Every year, many churches celebrate the Protestant Reformation with special services focusing on the central doctrines that were brought into sharper focus as they were re-discovered in the 16th century. While we remember especially Martin Luther and his 95 Theses posted on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517, we recognize that many additional evangelical doctrines were brought to the forefront, and remain so today. Among those are “The Five Solas:” Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria. In addition to Martin Luther, we are indebted to men like William Tyndale, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, John Knox, Heinrich Bullinger, and many others whose names we ought to remember.
Christianity has always been a faith based on history and understood through doctrines. The 20th century Presbyterian theologian and author R. C. Sproul is remembered not only for his dozens of books, DVD courses, and conference lectures (and frequent expressions in Latin!). He is also remembered for reminding people that great doctrinal knowledge about Jesus is not enough, unless it is joined with a sincere and genuine love and affection for Jesus. In other words (as R. C. expressed it), the question is not just “Do you know Jesus?” but “Do you love Jesus?” After all, didn’t Jesus say that the first and greatest commandment is that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind (Matthew 22:37)?