There is a mysterious power in
the word of God, like an acorn, containing all the information to build a
mighty oak tree, when God unleashes the power of His word, He transforms
people.
1) The
Word of God- The Bible as God’s word for every aspect of life.
The Bible changed Europe
in 5 ways, authority- all other authority, ecclesiastical, political and papal must submit to the Word of God,
contrary to the Church of Rome, the reformers held that the church was under the authority of
the Word.
1 The
Bible available in the language of the people, the work of translation at the time of the reformation was revolutionary. We
just see it as normal because we are children of the reformation.
2 infallibility
and inerrancy- every part of every word is the living word of God. Jesus argued the point over a tense for example at one point. (I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- showing life after death by a present tense).
3 The reformers
brought in the idea of self authentication, scripture is the best interpreter of scripture. Not allegory or tradition but the Word itself.
4 liberation,
the Reformers liberated the Bible by translation, the word be taught by
expository preaching. Zwingli started preaching in the New Testament book of
Matthew chapter 1 and just carried on, it was revolutionary but we are
beneficiaries of the reformation. Straightforward understanding of the Bible,
without imposing on it.
5 Power- the
scriptures given to transform our mind, only one book can transform and conform
us to the mind of God, the Bible.
The reformers
encouraged everyone to not only read it but to study the Bible. In family
worship the father is called to expound the scriptures. We might see this as normal but this is because we are children of the reformation.
2) The
reformers recovered the Gospel of grace- they uncovered it from a false one.
It’s by Grace Alone. In the Roman Catholic understanding according to Thomas Aquinas
sanctification came before grace and before justification do your best and God
would do the rest. The reformers said, you cannot do one single thing.
God’s way of
salvation is a glorious substitute for the false gospel of Rome. Luther
experienced this when he was whipping himself, sleeping on cold concrete- until
he found grace, found that he had an open heaven, for him the gates of heaven were open.
Luther saw
justification as the first thing and sanctification is the fruit of it and it
is all of grace.
Grace calls
us, justifies us, sanctifies us, and will glorify us.
Do you live by
grace, is grace everything to you. Grace is more than what we think, because we
do not start as neutral grace is undeserved kindness to those who deserve to be
hell bound. It’s all of grace.
3)
Experiential Piety- The Reformers preached a
piety that can be experienced. The Fatherly sovereignty of God to His people in
the Lord Jesus Christ.
4) Old
paths- persevered the faith of the Reformers was the faith of primitive Christianity. They recovered the truths
from the early days of the church. These old paths of the father’s is worth us
pursuing. The reformation principle of sola scriptura doesn’t mean you throw
away church history but we examine church history/tradition by scripture.
5) Christ
as king- all done in subjection not to man but to God and His word. The
reformers found themselves at odds with the Pope, the Pope had asserted
authority, the kings asserted authority in their locality. The reformers said
they were both wrong, not the Papacy and not the secular rulers. The Church was
delivered from the State and the Pope.
We need to walk
the tightrope avoiding anarchy as God calls us to honour authority, so we need
to cultivate a heart of submission.
Yet we must be
willing to oppose them when they oppose God. Christ is the head of the church.
6) Christian
freedom- the gospel of Christ freed us from tyranny, the reformed faith abolished
the idea of the divine right of kings. No-one but God had power over the
conscience but God alone. Kingship was changed to constitutional rather than
absolute. To free the church from the state and towards freedom and democracy
and gave us the rule of law.
7) Vocations
for the common good- the reformers recast the state as a commonwealth promoting
the dignity of labour, encouraging trade and the growth of wealth for everyone.
Everyone should thrive together, everyone has a stake in the life of the nation.
This binds together the State as a commonwealth, everyone must do their work to
the glory of God. It does away with the line between the secular and the
sacred. All 7 days are from the LORD.
Everyone working
for the good and salvation of his neighbour, this encouraged social cohesion,
and care.
8) Marry
and child rearing- marriage as a reflection of the Christ/church relationship.
Parents raising their children who are loaned to them from God. Seeking God’s
face, the whole concept of the Christian home was developed by the reformers
and the Puritans. All of life must be
lived for the glory of God. William Gough, 'You could have the most homely,
cranky wife but you are to treat her like a godly queen.' Marriage is designed
to encourage us in holiness and service.
9) Arts
and sciences, the reformers rekindled the spirit of enquiry by exploring
knowledge, opening academies, fostered the idea of universal education.
Encouraging art, science, architecture
astronomy, exploration.
10) The
true worship of God- they understood that worship was at the centre, they came
to the Word to see how we should worship. To bow down before the supreme
majesty through Christ in the Spirit, and we are to have as our goal
worshipping God in every aspect in our lives. To give to Him the honour that is
due to His holy name.
Soli Deo
Gloria.
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