My dear readers,

Why do we continue to remember the 16^th-Century Reformation?

Many churches today have forgotten the 16^th-Century Reformation. They conveniently forget because they feel that it is no longer pertinent since the Roman Catholic Church through the pope has apologised for the persecution of Christians. Others are ignorant of its existence. Leaders in some churches refuse to teach their congregation because they feel that the 16^th-Century Reformation is irrelevant news that ought to remain forgotten in the sands of time and that there is no more battle to fight within Christendom but only unity!

Do you think the god of this world has stopped undermining the gospel and attacking every local church and parachurch like Bible Colleges and seminaries that we can forget the 16^th-Century Reformation?

What is your view? 

The 16^th-Century Reformation officially began when Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic monk, nailed 95 theses on the church gate at Wittenburg on 31^st October 1517. The main thrust of his thesis was that salvation was by grace and faith alone in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ's life and death on the cross of Calvary were sufficient to save a sinner from sin's bondage and remove the penalty of sin from his life, which is death and hell. Sinners did not have to pay for indulgences because their loved ones were not in purgatory where they were supposed to be purged from their sins so they could enter heaven. Enslaving sinners with a lie and making money out of their love and devotion to their loved ones devastated Martin Luther. He had to declare the truth to his fellow Germans, regardless of the cost to himself, for Martin Luther had received Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour as a doctor of theology during his study of God’s Word. Copies of his 95 theses were printed in the thousands and distributed throughout Germany and Europe, for the Gutenberg printing press had been invented in the 15^th Century. The timing was perfect!

From 31^st October 1517 onwards, the gospel reached the uttermost part of the world, fulfilling the blueprint for spreading the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Acts 1:7-9: “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” The 16^th-Century Reformation can be likened to a second Pentecost. At the first Pentecost, Apostle Peter preached the gospel to commence the birth of the local church witness.

Martin Luther preached the gospel and completed the blueprint Christ prescribed in Acts 1:8. God raised not only Martin Luther but also Reformers like John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and many others to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints so that the tiny flame that began in Wittenburg will burst into a giant fire that will sweep across the world to the furthest corner! Many denominations, like the Baptists and Presbyterians, were born during this time because of differences in doctrines.

These denominations were the most significant obstacles that stood in the way of the end-time, one-world church of the Antichrist! The devil has been whittling away at these obstacles by attacking many of the key doctrines of the Bible, including the inspiration and preservation Bible. But with every attack, God has His remnant to defend. The ferocity of this defence matched the ferocity of the attacks; at times, the attacks came from within the camps of God’s people. Attacks from within the camp are far more deadly than attacks from without.

Christianity marched on fighting the good fight of faith for more than three hundred years from the 16^th to the 19^th Century. The 20^th Century was a turning point in church history from the physical and spiritual perspectives.

With the spiritual births of the Charismatic Movement (born 1906), the Neo-evangelical Movement (born 1948) and the Ecumenical Movement (born 1948), the face of Christianity was never the same again. Denominational lines were erased by the Charismatic Movement, where emotions and feelings in worship replaced doctrines. Carnality in Christ became the new norm, and holiness in Christ became archaic and rejected. The Neo-evangelical Movement with her man-pleasing philosophies, were proclaimed progressive, and Christianity needed to move with the times. Theistic evolution and homosexuality became the new face of Christianity. Pleasing man masquerades itself as pleasing God. The Ecumenical Movement is moving toward a one-world religion of the Antichrist where all worship leads to the same God who is called by different names to different people.

When we entered the 21^st Century, the momentum and growth of the one-world church in tandem with the one-world government had entered a critical stage. Technological advancements such as AI and modern communications have shrunk the world into a global hand-held blue marble. Controlling every man’s manner of life is no longer an unreachable goal but a modern reality to many and a nightmare to some. The voice of the majority is the voice of Christ in Christendom. The majority in Christendom are compromisers who speak on behalf of the devil in the Name of Christ! Fundamental seminaries and Bible Colleges that once defended the faith declined or died when their faithful founders died. Conservative denominations that began for Christ are now compromisers, with only the church’s name as fundamental. Many of these churches are spiritually bankrupt, and the glory of God has long departed because the pastors and elders in these churches are derelict leaders who scratch the itchy ears of their congregations who are more goats than sheep. There are more professing believers than born-again ones.

Not only is there a need to remind God’s people of the 16^th-Century Reformation, there is an urgent need because many will say to the Lord on the day of judgment, “… Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt 7:22-23). These poor souls are being deceived, believing that they are going to heaven because they call Jesus Christ their Lord. But the sad, irreversible reality is that when they stand before Christ after they die, they will be cast into hell and not be ushered into heaven!

Christ has prophesied that the Antichrist will succeed in ruling the world. In the meantime, the spiritual battle rages on! Rise up, men and women of God! Remember the 16^th-Century Reformation, for Christ’s sake!

The purpose of reminding God's people of the 16^th-Century Reformation is not to stop the Antichrist from ruling and controlling the world, but to save as many sinners as possible. These sinners are our loved ones and friends. Remembering the 16^th-Century Reformation is to remember Christ and His work in saving souls!