As October ends, we have the opportunity to celebrate the reformation. We have a chance to be reminded of the life work of Martin Luther. It makes sense that we would take the time to do it since we are after all a Lutheran church. Have you ever wondered why the reformation was such a big deal? Have you ever wondered why we remember someone like Martin Luther?

Luther was an accomplished theologian and Biblical scholar. Luther was a great preacher and teacher of the truths of Scripture. However, these are not the reasons that we take the time to celebrate the reformation. Luther never wrote or said anything new or innovative. Luther did not discover some new teaching of the Bible that no one else had ever discovered before. The reason
that we celebrate the life of Luther and his work is because he professed the truths of Scripture plainly and clearly. His teachings of salvation by grace alone, by faith alone, through Christ alone were some new radical truth. No this was the truth that Scripture had always taught. It is why Luther put such a high value on the Word of God above all other things. That is what it means to
be Lutheran. It was this focus on Scripture alone that sparked a reformation.

So as we take time to celebrate our Lutheran heritage, let us make sure our focus is always and above all else centered on the Word of God. That is our great heritage. It is in the pages of scripture where we hear about a God who forgives. It is where we hear the assurance that our eternal future is secure because of Christ’s work. It is the reason Luther wrote:
“One thing, and only one thing, is necessary for Christian life, righteousness, and freedom. That one thing is the most holy Word of God, the gospel of Christ... Let us then consider it certain and firmly established that the soul can do without anything except the Word of God, and that where the Word of God is missing there is no help at all for the soul. If it has the Word of God it is rich
and lacks nothing since it is the Word of life, truth, light, peace, righteousness, salvation, joy, liberty, wisdom, power, grace, glory, and of every incalculable blessing.” (The Freedom of the Christian) (LW 31:345)

In Christ, Pastor Schlomer