On Personal Reformation

Luther launched the Reformation on October 31, 1517 by nailing 95 Theses—95 points of contention and clarification with the doctrine of the church. We are still riding that tidal wave. The first of Luther’s theses is meant to capture our attention today and every day. He wrote:

1. When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” (Matt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.

Luther believed the Christian life contains more than one act of initial repentance toward God. He saw that every day is recalibration toward God and God's ways of grace. As much as Luther wants us to apprehend the right and true doctrines of salvation by grace through faith alone—and boy does he!—he also wants us to live them, to live from them, and live in light of them. The best way to honor the spirit of the Reformation—the work of Luther, Calvin, and the whole crew of Reformers—is not to merely identify with Reformation theology but to also imbibe, drink, devour, and live a personal ongoing reformation from the theology—a spiritual theology.