The Reformation is a monumental moment in church history that resurfaced the Gospel that we are saved by grace through faith and not by our works. As we reflect on the Reformation and give thanks for its impact, let’s consider the Gospel’s power to change everything and imagine what life would have been like without it.

Life Before the Reformation: Fear and Uncertainty

Imagine life in Europe over 500 years ago. For many, life was difficult and short, with limited medical care and overwhelming poverty. Fear dominated faith. Religion, too, often centered around fear: people were terrified of purgatory, the Church taught that people would suffer for their sins even after death, and their only hope was in purchasing indulgences to shorten the suffering. People also couldn't read the Bible for themselves; the Church didn’t allow translations into common languages, and even many priests couldn’t read Latin. The pope held ultimate authority, enforcing submission with armies and violence if necessary, leaving people with little access to God’s Word and a deep sense of fear about their eternal future.

One early reformer, Jan Huss, stood up against these abuses in the early 15th century. Huss believed the Bible should be the authority in Christian life, not the Church’s hierarchy. His brave stand against the abuses of power led to his death in 1415. Huss’s teachings later inspired Martin Luther and the Reformation, but Huss’s fate reminded people of the dangers of challenging the Church.

Martin Luther: A Journey to Freedom

Martin Luther, an academic and devoted monk, began his journey to reform when he was caught in a life-threatening storm. Fearing death, he prayed to St. Anne and promised to become a monk if he survived. He followed through on this vow, joining one of the strictest orders in the Catholic Church, the Augustinian Hermits. Luther dedicated his life to piety, doing everything he could to achieve holiness. He confessed endlessly, knowing that even as he left the confessional, he was still sinful. In Luther’s eyes, salvation was unattainable, and the suffering of purgatory seemed inevitable.

Luther was academically gifted, and as he taught theology, he began reading the Bible more deeply. He soon realized that much of what the Church taught didn’t match scripture. The sale of indulgences — a practice that promised people freedom from purgatory in exchange for money — angered him deeply because of his love for people and his care for their souls.

On October 31, 1517, Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church. In them, he challenged the Church’s teachings. These theses were posted in Latin because Luther had in mind an academic debate. But they were quickly translated into German and widely distributed.

This touched off the Protestant Reformation. Central to Luther’s teaching, now enlightened by the words of scripture, were the words of Romans 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith,’” and Galatians 3:11: “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (ESV). Luther realized that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works or in any way earning God’s favor through our own merit. This radical shift set people free from fear of purgatory for not living up to God’s perfect standards. God is a loving and forgiving Father, to whom we confess and from whom we freely receive forgiveness because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thank God for the Reformation!

Freedom in Christ

Thanks to Luther and the Reformation, the central message of the Gospel was rediscovered: we are justified by faith, saved by grace, not by our works. This truth brings freedom and hope, knowing that because of Jesus, death no longer has the final say. Jesus has conquered death, and we are safe in His arms. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

These words give comfort, especially in times of loss. We know that for those who trust in Christ, death is not the end. Just as Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), we can trust that our loved ones who have died in Christ are with Him now, where suffering, sorrow, and death can touch them no more. Thank God for the Reformation!

A Legacy of Faith and Assurance

Because of the Reformation, we can have confidence that Jesus paid for our sins completely. We don’t need to fear purgatory or worry about buying our way into heaven. We are right with God through Christ alone, God’s children through His grace. The Gospel tells us what the psalmist knew long ago — that even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear, for God is with us.

The Reformation was more than a historical event — it was a rediscovery of the heart of the Gospel. Today, we celebrate this freedom, thanking God for the brave reformers who dared to turn people back to His Word even though they knew it might have cost them their lives. And we thank God for the security we have in Christ, who brings hope and life where once there was only fear.

This Reformation Day, as we reflect on our faith, let’s thank God for the Gospel that changes everything and for the freedom and peace we have in Jesus.

Thank God for the Reformation, seriouslyl!

Much grace and peace to you!