Last week we are taking a Seminary Class on the history of the Reformation. Honestly, I was a little skeptical coming into this class. I have only been removed from college 3 years, but 9-5 every day for a week, sitting…taking notes…wow. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make it without a little help from a lot of Coca Cola Classic, but so far it has been amazing. Even though Martin Luther had his flaws, the way his theology unfolded in response to the unbiblical teaching of the Catholic Church as he read and interpreted the bible is amazing. Luther’s theology is succinctly summed up in the cries of the Reformation, Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, and Sola Fide.
Sola Scriptura means scripture alone must be the sole authority for determining theology and applying it to the life of the church and it’s members. This was absolutely revolutionary because Catholic theology weighted Papal Infallibility and commentaries from early church fathers equally with the Bible. What is more is that their theology of interpreting the Bible had four different levels, and Luther threw three of them out and held to only one, Literal interpretation. Literal interpretation held that the meaning of biblical texts is made clear in the passages, and there are not hidden meanings at multiple levels. This was a huge shift epistemologically and hermeneutically.
Sola Gratia means by grace alone. Catholic theology believed that salvation came to people not by grace alone, but grace plus works. This was evidenced in the sacramental theology of penance and indulgences. God weighed people’s good works against their bad works and their salvation was measured by the outcome. Luther understood this to be contrary to the teachings of scripture. This became increasingly clear to him as he studied Romans. It was in this book he began to see how we play no role in our salvation, but it is owed all to the workings of God’s grace. This is seen clearly in Ephesians 2:8-10 “For it is by Grace that you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourself, it is the gift of God., not by works, so that on one can boast.”
Solia Fide means by faith alone. Catholic theology believed that we were made righteous before God, not just by faith alone, but again by our merits. These merits were met in the sacraments penance, confession, baptism, confirmation, and baptism. Luther, realized that this was not what God taught in the bible. He came to realize this one day, while studying Romans 4:5. This passage says, “And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” Luther had always worked diligently his whole life to earn righteousness, but always felt condemned by his own sin. He felt that the weight even of his smallest sins were greater than all of his greatest and most valuable acts. It was reading this verse he came to understand that our justification before God is not at all based upon the measure of our good deeds, but on our faith in Christ alone.
It is so exciting to see how God’s word not only changed Luther’s life, but motivated him to tell everyone about this wonderful news. He began to teach this doctrine that our salvation is not based on our own efforts, but only on our faith in God by his grace. He began proclaiming the gospel. This message became the centerpiece of all the Reformation movements in Germany, Switzerland, and England.
