Happy Reformation Day

"Spiritually earnest people tried to justify themselves
by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious
performances and devotions, but they were left
wondering if they had done enough
to escape God's anger and punishment."
- from http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/MP3-Audio--Multimedia/Celebrate-Reformation-Day/

"For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God, not as the result of works,
so that no one may boast."
- Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB

Reformation Day celebrates the reform of the church that occurred in the 1500's, captured in the storyline of Martin Luther nailing the 95 theses to the Castle Church doors to debate, among a number of issues, the ongoing practice of indulgences, basically explained as paying to have your sins removed.

The Reformation is also known for the "Solas"- 3 of the 5 listed here:

• Sola gratia. Salvation by grace alone.
• Sola fide. Justification by faith alone.
• Solus Christus. Through Christ alone.

Having grown up Lutheran, the denomination that grew out of Luther's bent on the Gospel, the grace theme of Ephesians 2, verses 8 through 9, runs strong in my blood. A free, unmerited gift of God is how grace was explained to me as I grew up. No way for me to earn salvation.

End result of grace:

• Christ's perfect life of obedience to God's Law for my life disobedience
• Christ's suffering God's wrath which I deserved for my disobedience
• Christ's perfect sacrifice to satisfy the necessary requirement to pay for my sins
• Christ's resurrection to conquer once and for all, sin, death and Satan and emphatically show He is the perfect Lord and Savior
• Christ's giving of the Holy Spirit, third member of the Trinity, to empower me to live a Christ-like life, change me into the likeness of Christ, and preserve me until Christ comes again
  

So, what's my response?

I believe in all that Christ did and that it all applies to me. Thank you, Jesus, my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

-- CFM