All Hallows’ Eve, Reformation Day, and Two Anniversaries
According to legend, 493 years ago today Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses on indulgences on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany, sparking off what came to be the Reformation. Of the ninety-five, these two are the most important:
“1. When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” [Matt. 4:17], he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” (LW 31:25)
“62. The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.” (LW 31:31)
And 11 years ago today, in Augsburg, Germany, the Catholic Church and the churches of the Lutheran World Federation declared their common faith in the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. The most important statement is this:
“15. By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.”
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One Response to All Hallows’ Eve, Reformation Day, and Two Anniversaries
Our English professor at Marion College, Marion, VA, Elizabeth Eyster, being short in stature, but long in prose, grammar, composition, and if alive today, would have done enumerable flipflops of joy and ecstasy at the wonderfully wordy day-to-day doings of you young energetic crusaders and your daily documentary, ongoing and continuous in breadth and depth….truly a vicarious delight for me, one of her antiquated English scholars. Thank you and Godspeed!