Reformation Day Celebration - A Photo Journal

Reformation Day Bullet Points

“In 1508 Luther went to Wittenberg, a town in the part of Germany called Saxony, to pursue a doctoral degree and to teach at the newly established university there.”

“Luther came to understand the true nature of the gospel, namely that God has already accomplished our salvation by the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, and that this salvation is ours through faith alone, not on account of our good works.”

“Spiritually earnest people tried to justify themselves by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions, but they were left wondering if they had done enough to appease God's righteous anger and escape His punishment.”

“Luther drafted a series of ninety-five statements in Latin discussing indulgences, good works, repentance, and other topics, and invited interested scholars to debate with him.”

“He nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church on October 31, 1517. This was not an act of defiance or provocation as is sometimes thought.”

“The publication of the Ninety-five Theses brought him to international attention and into direct conflict with the Roman Catholic hierarchy and the Holy Roman Emperor. ”

“The Church demanded that Luther retract a number of his protests… During the meeting at Worms, he was accused of heresy, and announced that he could not and would not recant anything, ‘for it is neither safe nor right,’ he said, ‘to go against conscience. God help me. Amen.’"

“Luther went into hiding in one of Frederick's castles, and the Church declared Luther an outlaw. While in hiding, he began translating the New Testament from Latin into German, to make the Bible available to more people.”

“The movement Luther initiated spread and grew in popularity—especially in Northern Europe, though reaction to the protests against the church varied from country to country.”