SBConnect

Oct 2021

More than 500 years ago on 31st?October 1517, Martin Luther the German reformer nailed 95 Theses on the door of the Whittenburg Church in Germany. This led to the birth of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. The Reformation liberated the Medieval Church from its bondage to the traditions of the Church and pointed people back to Christ, the Gospel and Scriptures. Luther was convicted that salvation was solely by faith alone, through grace in Jesus Christ alone! As Protestant Christians we remember 31st October as Reformation Day and celebrate this event on that particular Sunday. This year 31st October falls on Sunday and many churches will preach sermons related to the Reformation! The sad thing is that not many Christians are aware of this historic and significant event. But many people, including Christians seem to be more aware of another event on this day – Halloween!

Many of the malls sell Halloween costumes and decorations – pumpkins, skulls, black spiders, cobwebs, and all things spooky and bizarre! I have seen many homes decorated with all the above Halloween symbols even in Singapore! If Halloween symbols which have nothing to do with our Christian tradition seem to occupy so much attention, how much more should our faith and hope in Jesus Christ grab our attention and focus?

The Reformation is our great Christian heritage as Protestant Evangelicals. Like Easter and Christmas, Reformation Day is a time to remind ourselves of our rich legacy and to renew our commitment to Jesus Christ and his cause. It’s a time to remember and affirm our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and express our gratitude to God for this great treasure in Christ Jesus!

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.?(ESV, Ephesians 2:8-9)

Happy Reformation Day!

Cherish your faith and share it with others so that they too can exclaim?sola fide (faith alone) and embrace Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord!

God bless you!