Why the Reformation Still Matters: Sola Scriptura and the Church Today
Every October, we celebrate a moment in history that fundamentally changed the church: the Reformation. When Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg in 1517, he set off a chain of events that shook the world. Luther wasn’t looking to start a movement or become a historical icon. He just wanted to call the church back to what he saw as the heart of the Christian faith—the gospel. At the core of this movement was a principle that remains vital today: Sola Scriptura, or “Scripture Alone.”
The medieval church wasn’t exactly in great shape in Luther’s day. Over centuries, the church had gradually elevated tradition and papal authority to a place equal to or even above Scripture. Practices like the selling of indulgences—the idea that people could pay to lessen their sins or reduce time in purgatory—revealed how far the church had drifted from biblical truth. Luther saw a problem, and he couldn’t look away.
For Luther, it was simple: God’s Word alone should guide our faith. He famously said, “A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or a council without it.” He wasn’t setting out to break from the church. He wanted to call it back to its foundation. This belief in the supreme authority of Scripture became known as Sola Scriptura, and it was the compass that kept the Reformation on track.
The Five Solas
The Reformation wasn’t just about addressing a few practices. It was about returning to the gospel. Through this movement, five core principles emerged, each marked by the word “sola,” which means “alone.” These Five Solas are:
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) - Scripture is our highest authority.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone) - We are justified by faith alone.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) - We are saved by the grace of God alone.
Solus Christus (Christ Alone) - Christ is the only mediator between God and humanity.
Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone) - All of life is to be lived for God’s glory.
But if we could say one Sola was the linchpin, it would be Sola Scriptura. Without Sola Scriptura, the other Solas would just be ideas without any foundation. Sola Scriptura means that Scripture, not human opinion or institutional tradition, gets the final and ultimate say.
Why Sola Scriptura Still Matters
So, why should we care about Sola Scriptura? Sola Scriptura is as important today as it was in Luther’s time because it’s not just about history. It’s about how we live our faith right now. Today, there’s a constant temptation to base our beliefs on what’s popular, on our personal experiences, or on what’s trending culturally. But Sola Scriptura calls us to align our lives with God’s unchanging Word.
The Apostle Paul reminded Timothy of the power and authority of Scripture: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). This verse doesn’t say Scripture is just “helpful” or “inspiring”—it’s God-breathed. And that’s why it’s our authority. Luther echoed this when he said, “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason… I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God.” For him, Scripture wasn’t just a guide. It was the final word.
Scripture Is Still Sufficient
The doctrine of Sola Scriptura doesn’t mean that we disregard all other sources of wisdom, but it does mean that we view them through the lens of Scripture. We don’t place human ideas above or on par with God’s Word. And why should we? Scripture is more than enough for us. It’s the standard by which we measure truth, not the other way around.
Luther once said, “The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid” (quoted in Here I Stand by Roland H. Bainton). His point was simple: all of Scripture reveals Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, every page of the Bible points to Christ, His mission, and His redemptive work. When we allow Scripture to be our ultimate guide, we’re not just letting God’s Word shape us, but we’re letting Christ Himself shape our lives and our faith.
Jesus modeled this Himself in the wilderness. When Satan tempted Him, Jesus didn’t respond with personal opinion or human reasoning. Instead, He said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Even Jesus, who is the Word made flesh, held to the authority of Scripture.
Sola Scriptura Anchors the Church
In a world that values shifting truths and subjective standards, Sola Scriptura anchors the church. The Reformation reminded us that we don’t need to add to God’s Word. The Bible alone is sufficient. Scripture doesn’t need our improvements or cultural updates. In matters of salvation, Scripture teaches us that “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Sola Scriptura keeps us from veering off course—the course defined by God, not us—reminding us that it’s all ultimately about Jesus.
The truth is, we’re prone to wander. We start trusting in our own understanding, leaning on human reasoning more than the revealed Word of God. That’s why Sola Scriptura isn’t just a Reformation idea. It’s a necessity for continued faithfulness to God. It keeps us rooted in God’s truth, even when the world around us is constantly changing.
Living Out Sola Scriptura Today
Luther lived out Sola Scriptura with courage, standing up to authorities who demanded he recant. Today, we’re called to live with the same conviction, to hold fast to the Word of God in a world that’s often opposed to it. Paul urged the Colossians, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). When we let Scripture dwell richly in us, it not only shapes us but also helps us teach, encourage, and challenge each other in truth.
Our commitment to Sola Scriptura means that we approach every area of life through the lens of God’s Word. All of life should be Bible-Centered. We aren’t to just give lip service to Scripture. We live it out. We let it shape our relationships, influence our decisions, and mold our values.
Luther said, “We must make a great difference between God’s Word and the word of man. A man’s word is a little sound that flies into the air and soon vanishes, but the Word of God is greater than heaven and earth, yea, greater than death and hell, for it forms part of the power of God and endures everlastingly.” This isn’t just a nice thought from 500 years ago. It’s reality. The Word of God is eternal, and it will outlast every trend, every ideology, and every human opinion.
As we remember the Reformation today, let’s also renew our commitment to let Scripture be the ultimate authority in our lives. Every part of our lives. Luther’s courage was grounded in a simple truth: the Word of God is enough. That’s a truth we can still stand on.
