Text: "The just shall live by faith." –(Romans 1:17)

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the church door at Wittemburg, the place where all public notices were posted. He was 33 years of age. The Theses called into question abuses within the system of popery.

In a matter of weeks this monk’s name became common to households throughout Germany, for what he did that day by the grace of God resulted in the greatest revival since the Lord established His Church.

"When the fullness of the time was come. God sent forth His Son" (Gal. 4:4,5), so when He had prepared the people of Europe He sent the great revival that produced THE REFORMATION. True revival always reforms society. It is therefore sad to see churches satisfied in our day so long as their meetings have good attendance and an even better offering.

The reformers built upon the foundations other men had laid.

In Ireland, Patrick, whose life spanned the 4^th and 5^th centuries, copied portions of Scripture and left them "here and there." He made Armaugh a stronghold of Bible teaching.

In 8th century England, Venerable Bede translated the Gospel of John into Anglo-Saxon while he was on his deathbed. And, in the l4th century, John Wycliffe translated the Bible into English. His followers were scurrilously called "Lollards" or "mumblers" and had to smuggle the Scriptures to the people since it was capital offence to be found with a Bible in one’s possession. The Pope had declared that if common people had access to the Word of God they would profane it, while on the side, papal leaders confessed that if the Bible were allowed to circulate, it would destroy them. When Lollards were discovered, they were burned at the stake with their Bible tied about their neck.

Troubadours went from place to place singing about Bible stories, their songs often including portions of Scripture.

Spanning the 13^th and 14^th centuries, Dante Alighieri wrote the Divine Comedy and earned the reputation as "The Father of the Modern Italian language." He rejected the sovereignty of the Pope, and advocated the separation of church and state. For this "crime" he was exiled.

In the last of the 15^th century, Girolamo (Jerome) Savonarola published The Triumph of the Cross. He learned salvation is by the grace of God; and he taught the Pope may err. For this insolence he was first excommunicated, then burned at the stake. Before he died, however, God was pleased to show approval of his ministry by sending revival to Italy. Crowds surged through the streets shouting "Jesu Cristo al nostero sino salvatro" – "Jesus Christ is our King and our Saviour"

Approximately 25 years after the death of John Wycliffe in England, Lollard influence had crossed the English Channel, swept through Europe and touched a young Bohemian (a Czech) by the name of John Huss. The Spirit of God also taught Huss that salvation is only by the grace of God, and he preached. "...If in the presence of God the question were put to all the righteous, ‘Have you been saved by your own strength?’ they would all with one cry proclaim, ‘Not unto us, 0 Lord, but unto Thy name be the glory.’"

For this offence he was first excommunicated, and burned at the stake. As the fire approached his body he sang the hymn,

He was so hated that the ground where he stood at the stake was dug up and carted to the Rhine River along with his ashes.

Then in 1456, John Gensfleish invented the first printing press with moveable type. The first book be printed was 100 copies of the Bible. They were seized by the civil authorities, however, and he was made to swear he would not print any more Bibles. The name "Gensfleish" means "goose flesh." He must have sustained a great deal of ribbing because be changed his name to "Gutenberg" his mother’s family name.

Among the many results of this revival was a reformation of MUSIC. Luther was a great songster and used to go door-to-door to sing in order to provide enough money for his supper.

When he approached the city gates of Worms, He sang the hymn he had just completed two days earlier: "A Strong Tower Is Our God" –"A Mighty Fortress is Our God." He in also credited with having written "Away in A Manger."

The streets first of Germany, then of Europe resounded with Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. The miners of Mansfield who used to use language as black as the coal they mined met for worship and prayer before work. Profanity and vulgarity became rare as the fear of God fell.

Johann Sebastian Bach left Romanism and embraced Lutheranism. The family of Felix Mendelssohn turned from their Jewish heritage and embraced Lutheranism. His "Reformation Symphony" was written for the 300 year celebration of the Augsburg Confession, and incorporated Luther’s "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" in the last movement. But it was Benjamin Keach, a Baptist, who introduced the church to congregational singing.

Albrecht Durer, the famous sculptor of "The Praying Hands", was a friend of the reformer and of the Reformation. Lucas Cranach, renowned for his woodcuts, acted as witness for Luther at his wedding. When Luther disputed with Johann Eck, the Bible used by the German, Papist theologian contained woodcuts by Cranach in which Rome was depicted as Babylon.

Revival fell upon Switzerland about the same time as it did in Germany. While Luther was withstanding Tetzel for selling indulgences which granted forgiveness for a price. Ulrich Zwingli was withstanding Samson in Switzerland for the same practice. Yet, it appears that neither Zwingli nor Luther had heard of the other at this time.

God is sovereign over revival.

Desiderius Erasmus translated the Bible into Latin. Although he was loyal to neither the Church of Rome nor a friend of the Reformation, his Bible left a profound impact upon Luther. He translated the Bible into German.

In France, God used Jacques Lefevre to translate His Word into the French tongue. It wan Lefevre whom God used to bring William Farel to Christ, and it was Farel who shouted, "May God curse your studies if now in her time of need you refuse to lend your aid to His Church!" and thereby enlisted John Calvin in the work of the Reformation.

It was the desire to spread the gospel of God that resulted in the period of exploration, colonization and missionary enterprises. This was the fruit of the revival that produced the Reformation.

When Europe turned to the Bible, she turned from feudalism or a landed economy. She embraced the spirit of Nationalism. Since the time of the Crusades, Nationalism had been on the rise as the nobility opposed foreign domination even when exercised by a pope. In 1215, the English nobility had forced King John to sign the Magna Carta because he had signed away England to the Roman Pontiff.

Representative government again came into being. Protestant churches modeled their polity after the Old Testament pattern in Israel. For the first time Europeans began to breathe political freedom, but only to that degree that they enjoyed religious freedom.

Religious freedom is the matrix of civil liberty. The latter is the fruit of the former. B.K. Kuiper in his Church in History states Protestantism learned from Baptists the doctrine of religious freedom.

True revival always affects society, and the revival that swept Europe in the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th centuries affected education. Wherever the revival was received, reformation was effected. As Dante became known as "the Father of the modern Italian language", so with his translation of the Bible into German, Luther earned the title of "The Father of the modern German language"

In England, William Tyndale, "the Father of the English Bible" coined words such as propitiation and mercy-neat.

In Scotland, John Knox became known as "the Father of education." Throughout the land, Knox called for the building of schools along side of churches. And, in France, John Calvin became known as "the Father of French education."

In revival, God moves upon people. It cannot be produced or manipulated by men for the Spirit of God moves howsoever He will. The Reformation was the result of Heaven-sent revival --a revival that was attended by the recovery of the Gospel.

It was not produced by legislation --although laws were enacted; nor was it the fruit of litigation, neither was it the result of attacking the sins of society, although the sins of society were attacked. However, these are only the symptoms of the spiritual problem.

The Reformation was the fruit of the revival. Today, no one would know we were experiencing a "revival" unless we posted a sign to tell them. It appears as though Christians are willing that the Gospel should die in this generation.

There were three great cries heard from the Reformers: "solo gratia" --"grace alone", "solo fida"—-"faith alone" and "solo

Scriptura" –-"Scripture alone." The Apostle Paul wrote, "For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9}

Salvation is only by the grace of God. The gift of God is the grace God conveys upon faith, itself the gift of God. We know this from the teaching of Scripture --the Word of God. All is founded upon the authority of Scripture.

Heathen worship requires 3 things: a sacrifice, an altar, and priesthood. It is by the Bible that we learn that we have no sacrifice except the sacrifice of Christ. We have no altars now (regardless of what modern Baptist churches teach) Christ is our altar. We have no priesthood now: Christ is our Priest. He in our all in all.

We have no authority but Scripture. The Bible is the basis of our creed and conduct. For this reason, Christians have been known historically as "people of the Book."

Would we see a reformation in our day in economics? in politics? in education and in culture? Would we see a reformation in the manners of society? Then, we must have a Heaven-sent revival. For reformation, a recovery of the Gospel is imperative. Oh, that the Almighty would be pleased to give us a recovery of the Gospel, and once again make us "people of the Book."

Bibliology—The Doctrine of Scripture

Tape One—- A. The Existence of God

B. Divine Revelation

Tape Two-- A. The Authority of Scripture

B. The Inspiration of Scripture

Tape Three— A. A History of Liberalism

B. The Inerrancy of Scripture

Tape Four – A. Evidences of Divine Origin:

Tape Five— A. A History of the English Bible

B. "All Scripture is Profitable."

Tape Six-- A. "Take Heed How Ye Hear."

These are tapes of this year’s classes in Theology. They are quality tapes in a binder. WE offer these for $20.

Theology --The Doctrine of God

Tape One -- A. The Nature of God --Part 1: The Goodness of God

Tape Two -- A. The Attributes of God --Part 1:

Tape Three- A. The Person of God

Tape Four - A. Christology: The Trinity and The Deity of Christ

Tape Five - A. Pneumatology: The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

Tape Six -- A. The Works of God --Part 2: Predestination or The

The set of quality tapes in a binder is offered for $20.