5 Pillars to Build Your Life On

Part 1 - “Scripture Alone”

How do we know what is right and wrong?

Does morality simply come down to what we want to do?

Where do we find truth in today’s culture?

How did God prepare the world for Reformation?

Agriculture

Disease

War

Corruption in the Church

Reformation - comes from the latin verb to reform, to revive.

“I hated the righteousness of God…I raged with a fierce and troubled consciousness”

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

“as soon as the coin in the coffer rings the soul from purgatory springs.”

-Johann Tetzel

Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) - Scripture is inerrant, sufficient and our final authority.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

“All Scripture is God breathed”

theopneustos - God breathed

The verbal, plenary, inspiration of Scripture - all of Scripture, not some of it, is inspired, breathed out by God.

So what are some applications for our church and our lives?

We should preach God’s Word

We should study God’s Word

We should strive for unity amongst God’s people

We should keep the spirit of the reformation alive today

In the spring of 1521, Luther stood before the diet of worms and was asked two questions:

Are these your writings?

Will you recant these writings?

“Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason (I do not accept the authority of popes and councils because they have contradicted each other), my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.”

Recommended Resources

For Kids: Reformation ABCs: The People, Places, and Things of the Reformation

How a monk and a mallet changed the world by Stephen Nichols

Here I Stand by Roland Bainton

LutherDocumentary.com

Right Now Media: Search “Solas conference”