What should we emphasize in the week leading up to Reformation Day? We could use use our code words, or speak of the famous Solas of the Reformation that shaped the Western Christian world, or we could emphasize our distinct doctrines like predestination, or the covenant of grace; perhaps we could oppose the AnaBaptists, and talk about how the Revolutionary War was actually a Calvinistic War; we could talk about the influence of the Reformation in the early colonies in this country, we could talk about the boldness of John Knox, the genius of John Calvin, the titanic might of Martin Luther, the rescuing of the Lord’s Supper from the abuses of the mass, or the effects of Protestantism in shaping education, economics, law, and politics. Yes, we could talk about all these things, and each would be worth pursuing. We boldly affirm our connection and continuation with the 16th-century Reformation.
But we should go to the source of the Reformation: God Himself. I want to describe the God the Reformers believed in; the God we believe in: the only, true and wise God, maker of heaven and earth.
The Reformers believed in the Covenant-Keeping God who pictured for us redemption in His covenant with Abraham. This is the God who pursued Adam’s fallen race and, through Abraham, promised an everlasting covenant with you and your children for a thousand generations.
He is the Deliverer of Israel from Egyptian bondage. He is the deliverer of innocent baby boys from the barbaric practices of the Egyptian king. Our God is a life-affirming God. He is the Holy God; the One whose laws are perfect and just because they reflect His own character, which is perfect and just. With God there is only holiness. There is no impurity with Him. He commands His people to live pure lives in the presence of the nations.
The God the Reformers believed was not a man who could lie or change His mind. He is the God of blessings and curses, who honors righteousness and curses those who dwell in sin. He is the God whose secrets remain with Him alone, but who reveals to us and our children what is necessary for godliness and dominion.
This is the God who made a covenant with the people of Israel at Shechem and said, “Put away all the foreign gods,” because He is a jealous God. He is the God who provides deliver after deliver in Judges, even when the people do what is good in their own eyes. He is the God who sends a kinsman-redeemer when all hope is gone, and life is bitter. He is Israel's rock even when the Glory has departed, and the Philistines have taken the ark. He is the one whom David trusted to crush the head of the giant serpent, Goliath. He is the God who rebukes and punishes even kings; the God who hates David’s adultery and murder, but whom David seeks forgiveness from. He is the God who remains God in good times and in times of civil war when the kingdoms were divided. A God who, amid chaos, idolatry, and bloodshed, still executes perfect judgment. He is the God who raises up His house, restores its ruins and gives us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
This is the same Triune God who re-builds the walls through His servant Nehemiah. He is the Mighty Fortress who calls Esther to save her people in such a time. He was the bulwark, never failing, to Job, who suffered for the sake of the God he loved and received a double blessing. He is the God who sings Psalms against our ancient foe who seeks to work us woe. As John Calvin writes: “There is no knowing that does not begin with knowing God.” The Reformers believed that true knowledge comes from knowing the true God. This is the God of the Reformers.
And we could go on and on describing this God. We could speak of His unending love for His people; how He sent His only-begotten Son to die for sinners, to be raised for our justification, and to give us new life. Yes, this is the God of the Reformation! Other traditions embrace this same God, but the Reformers were not ashamed of him. They did not seek to conform the Word of God to modern perceptions of God. They did not change his character to appease the philosophies of men; rather, the Reformers preached this God without fear. They were persecuted for the sake of this great God. For the Reformers, God was worth every song of praise, every confession, every prayer, every act of pure worship. For the Reformers, on earth there is not His equal.
So we rejoice in the Reformation! We rejoice in the tradition that gave us a high view of God and His Holiness—a tradition that exalted Father, Son, and Spirit and offered Him all glory and honor, forever and ever, amen!
FOLLOW ALONG
FACEBOOK / X / YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM
PODCAST / KUYPERIAN / SUBSTACK