Ingredients for Godly living

1 Corinthians 4:1 "Let a man regard us in this manner, asservants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."

Introduction:

We live our lives before men and before God. A Christian's speech will not be given audience until they first have demonstrated that they have actions to back up their claims. I can recall my dad working at a company among non-Christian people. Except on rare occassions, none of the other employees gave him the time of day until roughly 1 year into the experience. They knew he was a Christian - however so many other people making such claims had turned out to be poor examples. God in His grace had enabled my dad to gradually gain their respect, and in time they would seek him out for counsel and advice. Godly living is so crucial in a godless world. The Apostle Paul was attempting to convey to his readers the ingredients necessary for Godly living and ministry. Such ingredients were vital - since Paul aimed to be an example among a people who questioned his ministry and people who were trying to undermine what God was doing at the church of Corinth. Today's post aims to list out in short order five ingredients necessary for Godly living.

1. Servant's heart. 1 Corinthians 4:1

In this opening verse of 1 Corinthians 4:1, Paul tells his readers to regard he and his companions as "servants of Christ". The Greek word translated "servant" brings to mind an "under-rower". These slaves were in the bottoms of galley ships, chained  to the floors and were situated in rows of benches - rowing in unison to provide propulsion to the Roman ships. If the ship went down - so did they. A servant of Jesus Christ in this manner will serve Him no matter what. So to be Godly, we must have a servant's heart. Notice secondly...

2. Stewardship of faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 4:1

In this instance we are not speaking only of the handling of tithes and offerings (although such practices fit under the principle laid out in this text). On  broader level, we are speaking of how the godly person views their life relative to God. In Jesus Christ I am taken out of ownership and put into management. How well are you and I taking care of what God has given us? Godliness includes being a good steward of the sphere of influence He has given us. So to be Godly, we must have a servant's heart, be stewards, then thirdly...

3. Awareness of God. 1 Corinthians 4:2-4

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:2-4 "In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or byany human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord." The last phrase of verse 4 brings together everything we have said thus far - namely "the one who examines me is the Lord". To know that I am in God's presence and that He knows every thought I say, every word I speak changes (or at least should affect) how I live my life. Walking with God entails cultivating a continual awareness of Him. You and I may not consciously think of the oxygen we breath. However if the amount of it were to alter - we would notice! To know that He is the source of my strength (Nehemiah 8:10) and to know He never leaves me nor forsakes me (Hebrews 13:5) enables me to walk out the Godly life. So in Godly living, I aim to serve, be a good steward and cultiivate an awareness of His presence. Notice what else is needed for Godly living....

4. Eternal perspective. 1 Corinthians 4:5-6

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:5-6  "Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God. 6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other." Why do we sometimes find ourselves wanting to get out of the saddle so-to-speak? One word - impatience. Like the little child who cannot see beyond their nose - Christians get impatient in their walks with God. We use this world as our reference point - rather than God. Henry Blackaby has often noted how the Christian life is to be radically oriented around God. As we seek first His Kingdom - all other things will be added in their proper order and time (see Matthew 6:33). 

Patience comes with proper perspective. An eternal perspective on things understands that the rate of circumstances is exactly the way God wants them. Focusing on the things above gives perspective as to how to live out among the things here below (see Colossians 3:1-3). So to be Godly, I need to serve, be a steward, be aware of God and have an eternal perspective. Now lets notice one final trait....

5. Dependance on God. 1 Corinthians 4:7

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:7 "For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" If we would see our selves as insufficient - and Christ as all sufficient - so would end our preoccupation with ourselves. Human autonomy is a lie, for only One is Autonomous, Self-sufficient and the source of His own being - God. Everything in our lives has been granted directly or indirectly by God. Godly living embraces this principle. 

Thus to realize that I own nothing is to have everything. To enjoy everything in life means that I own nothing. This is not a word-play - this is Gospel truth! Godly people find competiveness and comparison with other people to be a waste of time. God and God alone is their source. Would it be in my pursuit of Godliness that service to Him, stewardship, awareness of Him, eternal perspective and dependance upon Him be found in increasing measure.  

The practical areas over which Jesus Christ exercises His Lordship in Luke 6

Luke 6:46-48  - “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, thetorrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built."

Introduction:
Yesterday we ended our post on defining Christ's Lordship with how His authority transforms the hearts of those yielded to it. Certainly we may well begin with the attitude of obedience or an "I have to" approach to our Christian life.  However as we become more closely acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ, He has a way of turning my "have-to's" into "want-to's". What begins as a duty of obedience becomes a delight of surrender. As you and I wave the white flag of surrender to Jesus Christ's Lordship, we are really waving the flag of victory in the Christian life. Today's post aims to understand certain matters that are touched upon by Christ's Lordship. Luke 6 both begins and ends with reference to Jesus Christ as Lord. Anyone who has ever had issue with Christ's rulership, their responsibility to Him and His right of Lordship has done so in at least one of the following areas mentioned in Luke 6. When we read about Jesus Christ's Lordship in Luke 6, we can note the following areas or matters touched by His Lordship...

1. Jesus is Lord of my rest. Luke 6:1-5
The Pharisees confronted Jesus and His disciples over their eating of some grain plucked from a field on the Sabbath day. In their dispute, they referenced their own traditions in indicting Jesus' disciples of being lawbreakers. However Jesus referred back to David and his men in 1 Samuel 21:6 to show that what they were doing was not unlawful. The power of precedent coupled with the fact that David and his men had been granted permission to partake of used bread designated for the priests cancelled out the Pharisees accusations. Then Jesus asserts His ultimate Lordship over the Sabbath day, referring back to its institution by God in Genesis 2:3-4. In short - Jesus is declaring Himself as God in human flesh and Lord of all. The Lord alone can grant rest or true contentment. 

2. Jesus is Lord of my health. Luke 6:6-11; 17-19
As Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus exercised His Lordship in a second area - healing. In Luke 6:6-11 He heals a withered hand and in verses 17-19 He exorcises demons. The first asserts His right to perform that which is good in reversing the effects of the fall. It must be remembered that the Sabbath was instituted pre-fall and points forward to what will be the ultimate rest we look forward to as Christians in eternity (see Hebrews 4). The second set of verses demonstrate Jesus' Lordship over the demonic realm. There were several people who claimed to perform exorcisms - however Jesus is the only One who actually did them. True exorcism was unprecedented until Jesus came. All types of diseases were overuled by Christ's Lordship.

3. Jesus is Lord of my salvation. Luke 6:20-26
This third area of Lordship deals with spiritual matters. We know from passages such as Romans 10:9 that confession of Jesus' Lordship is central to saving. A new convert may not yet possess the clarity of understanding concerning His Lordship. Nevertheless, the new convert will at bear minimum recognize Jesus' authority to forgive sins. Jesus as Savior and as Lord cannot be separated. Like the bonds of two Hydrogen Atoms and one Oxygen Atom in a molecule of water, we cannot have the true water of life - Jesus Christ - without His Saviorship nor Lordship. 

4. Jesus is Lord in my relationships. Luke 6:27-36
Interestingly Jesus spends time instructing on loving one's enemies. We know we have taken to heart Jesus' Lordship when were able to exercise Christ-likeness to those who badly treat us. If we can express such Christ-likeness to enemies, moreso then to our family and friends.

5. Jesus is Lord in my finances. Luke 6:37-38
This is the area that many Christians tend to draw the line. Jesus can have any area - but my money is my money. The error in this thinking lies in the idea of us owning rights to anything. When we become Christians - God takes us out of ownership and puts us into management. Jesus' Lordship over our finances is the cornerstone of Biblical stewardship. Other passages such as Proverbs 3:7-9; Malachi 3:6-10 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 all assert God's right of ownership and expectation of us to take care of what He has given us. 

6. Jesus is Lord in my obedience. Luke 6:39-49
This final section all has to do with obedience. Building the Christian life on obedience to Christ's Lordship is like building a house upon a rock. some may recall that old children's song that was sung in Sunday School regarding building a house upon the rock vss building a rock upon the sand. I know when I sang that song as a child, little did I realize it was a song predicated upon the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 

Closing thoughts
I would encourage readers to take a closer look at Luke 6 and discover how Jesus functions in each of these areas. We must evaluate ourselves everyday as to how much we truly practice what we say we believe about Jesus right of Lordship over our lives. To the degree we aknowledge His right to tell us what to do will determine how much we grasp His rulership and thus our clear responsibility to follow Him. 

Understanding the meaning of Jesus' Lordship

Luke 6:46-48 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, thetorrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built."

Introduction
All the time at our house we tell our children that if they will do as we say, they will have a much more enjoyable experience than if they try to do it their way. The Christian's relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ operates on similar principles. To love Him is after all to do as He says. (John 14:21) Whenever we make Jesus Christ's Lordship our priority, there will be peace. 

Three words to think about when understanding Jesus Christ's Lordship or authority
Luke 6 begins and ends with the assertion of Jesus Christ being Lord. We've already established that Jesus Christ's Lordship is directly connected to the obligation and ultimately, the desire of the Christian to obey what He says. Lordship is ultimately about authority. We can summarize such authority by way of three words: rulership, responsibility and right. 

Rulership. When I say that Jesus Christ is Lord - I am referring to His authority of rulership. The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, page 700, explains further this concept of Christ's Lordship as it is found in the New Testament: "So a title whose basic thrust is to assert Jesus' present power and authority in the church and in the world leads the church to recognize that the authority is direct, not mediated, authority of God Himself. Jesus as Lord speaks not only of His work but of His person also, a fact made clear by the way the various NT writers use the OT." This is immediately demonstrated by Luke's record of Jesus' self-reference in Luke 6:5 as being "The Lord of the Sabbath". Amazingly this title used by Jesus ("Lord of the Sabbath") is an allusion to the first time we see the Divine name for God (Yahweh = LORD) used back in Genesis 2:3-4. It is in that text we see God/Yahweh asserting His absolute authority over the creation and instituting the Sabbath day as a commemoration of that fact. In short - when Jesus refers to Himself as "Lord of the Sabbath", He is saying in effect that He is God in the flesh (compare John 1:14; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16).  

Responsibility. The second word we can use to understand the authority of Christ's Lordship is the responsibility all people have to heed Him. All people are responsibile to bow the knee in surrender to Jesus Christ - however not all willingly do so. Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that upon Jesus' ascension into heaven - the Father reinstated the title of "Lord" that expressed what He has already been from all eternity. From the perspective of unbelieving humanity - the jury is out on whether or not Jesus is Lord. Satan and the demonic realm refuse to acknowledge what they know to be the fact of Christ's Lordship. Regardless of what unbelievers, the demons and Satan may think - Jesus' Christ's Lordship is an uncontested reality. In heaven the Lordship of Jesus Christ is without question. In the church here on earth many confess its reality but of course not everyone yields consistently under His authority. Nonetheless what is a "not-yet" recognition of the "already" reality of Christ's Lordship will at the end of history and at His appearing be universally asserted. Unbelievers who die in their sins, the demons and Satan will bow the knee out of obligation. This is why it is so vital in the here-and-now to assert by grace through faith that "Jesus is Lord". We are responsible to Him - whether we delight in it or not. 

So we see that Christ's Lordship entails His rulership and our responsibility to Him. There is one final word we can use to complete our discussion of this important truth, namely...

Right. Does Jesus Christ as Lord have the right to tell you and me what to do? The right of Jesus Christ to have unlimited rulership in our lives and our responsibility to Him come to head in His right to be Lord. I am convinced that unless the Christian has had issue with the concept of Christ's Lordship on any level - Lordship's implications have not yet been grasped. Unless we are confronted with the rights He has over us, and unless we yield to that right - Christ's Lordship will be viewed as a fetter more than a friend.

Closing thought
Certainly we may well begin with the attitude of obedience or an "I have to" approach to our Christian life.  However as we become more closely acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ, He has a way of turning my "have-to's" into "want-to's". What begins as a duty of obedience becomes a delight of surrender. As you and I wave the white flag of surrender to Jesus Christ's Lordship, we are really waving the flag of victory in the Christian life.

Introducing the Classical Method for doing apologetics

1 Peter 3:15 "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, alwaysbeing ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yetwith gentleness and reverence".

Introducting the Classical method for doing apologetics
With the mandate made clear from yeaterday's post regarding the importance of apologetics, the next important area has to do with how to go about doing apologetics.  Several methods of defending the Christian faith have been proposed through the more than 2,000 year history of the Christian church. Today's post focuses on one of those methods - so-called "Classical Apologetics". The reason why this method is called "classical" is because it represents in one way or another the manner in which Christians have defended the Christian faith since the centuries following the Apostles. At the heart of this method is the notion that Christianity is the only reasonable worldview - hence faith and reason are viewed as friends rather than foes. 

Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner of Liberty University of the following description of classical apologetics:"the unbeliever is offered evidence of the existence of God, and the supposition is that the unbeliever can reasonably ascertain that this hypothesis is rational and cohesive". 1  Hindson and Caner then explain further the second area general covered by classical apologetics, namely: "The classical apologist further argues for the reliability of the special revelation (The Bible) as a reliable and authoritative word from God."2  

Author Doug Powell has this to say about the classical method: "The emphasis of classical apologetics is on reason. Christianity's logical soundness and internal coherence is exploited in this method. As a result, tests are developed and proofs are given that demonstrate the truthfulness of Christianity and the irrationality of competing worldviews."  Powell later adds: "The classical method is so called because it traces its roots back to the second century and the earliest apologists."3

When defending the Christian faith through the method of classical apologetics, at least two and sometimes three steps are followed in the course of the presentation. 

1. First, reasonable arguments are given to show the reasonability of the Christian faith. Such arguments include:

a. Showing God's existence from observations in the universe and science (i.e the cosmological argument)

b. The existence of objective moral values (i.e the moral argument)

c. How God is necessary for anything to exist (i.e the ontological argument) 

d. The evidence for design in the universe (also called the telelogical argument). 

2. The next phase will usually entail demonstrating the reliability of the Bible from the transmission of its words through the thousands of existing manuscripts to the archaeological evidence supporting the accounts we read in the Bible.

3. Usually the final phase will then be showing how the God of the Bible exists due to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Some classical apologists will combine this step and the defense of the scriptures, whereas others may only focus on either one. 


Endnotes:
1. Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner. The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Harvest House Publishers 2008. Page 64.

2. Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner. The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Harvest House Publishers 2008. Page 65.

3. Doug Powell. Holman Quicksource Guide to Christian Apologetics. Holman Publishers. 2006. Page 356. 

Briefly Defining Christian Apologetics and its value for the Christian

Acts 17:10-11 "The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went intothe synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."

1 Peter 3:15 "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence."

Defining the term "apologetics"
In the opening text of today's post we see the mandate given by the Apostle Peter to defend the Christian's hope.  In fact the word translated "defense" is the Greek word "apologia" (a-po-lo-gee-a), from whence we derive the name of the branch of Christian theology called "apologetics".  When a Christian engages in apologetics, they are not saying they are "sorry" for being a Christian, rather they are given reasons to skeptical onlookers as to why they are so full of hope in an otherwise hopeless world.  Dr. R.C Sproul in a sermon entitled "apologetics" gives this definition of apologetics: "A well reasoned defense of the truth claims of the Christian faith." Any well rounded Christian should not only know "what they believe" but also "why they believe". 

In as much that apologetics deals with the defense of the Christian faith, it functions in an equal capacity of enriching the faith of those who already believe. The Bereans in Acts 17:11 we known as those who "searched the scriptures with great eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." Think about it. The Bereans were young Christians who lived among pagan people. They had learned early on to exercise discernment when listening to anyone. They knew the scrolls of scripture that would have been circulating around at that time. No one could fool them and undoubtedly their faith was enriched as a result of constant sharpening in the things of God. Apologetics has immense value for both evangelism and Christian growth. 

Understanding the creation of man, his fall and need for salvation

Genesis 1:26-28 - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Introduction

Today's post aims to summarize what the Bible teaches about God's creation of human beings, their fall into sin and the hope of salvation. 

God made human beings

God made man out of the dust of the ground and endowed him with the capacity for a relationship with him. The former expresses man as a living soul in a physical body that expresses himself volitionally, emotionally and mentally (Genesis 2:7). The latter part of this statement is described in Genesis 1:26-28 as man being made in God’s image and likeness and endowed with the capacity for relationship, exercise of dominion and thus God’s co-regent here on earth (Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8). 

This creation of man did not derive from the mechanism of biological macro-evolution, natural selection or genetic mutation of interrelated species of monkeys and apes. Rather, the original Man and woman were unique creations of God that were spiritually unique from the rest of the animal kingdom. All subsequent generations are descended from Adam and Eve and still bear the image of God with respect to their still being accountable to Holy God despite the fall of our original parents.

Man rebelled against God, resulting in spiritual separation from God and the need for salvation

The fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden stands as ground zero for the entry of sin into the human race (Romans 5:12-21). All of Adam’s posterity has inherited his original disposition to think and act contrary to God’s will in favor of their own. When we speak of “nature”, we are referring to the manner in which a living being expresses its existence. 

When sin was introduced into the human race, the chief mode of expression would go from being “able not to sin” to that of “unable not to sin”. Another writer has noted that prior to the fall, man was morally and spiritually curved outward towards God, with Adam’s sin resulting in us becoming curved inward to ourselves. David describes this situation as having been conceived in iniquity or “a long-standing sin-pattern” in his mother’s womb (Psalm 51). Numerous times we read in the books of Kings and Chronicles of certain kings or peoples doing the sins of their fathers. The New Testament echoes this emphasis of inherited sin by classifying a non-redeemed state as having a “worthless way of conduct handed down to us by our fathers” (1 Peter 1:17-18). 

The whole race of humanity is morally, spiritual and intellectually compromised and dead to the desire for God (Romans 3:10-13; Ephesians 2:1-2, 12). Mankind is incapable of redeeming itself and chooses to exchange God for anything else in the created realm and pursue their own desires (Romans 1:18-31). Though each man is responsible for his own sin (Ezekiel 18:20-24; Acts 13:46-47), it is clear that the pattern and propensity to sin derives from our original parents as a result of God’s curse (Genesis 3:17-19).

When man sinned – three problems or crises resulted – namely  moral, legal and spiritual ramifications that define what it means to be separated from the life of God. With respect to the moral crisis brought about by our inherited and preferential dispositions for sin over God – we cannot do anything to morally make ourselves appealing to God. The most common words for sin in both the Old and New Testament both refer to “falling short” or “missing the mark” (Romans 3:23). God is too holy to condone and look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13). Lest God intervened, there would be zero chance for man to cross the vast chasm between himself and God. In addition to our moral predicament, there is clearly a spiritual crisis that compounds our separation from the life of God prior to salvation. Human beings in their natural unredeemed state balk at God’s Word (1 Corinthians 2:14); have no hope in this world or the next (Ephesians 2:12); are darkened in their understanding and are sons of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-2) and choose to run from God (Romans 3:10-13).

The spiritual separation from the life of God is a direct result of mankind’s preference for darkness rather than light (John 3:17-19). Henceforth in addition to man’s moral and spiritual predicament we come to the third crisis of human beings that defines their separation from the life of God – namely their legal crisis. The Bible affirms that human beings are not right with God – i.e unrighteous (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23; 6:23). 

The only solution to reconciling a fallen human being to God - redemption by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone

The law of God is God’s written revelation of His absolute righteousness – which alone makes anyone acceptable in his sight. No one can measure up to such an unreachable standard – which is why God chose to send His Son into the world to die for sinners (John 3:16). As unreconciled people, sinful man needs reconciled to Holy God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ by saving faith. To reject God’s provision and not to receive such by faith renders the individual condemned already (John 3:36). 

Today is Reformation Day - let's celebrate the light of Jesus Christ in the Gospel

Romans 4:1-3 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Note to Readers: You are invited to listen to a podcast on Reformation Day at the Growing Christian Resources Podcast site: http://gcrpodcast.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/podcast-reformation-day-a-cause-for-celebration/ and to read a post on three reasons to celebrate Reformation day, and what it is at the other blogsite at: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/happy-reformation-day-2014/

Introduction:
Yesterday I began a two part series on what Reformation Day is and the three reasons to celebrate it. As we think about October 31, all Bible believing groups, including Southern Baptists, are deeply indebted to what God did through the Protestant Reformation that began on October 31st, 1517. In a 2007 sermon, South Western Baptist Theological Seminary President Dr. Paige Patterson noted the following about Reformation Day for Southern Baptists link: http://www.swbts.edu/campus-news/news-releases/patterson-celebrates-baptist-heritage-during-reformation-day-chapel/

“If you want to be faithful to the Book, and if you want to be faithful to that part of the Reformation that died on every hand (for teaching believer’s baptism) … then stop being ashamed of being a New Testament Christian and a Baptist,” Patterson said. “You are not judging anybody else’s eternity. Many other folks who are not a part of our movement are born-again believers. Praise God for that. All we are saying is that the best way to be faithful to the Lord Jesus is to keep the whole of the Great Commission.”
Today's post is aimed at issuing forth two direct challenges to Southern Baptists and all other Bible believing groups about Reformation Day, October 31st: A rejoicing challenge and a take back challenge. 

The Rejoicing Challenge: 3 reasons to rejoice on Reformation Day, October 31st 
So why rejoice over Reformation day, October 31st? First of all, the root or formal cause of Luther's call for Reform had to do with ultimate authority in the Christian life and church.  The big question Luther needed to answer was: is the Pope and his statements concerning who went to heaven and who did not the ultimate authority for the church, or is it sacred scripture that God alone revealed to communicate matters pertaining to this life and the one to come? As Martin Luther wrestled over such questions, his conclusion was - Scripture alone! 

The second reason to rejoice over October 31st and Reformation Day is due to the fact that the Gospel of Justification by Faith Alone was recovered. In contrast to the man-made traditions of the Roman Catholic Church of the Middle Ages, Luther and those after him re-asserted the Biblical truth that faith alone is both the necessary and sufficient means of receiving the gift of salvation.  Thus Justification by Faith Alone became the central doctrine or material cause driving the vehicle of the Protestant Reformation.  The doctrine of scripture alone (sola scriptura) was Luther's fuel in the engine that drove His call for reform - Justification by faith alone (sola fide).  Luther himself noted that Justification by Faith is the one article upon which the church rises or falls.

Then the third reason to celebrate Reformation Day, October 31st, is because the Biblical concept of the church was recovered. As Martin Luther denounced the Catholic Church's system of indulgences, a second question emerged: how is a man or woman made right with God? A church that does not derive its authority from the scriptures nor teaches the Biblical concept of the Gospel - justification by faith alone, cannot be deemed a true church. Roman Catholicism of 16th century Europe, as well as today, communicates faith to be necessary for salvation - however it teaches that faith by itself is not sufficient.  According to Rome, one must participate in the Roman Catholic church system of baptism, confession, penance and Mass to be deemed right by God and to stay right.  The Gospel in the Reformation's recovery of the church shined forth not as a candle but as a brilliant sun, outshining all other would be contenders. If God had not raised up men like Martin Luther to spark the Reformation movement, then perhaps I nor you would be here celebrating the revival of Biblical authority, justification by faith in the Gospel and the necessary truth of the local church committed to both those truths.

So we need to answer the challenge to celebrate Reformation day due to what God did in calling us back to the Bible, the Gospel and the Church. But now let me issue a second challenge, a take back challenge if you will...


The Take Back Challenge: Let's take back October 31st and celebrate God's Word, the Gospel and Jesus' mission for His church
It is time to take back October 31, and use this day to proclaim the truth of scripture and the reformation, sparked on October 31, 1517. Truly the message of the Reformation is a message about "after darkness, light" (post tenebras lux).  Gospel Light, not darkness, should characterize our lives as Christians.  October 31st has been for years by Wiccans and people of the Pagan/Witchcraft worldview to observe one of the so-called "spirit nights" on their yearly calendar.  Rather than promoting a day of darkness and wickedness, witches, ghosts and goblins, Christians need to take a God-centered event like the Reformation and remind themselves of how God led His church back to the Bible and salvation through faith alone in Christ alone.  

The Reformation was about calling forth people from spiritual darkness into the light of Jesus Christ.  Someone once said: "It is more effective to light a candle than merely curse the darkness".  Lets light the Gospel light and shine the glory of the Gospel.  As Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 - “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."