The fire of the Reformation was lit by the match of Luther’s 95 theses in 1517, even though the kindling of change had been established centuries before through the ministries of men like Augustine, Anselm, Wycliffe, and Hus.
Some might think that following the separation of the Protestants from the Catholic Church that the Reformation was over. Far from it. There are still battles for truth related to the gospel of justification, the authority of Scripture, and the person of Christ. And the battle, as Erwin Lutzer notes, is not just between evangelicalism/Protestantism and Catholicism:
Martin Luther had to rescue the gospel from the distortions of Catholicism; in some sense, our task is more difficult than his. We must rescue the gospel from Catholicism along with a host of other movements, such as fraudulent, so-called evangelicals whose entire television (or internet) programs are dedicated to “health and wealth” theology with special “breakthroughs” promised to those who send them money. We have to rescue it from theological liberals who deny the supernatural character of the Christian faith. We have to rescue it from false religions that compete for the allegiance of men and women. We must rescue it from the cults who come to our doorsteps; we must rescue it from all who think that it is up to them to contribute to their salvation and that they must make themselves worthy to receive it. We must remind the world that the gospel of the New Testament is for the spiritually needy who have nothing to offer God; they come not to give but to receive; they come not just to be helped but to be rescued. Their contribution to salvation is their sin; God’s grace supplies everything else. [Rescuing the Gospel, 200.]
It is this reality that led to the saying, Semper Reformanda (“always reforming”). And that will be the topic for the final sermon in the series, “Here We Stand,” on December 10.
Words of Grace 