mediator. It is saying that there is no other way for humans to be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ is the only way. Jesus is the only mediator. “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
The only mediator between God and sinners is Jesus Christ. We do not come to Jesus through any saint, either Mary or Peter, but directly to Jesus Christ. After the Atonement of Jesus Christ, every believer in Jesus Christ is a priest. You don't need to go through anyone. Dear all! Believe that only Jesus Christ is our Savior and our only Mediator.
Grace alone, faith alone speaks the way of our salvation, and the Bible alone speaks the basis of our faith and actions. And only the glory of God speaks of the purpose of our faith. The first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism says that the chief purpose of life is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. What is living for the glory of God? The purpose and method of life must be for the glory of God and must be holy. We need to think about whether the church is doing it right for the glory of God. Today's church flows in a quantitative, visible and goal-oriented way. The church must be biblical and must be good, holy, and righteous.
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