On October 31, much of our modern American culture will be focused on costumes and candy. The history and celebration of Halloween is complicated and controversial, but for Christians, especially Protestants (of which Baptists are included), we have something much more significant to celebrate every year on October 31. That date commemorates the start of the Protestant Reformation when, in 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk and theologian, posted his famous 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. His act ignited what would become a movement of profound theological and ecclesiastical reform, forever changing the landscape of Christianity and the world at large.

Historical Context: Why Was Reform Necessary?

By the late Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church had become the dominant religious, political, and social institution in Europe. While the church had grown powerful and influential, it had also become deeply corrupt in many respects. Clergy often lived lavish and immoral lives, and positions of power in the church were frequently bought and sold.  Perhaps most troubling to many was the sale of indulgences—a system where the church claimed that people could pay money to reduce the punishment for their sins or the sins of their loved ones in purgatory.

At the heart of this system was a distorted understanding of salvation. The grace of God was no longer viewed as a free gift of unmerited favor, but as something that could be earned through financial means or personal merit. This departure from biblical teaching sparked growing concern among devout Christians who longed to see the church return to the purity of the gospel as taught in the Scriptures.

This was the context into which Martin Luther stepped. As a monk and professor of theology, Luther had wrestled with questions of faith, grace, and salvation. His reading of the Bible, particularly the Apostle Paul’s teachings in Romans and Galatians, led him to the conclusion that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This conviction was at odds with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, and Luther became increasingly bold in his calls for reform.

The 95 Theses: A Call to Debate

On October 31, 1517, Luther took a decisive step in making his concerns public by posting his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. While this may seem like a dramatic gesture today, it was a common way to invite public debate in that time. Luther’s Theses were primarily a critique of the sale of indulgences, but they also questioned broader practices within the church that he believed were not in line with Scripture.

Luther was not yet calling for a full break with the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, he hoped to spark reform from within. However, his Theses quickly spread thanks to the newly invented printing press, and the debate they generated escalated beyond what Luther could have imagined.

The church, under Pope Leo X, condemned Luther’s teachings as heretical, and in 1521, Luther was summoned to the Diet of Worms, an imperial assembly, where he was asked to recant his views. Luther famously refused, stating, “Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me. Amen.” This act of defiance solidified Luther’s role as a central figure in the Reformation and led to his excommunication.

Key Figures and Movements of the Reformation

While Martin Luther is often seen as the face of the Reformation, he was by no means the only reformer. The movement took root in various parts of Europe and was shaped by other significant figures, each contributing to the Reformation of the church in their own contexts.

• Ulrich Zwingli: A Swiss reformer, Zwingli’s work in Zurich paralleled Luther’s in many ways, though the two men disagreed on certain issues, such as the nature of the Lord’s Supper. Zwingli emphasized a return to the Bible as the sole guide for faith and practice and was instrumental in the establishment of Reformation theology in Switzerland. He initiated a complete break with the sacramental system of Roman Catholicism and led the worship services in the people’s language (not Latin) so it could be understood.
• John Calvin: A French theologian and pastor based in Geneva, Calvin was a leading figure in the Reformation. His magnum opus, Institutes of the Christian Religion, provided a comprehensive theological manual for the Reformation, emphasizing the sovereignty of God and the importance of Scripture as the ultimate authority. With the huge influx of French immigrants, he turned Geneva into a missionary training outpost to send them back to France and around Europe to plant churches.
• John Knox: The Reformation spread from continental Europe to the British Isles, specifically founding the Presbyterian Church of Scotland under the fiery leadership of John Knox. He was a brave preacher and even personally admonished the queen for supporting Catholic practices. Knox faced lots of opposition, including exile and even being sentenced as a galley slave.
• Thomas Cranmer: In England, the Reformation took a somewhat different path, driven initially by political concerns rather than purely theological ones. King Henry VIII’s break with the Roman Catholic Church in 1534 was motivated by his desire for an annulment, but it paved the way for deeper theological reforms under subsequent monarchs like Edward VI and Elizabeth I. Before he was martyred, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was able to capitalize on these changing political tides to bring in Protestant theology and changes to the church liturgy by writing the first two editions of the Book of Common Prayer.

Five Solas: The Heart of the Reformation

We remember the theology of the Reformation today as Protestants by summarizing it around five Latin phrases. They are called the Five Solas, which means “alone” in Latin. Each sola is important, but it was Sola Scriptura which provided the foundation to break with the unbiblical teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. Scripture alone, and not popes or church councils, will be the source of our final authority in all matters of life and doctrine.

The theological breakthrough of the Reformation also centered on the doctrine of salvation. We are not saved by our human effort, but by God’s grace alone (Sola Gratia) which comes by faith alone (Sola Fide) in Christ alone (Solus Christus). And when we are completely dependent on God for salvation, not mixing God’s grace with our human effort, then all the praise and glory goes to God alone (Soli Deo Gloria).

Martin Luther argued that justification is the doctrine on which the church stands or falls. Without a biblical doctrine of justification, then you do not have the true gospel. And if you do not have the true saving gospel of Jesus Christ, then you do not have Christ’s church.

After the darkness of the Medieval Roman Catholic church, the Reformation brought the light of the gospel to shine brightly, and we are the heirs of that evangelical faith today. Baptists come out of the English Reformation in the 17^th Century, but we are gladly united with all of our Protestant brothers and sisters around the gospel of God’s grace in Christ Jesus.

Why Reformation Day Matters Today

Reformation Day is not just a commemoration of historical events; it is a reminder of the ongoing need for the church to remain faithful to the gospel. The Reformation was a call to return to the teachings of Scripture and to place Christ at the center of all that we do. In every generation, there is the danger that the church can drift from its foundations, becoming too influenced by the culture around it or by its own internal structures and traditions.

For Protestants today, Reformation Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of the gospel, to give thanks for the courage and conviction of the Reformers, and to recommit to the truths they fought for. It’s also a chance to recognize that, while the Reformation brought about necessary change, the work of reform is never fully done. The church must always be reforming—seeking to live out the gospel more faithfully in every age.

As we celebrate Reformation Day, let us be inspired by the past, but let us also look to the future, always striving to proclaim the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone.