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One of the Reformation principles that the Reformers adhered to was salvation by “faith alone.” Protestants strongly advocated for “Sola fide” (faith alone) as a core tenet within Christian belief. Martin Luther taught that salvation could never be earned or purchased, yet was a free gift requiring only belief in Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of the world.
The movement touched much of Europe and gave birth to today’s Protestant faith. While theology mattered to Luther and other Reformers, salvation did not need to be complicated, and most of the Reformation’s leaders argued that everything one needed for salvation was found in the Scriptures.
J.C. Ryle, an Anglican bishop, agreed with Luther, arguing, “The law [of God] itself is holy and good, but we are not able to keep it, and so the law condemneth us. But Christ with His death hath delivered us from the curse of the law.”[1]
The Reformers knew the law played a role in Christianity, but not in the sense of keeping the law, as no man or woman could. The law could convict the soul of repentance, understanding of sin, and trespasses against God, but the law itself did not save. Years later, Charles Spurgeon was famous for preaching that mankind needed to head to Mount Sinai with Moses and end up on Mount Golgotha with Jesus. Moses, of course, received the law (Commandments) from God on Mount Sinai, and Christ defeated sin with His crucifixion on Mount Golgotha.
The law always played a part in the journey of believers, as it pointed to the need for a Savior while showcasing mankind’s sinful nature. Jesus Himself made known the hearts of humanity, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). Ryle said it best, “Let us put all our hope, trust, and confidence only in Him.”[2]
Humans are fallible creatures, while God is perfect, absolute, and infallible. The principles of the Reformation still apply today, notably salvation by faith alone. The Reformers never denied repentance or the need to glorify God in actions and deeds, but to them, such actions would result in genuine conversions through faith in Jesus Christ.
Heaven isn’t earned through works but received through faith. Faith and repentance go hand in hand, but there can be no repentance without faith in Christ.
The Reformation tenets still apply today. Have you visited Mount Sinai and become aware of your sin? Do you have faith in the Lord as your Savior? Salvation is a free gift that will change the entire trajectory of your life and set you free from the bondage of sin.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
[1] J.C. Ryle, Five English Reformers, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2018), 153.
[2] Ibid.
