Oct 31st every year since 1517, we remember Martin Luther and the Reformers whose courageous actions over 500 years ago continue to shape our faith journey. Martin Luther, driven by a desire to align the Church with biblical truth, challenged practices that obscured the Gospel’s simplicity. His bold act of nailing the Ninety-Five Theses in 1517 set the stage for the Protestant Reformation, emphasizing the principles of Sola Fide (Faith Alone), Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone).
Sunday, 27th Oct 2024, I had the privilege to share the Word of God on the Topic – Church: Reformed & Reforming. I mediated on three divisions
- Living Word (Deuteronomy 32:44-47)
- Living by Faith (Romans 1:14-17)
- Living in Christ-likeness (Matthew 13:33)
Reflecting on Deuteronomy 32:44-47, we see Moses urging the Israelites to take God’s Word seriously: “These words are your life” (v. 47). The Reformation brought renewed focus to Scripture, calling us to treat God’s Word as the essential guide for our lives.
Hebrews 4:12 reminds us, “For the Word of God is alive and active…” Scripture, like a double-edged sword, penetrates deeply, discerning our hearts. In embracing the Living Word, we reform not only in doctrine but in daily practice, embodying a faith that is vibrant and transformative. Do I treat God’s Word as essential for my life and decisions?
Luther’s deep struggles with sin and relentless pursuit of grace mirror our need for introspection. He realized the depths of human sinfulness and our dependence on Jesus. History reminds us of humanity’s capability for evil, from Cain’s jealousy to modern conflicts and genocides. But in the face of these, Jesus calls us to higher standards—love, purity, and reconciliation.
Romans 1:14-17 speaks to living by faith, a faith anchored in Jesus, the ultimate Truth. Christ is the absolute standard, filling the gaps left by our flawed human relativism. Our faith’s object is the transformative power of Christ, and in Him, we find righteousness. There are 4 aspects we practice relativism more – Evil, Justice, Love, Forgiveness. This leads us to sin. These four converge at a moment in History, where we find absolute Evil, absolute Justice, absolute Love & absolute Forgiveness. This moment of History took place 2000 Years ago at the cross of calvary; Jesus took the sin of world (John 1:29) on HIM, HE delivered absolute Justice by bestowing HIS righteousness on every believer; HE displayed absolute Love for the World (John 3:16) & HE forgave each one of us for our Sins. Our Faith is in this person, the Person of Jesus Christ. The Power of the Object of our Faith bestows righteousness on us. We will live by this Faith. Are you trapped in Relative standards of living? Do you realize the gap with Christ’s absoluteness? There is a need for a saviour and HE is CHRIST. Believe HIM & Serve HIM
In Matthew 13:33, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to yeast worked into dough. This quiet, transformative influence is how Christ reforms our hearts, families, and communities. The Reformation’s impact reminds us to be like yeast, bringing about change not by force but through everyday actions inspired by Christ’s love and truth.
மாவு புளிச்சா தான் தோசை ரூசியா இருக்கும். “Maavu pulichaa than Dosai nalla varum” – Just as fermented batter yields a good dosai, so too does Christ’s influence in our lives yield good fruit. We are called to practice Christ-likeness. As we are Reforming by the living Word, As we are our hearts are Reforming by Faith in Christ, Our Deeds should be Reforming and we need to be Christ-like. Think of one small action where you can be Christ-like. Let’s Resolve today to be a Reforming Church, pursuing Christ-likeness.
Let’s make that perfect Dosai Receipe !! Let me be the Yeast so that my family, my Church, my neighborhood, my work-place, my society, my community be a perfect Dosai !!