This coming Lord’s Day commemorates the 495^th Anniversary of the day that Martin Luther, an Augustinian Monk, nailed a list of 95 complaints, or “thesis” on the door of the Wittenburg Church in Germany! Most evangelical Christians join our Lutheran friends in celebrating this life-changing event each year.

While I, like all Baptists, have serious doctrinal differences with Luther and his successor Philip Melanchthon, we recognize and rejoice in Luther’s faithfulness, fearlessness, and his great accomplishments. Certainly, his reformation did not go far enough, but it birthed a general awakening among the peoples of Europe that eventually spread around the world.

His greatest accomplishment was the translation of the New Testament into the German language. Following his lead, other brave men translated the Bible into the languages of the common people. Many of them lost their lives to do so!

It is likely true that the most universally useful doctrines that came out of the Protestant Reformation are those that are known as, “The Five Solas.”

– Sola Scriptura: Salvation is from the Scriptures alone!

– Sola Gratia: Salvation is by grace alone!

– Sola Fide: Salvation is by faith alone!

– Solus Christus: Salvation is through Christ alone!

– Sola Deo Gloria: Salvation is to the glory of God alone!

As the Lord allows, I will complete my five-part introduction to my series on “Christian Doctrines” with a message on these “Five Solas” entitled, “Doctrines Worth Dying For!”

Tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of our brothers and sisters did in fact die for their unwavering faith in these doctrines. Any understanding of salvation that runs contrary to these five is not true “Christian” doctrine!

Please take time to think through and pray over these doctrinal statements as you prepare your heart to receive God’s Word this coming Sunday Morning. I hope to see you Sunday with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side!