What is Reformation Day? (The Protestant Reformation)

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany, his ninety-five theses, a list of arguments calling out the corrupt practices of the Roman Catholic church. This marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, an effort to reform the church and recover the gospel.

But why did Luther choose that day to present his theses? Well November 1 was All Saints Day, and the church in Wittenburg was about to present an exhibit of newly acquired relics. Worshipers would come from great distances to genuflect upon these relics, hoping to take thousands of years off their purgatory sentence.

The Catholic church was selling the forgiveness of sins, and teaching people they could be saved by their works. This was not the gospel. Salvation is not through sacraments or the Pope. It isn't earned by deeds or money. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone.

One of Luther's theses was, "The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God." That is the meaning of Reformation Day, when the light of the gospel broke forth out of darkness.

Hence this motto of the reformation, post tenebras lux: "Out of darkness, light." The Bible says, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Reformers like Luther, Calvin, Knox, Tyndale, and others helped to lead the church back to the glorious doctrines of justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ to the glory of God, when we understand the text.

What is Papal Infallibility? (Ex Cathedra)

Papal infallibility is the belief that the Pope is incapable of error when speaking from his position of supreme apostolic authority in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals. This doesn't mean the Pope is sinless (although plenty of Catholics do believe that). Rather, it means that his teaching is perfect whenever he speaks ex cathedra, or from the chair of St. Peter.

The doctrine was defined by the First Vatican Council, presided over by Pope Pius IX. Pius decreed the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the belief that Mary was without sin, even though Jesus said no one is good but God alone (Mark 10:18).

Now, Catholic apologists maintain that the Pope has spoken ex cathedra only one other time, when Pope Pius the XII decreed the assumption of Mary, that she was bodily taken up into heaven. But these are not the only occasions papal infallibility has been exercised.

The Second Vatican declared that even when the Pope is not speaking from the chair, "his supreme magisterium is acknowledged with reverence," and his judgments "are sincerely adhered to, according to his manifest mind and will."

The Roman Catholic Church believes the Pope's word is as good as God's word. It was such teaching that spurred protestant reformer William Tyndale to declare, "I defy the pope and all his laws!" Tyndale translated the Bible into English, so that all could read God's word. The Roman Catholic Church had him burned at the stake.

Tyndale understood what the Pope doesn't, that our only infallible authority is the Bible. All Scripture is breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16). Psalm 18:30 says God's way is perfect, and the word of the Lord is without error, when we understand the text.

What is Justification by Faith Alone?

Romans 4:5 says, "To the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness."

Justification by faith alone is the gospel, the belief that we are forgiven our sins and made innocent before God by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the grave. You can do nothing to earn this. It is by the grace of God.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith." Romans 3:23-25

Whoever teaches that salvation is a combination of faith and works is teaching a different gospel. The Catholic and Orthodox churches both deny justification by faith alone. Salvation is by faith and the Eucharist, or by faith and baptism. That's a different gospel.

"If anyone saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification... let him be anathema." Council of Trent, Canon 9

"The sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist are decisive to salvation... What is the event at which salvation truly takes hold? Baptism!" Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Galatians 1:8-9 says that anyone who preaches a different gospel is accursed. Galatians 2:16 says, "We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."

Now when a person has been saved, they confirm their faith by obedience. If they do not obey the commands of Christ, they're still dead in their sins. This is what James meant when he said faith without works is a dead faith (James 2:26).

"Whoever says 'I know Him' but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked." 1 John 2:4-6

Someone might say, "Well, what about faith. Isn't that something that I do?" Nope. Because as you study the doctrine you will find that even faith itself is also a gift from God. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

As Romans 5:1-2 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God," when we understand the text.