Lord's Day: Nov 2, 2025  Preacher: Carlos Montijo  Series: Remembering the Reformation  Topic: Church History  Scripture: Galatians 3:11; Matthew 4:17; 20:16; Ephesians 2:10

Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for The righteous shall live by faith. Galatians 3:11

• See Halloween vs Reformation Day series
• Sign the Reformation Day Statement & the Declaration:
  
  • https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state.php
  • https://www.trinityfoundation.org/state_declaration.php
• It is vitally important for us, as individuals and families, and as a church, to remember the Reformation—what happened, why it is important, what were the main issues—not just once a year, but throughout the year, by studying church history, especially of the doctrinal conflicts that clarified what the Bible does and does not teach, including the primary issues of the gospel (sola fide) and what our ultimate authority is (sola Scriptura), which are summed up in the Five Solas of the Reformation.
• The main issues of the Protestant Reformation are the issues that summarize, define, and explain our faith, our core doctrines, and separate us from everyone else.

I.  Of Fasts & Feast Days

• 2nd Helvetic Confession (1562), CHAPTER XXIV: Of Holy Days, Fasts and the Choice of Foods: THE FESTIVALS OF CHRIST AND THE SAINTS.
• See Reformation Evangelism at a Roman Catholic Church on 28 Oct 2025 | Romans 3:28

II. Martin Luther’s 95 Insights

• Forerunners of the Reformation: Czech theologian Jan Hus; Roman Catholic professor and priest John Wycliffe; Italian Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola
• Thesis 18. “Furthermore, it does not seem proved, either by reason or by Scripture, that souls in Purgatory are outside the state of merit, that is, unable to grow in love.”
• In order to be grounded in truth and sound doctrine, we need two basic things, all other means serve these two things: Scripture and clear reason, logical consistency.
• Thesis 62. "The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God."

III. One of the most important distinctions in the entire Bible: Law and Gospel distinction

• “Christ did not command the preaching of indulgences but of the gospel!”
• Rome responded with a Counter-Reformation vengeance.
• We celebrate the Reformation's triumphs, and apply the many lessons that came out of it, but we must also be honest about the shortcomings and sins of the men that God has used in history, including the Reformation.
• Luther was a man of contrasts, good and bad.

IV. Was it Luther’s intention to turn the entire western world on its head?

• Charles Hodge: “He who purposes the end, purposes also the means; and he brings about the end by securing the use of the means. And when rational agents are concerned, he secures the use of the means by rational considerations presented to their minds, and rendered effectual by his grace, when the end contemplated is good.”
• The most fundamental question that must be answered at the outset in any conflict is: What is the main issue? What was the main conflict with Rome?

We meet on Sundays for worship at 10:00am:

• ThornCrown Covenant Baptist Church
  4712 Montana Ave
  El Paso, Texas 79903

Contact us at:

• web: ThornCrownCovenant.Church
  call/text: (915) 843-8088
  email: [email protected]

Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com