Reformation Day

When the conscience is awakened by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is experienced that our own righteousness can never give peace. The poet of Psalm 71 has learned to understand this by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. David had nothing to report of his righteousness; it was as filthy rags. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. That is the experience in the life of all those who are wrought upon (by the Holy Spirit). When this happens, they become sinners before God. That was the experience of Saul of Tarsus, of Augustine, and of Luther. On October 31 we commemorate the reformation of the church in Europe; how God used Luther as an insignificant instrument in His hand to fight against the Roman Babylon. The doctrine of the Reformation is entirely different from the doctrine in which the Roman Church drowned, for it was chained in the powers of unbelief and superstition.

God’s Word plainly teaches:

1) The authority of God’s Word alone.

2) The justification of sinners by faith, without the deeds of the law.

When the light arose in Luther’s soul, he felt a need to mention God’s righteousness in and through Jesus Christ— His righteousness alone!

That is the precious fruit of the renewed heart. For God’s people, this righteousness is completely fulfilled in the Surety of the covenant, Jesus Christ. On Golgotha, God the Father glorified Himself in His lawgiving righteousness, in His judicial righteousness, and in His punitive righteousness. The cross, with the Man of sorrows nailed to it, preaches to us “that (rather than sin should go unpunished) He hath punished the same in His beloved Son Jesus Christ with the bitter and shameful death of the cross.” Because Jesus cried out “It is finished,” sinners can be saved only by and through grace. The Roman Catholic Church did not teach that. It was not a church of Jesus Christ. A pope, an antichrist dictated the way of salvation in an entirely unscriptural way—out of the sickly, sinful mind, which “hath left off to be wise, and to do good” (Psalm 36:3b).

Psalm 71:2 says, “Deliver me in Thy righteousness.” Luther tried very well to build his righteousness with chastisement, penance, and good works; until the surety righteousness of the Lord Jesus was gradually seen and experienced by him, through which God justifies wicked people. The precious light of the Holy Spirit arose in his poor soul. After all, when God’s light arises, darkness disappears. Luther could not remain silent. Rome heard the Word of God. Luther wanted to reform the church. He called the pope with his cardinals back to the doctrine of the apostles, the doctrine of Jesus Christ and Him crucified which declares that the sinner can be saved by grace alone. In his ninety-five theses Luther clearly spoke how it is and remains on the basis of Scripture. Reader, Rome did not want to listen; Rome maintains the righteousness of man to this very day.

October 31, 2023: Reformation of the church

In 1517, Rome’s church maintained its unscriptural teaching. Rome’s church is a false church. She fiercely persecuted all those who wished to confess the righteousness of Jesus Christ and who wanted to experience it inwardly.

Today there is great sadness, for in the churches of the Reformation which call themselves Protestant, divine righteousness is not proclaimed. His righteousness alone! The men of the Reformation stood firm; our fathers were willing to give their life and property for it. How clearly the Lord helped out and through; yes, He wanted to plant His Church in our country. What lights, what stars have shone in the firmament of the church in the Netherlands.

And now…Reformation Day to commemorate what God has given unto us. Yes, and more, the Reformation completely changed the structure of Europe. What remains of it today? Rome is now so-called Christian. Many Roman Catholics and Protestants count on heaven; yes, they imagine having faith. What a far-reaching blindness that leads to hardening, only to presently sink into eternal destruction.

Luther’s blessed labor bore rich fruits. In his preaching and teaching, the life of faith shone through. He received much fruit on his labor. He who works all this is God.

Luther, the simple monk, faithfully proclaimed the righteousness of Jesus Christ—His righteousness alone. He declared it and experienced it subjectively. The Lord grant our readers faithfulness to examine these principles, drawn from and grounded in the Lord’s Word, to confess them, but above all to experience them as fruits of the new life. In the darkness of the time, may the Lord preserve us by the simplicity and the experiential truth of God’s Word.

Readers, parents, do we sufficiently appreciate and realize the great privilege that God bestowed upon us in the Reformation? His Word, which Rome had deliberately withheld from us but which now dwells among us!

Reformation is needed personally, in the family, and in the ministry. We need to recognize the great blessing that the Lord bestowed upon us in restoring His Word, through Luther and so many other reformers, girded with the power of the Holy Spirit. Is there now also a living out of that holy principle? Are we now truly reformed by the work of the Holy Spirit? Paul did not seek the gift but the fruit (Philippians 4:17).

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