What Is Reformation Day?
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther protested the Roman Catholic Church by nailing his 95 Theses to the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Though there is some debate about whether he actually nailed the 95 Theses, the fact is that he protested the church with this work and it sparked the Reformation starting on that day.
What Is the Reformation?
As indicated by the name, the goal was to reform the Roman Catholic Church due to various abuses and accretions. However, it led to the eventual breaking away from the Catholic Church and the sparking of a new movement of Christian churches: Protestants.
Why Do We Celebrate Reformation Day?
Well, there were numerous reasons that the Reformation took place. Again, Martin Luther gave many reasons by protesting the Roman Catholic Church with his 95 Theses. However, one of the chief reasons we celebrate this day is the recovery of the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
We are sinners, and we need to be made right with God. The primary issue here is this: How are we made right with God? The word that is usually used for this is justification (which means to be declared righteous).
However, there is a problem. The problem is trying to reconcile what Paul said on this topic and what James said on this topic.
Here is Paul:
[Gal 2:16 ESV] 16 yet 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.
[Rom 3:28 ESV] 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Here is James:
[Jas 2:24 ESV] 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
How do we reconcile these verses? Here are the options (I'm indebted to R. C. Sproul for articulating some of this!):
works = made right with God
This view is heresy; legalism = you earn your way into heaven by your works)
Both Paul and James disagree with this view claiming that faith is necessary (see verses above).
faith = made right with God
This view is heresy; antinomianism = God gives grace and it doesn't matter how you live)
Both Paul and James disagree with this view claiming that works are necessary (see Eph. 2:10).
faith + works = made right with God
This is the Roman Catholic view.
This view essentially adds what Paul said and what James said together.
faith = made right with God + works
This is the Protestant view that Martin Luther taught.
This view claims that Paul says we are justified by faith alone. However, to have truly justifying faith, works will always be present as well (James). This is why the Reformers often said the phrase, "You are justified by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." In other words, if you truly have saving faith in Jesus, then you are made right with God and the Spirit transforms your heart to the point that you desire and perform good works. To give another example, the good works are like fruit that grows on a healthy tree of faith. Paul is addressing how you are made right with God--faith alone. James is addressing the issue of people who claim they have saving faith, but they don't love their neighbors. Therefore, it is not a true faith--it is dead.
You are justified by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.
In other words, the good news that we are justified by faith alone was recovered. Thus, Luther comments: "Everyone who believes in Christ is righteous but not yet perfect. He has only begun the process of healing but is no longer declared guilty on account of the sin that still remains in him" [1].
If you haven't placed faith in Jesus to be saved from your sins (breaking God's laws), then let me plead with you . . . believe in Jesus today! His life, death, and resurrection mean that you can be forgiven and washed clean from all of your sins.
Happy Reformation Day!
[1] Church History Study Bible: Voices from the Past, Wisdom for the Present (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2023), 1775.