After Darkness, Light
Notes
Transcript
Reformation Month
Reformation Month
The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.
October is Reformation Month...this morning, by God’s guidance, we will journey together to understand a little bit about the purpose and the effect of the Protestant Reformation to us now...
The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century changed Christianity forever.
Reformation = “making straight,” restoring to the normally straight condition that which is crooked or bent. It means the rectification of conditions, setting things to rights - The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia,
“Post tenebras lux”
“After darkness, Light”
One of the great phrases that came out of the Protestant Reformation is the phrase “post tenebras lux.”
It’s Latin and it means, “After darkness, light.”
“Tenebras” means darkness. That darkness is observed on Good Friday.
“Lux” means light. That is what is pondered and celebrated on Easter Sunday…”After darkness, light.”
This is what happened during the Protestant Reformation.
Before the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century, there a period in human history that was called the “dark ages”. It was because that the people, the church, the society was living in spiritual darkness. The Roman Catholic church became so powerful, superstitious, immoral, and corrupt…thus affecting the sheep of Christ, the gospel was not preached, the word of God was not given its value, the sheep of Christ were malnourished.
By God’s grace and sovereignty, God raised up people to recover what was lost…As Jesus, the Light of men, came at the appointed time to bring reformation to Israel and bring salvation to the gentiles, God raised people like Jan Hus, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and many more at the appointed time. They were guided by conviction from God that the church of their day had drifted away from the essential, original teachings of Christianity, especially in regard to what it was teaching about salvation—how people can be forgiven of sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and receive eternal life with God.
The Reformation sought to re-orient Christianity on the original message of Jesus and the early church.
After Darkness, Light,
Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a Light dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus quoted Isaiah...
The message of the Gospel of Jesus - Repentance and Faith in Jesus!
Those who lived in darkness, Jesus Christ is their light! their salvation and joy!
The Roman Catholic church lost its way - she did not proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus, but the gospel of works, which is not gospel at all, and cannot produce holiness and righteousness.
Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation
Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation
- The guiding principles or the guiding light which God used to bring people back to the truth. Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32)
Sola Fide (Faith Alone) — The doctrine that Christian believers are justified by faith alone rather than on the basis of good works.
How can a sinful man (who sins everyday) can stand and be accepted in the presence of a Holy and Perfect God? This was Martin Luther’s struggle that was difficult to reconcile.
Until he read:
Habakkuk 2:4 and Romans 1:17
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”
Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”
Here, Paul stresses that we are justified or made right before God by faith. The Law has no ability to justify anyone.
Please understand this: Living and Genuine Faith is not alone, it can be seen, it can be observed, it produces fruit.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) — The doctrine that salvation is based only on the grace of God and not human merit.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Solus Christus (Christ Alone) — The doctrine that Christ is the only mediator between God and human beings apart from a priestly class or sacraments.
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) — The doctrine that scripture is the only source of infallible revelation and is sufficient for Christian faith and practice.
We believe that the Bible gives us everything we need for our theology and living, in fulfilling God’s purposes in your life.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Soli Deo Gloria (For God’s Glory Alone) — The doctrine that all glory is reserved for God alone and should not be given to any other person or being including Mary, saints, or angels.
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
As The Westminster Catechism says, the chief purpose of human life is “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”
Illustration:
Martin Luther was asked by a shoe maker,
“Dr. Luther…I am but a humble cobbler but I am grateful to God for Christ’s justifying work on my behalf…what should I do in light of Christ’s great redemptive work?”
Luther response, “Make a better shoe.”
You see, Luther believed that life ought to be lived in GRATITUDE for what Christ had done.
Believe that your life and vocation is a gift from God - to use it to honor and to glorify God.
To walk in the light means to honor God in the way you live, in the way you talk, in the way you do the task that has been assigned to you by God.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
