The Reformation Warrior

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1Timothy 6:12)

Other references for consideration: Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; 2 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 20-22: Romans 1:16-17; Ephesians 2:11-22

The Reformation Warrior welds not a physical sword that kills our enemies; the Reformation Warrior welds the Sword of the Spirit in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to sinners who are at enmity towards God by nature; the sin nature that afflicts all mankind (an affliction that has plagued all mankind since the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve). This Sword of the Spirit in the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for all who repent of their rebellion, of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is our peace, our hope, our comfort; our only peace, our only hope and only comfort in life and in death.  He obtained peace with God through His one atoning death (Hebrews 10:18). Through His death and resurrection, He did what we could or would never do ourselves; He gained peace between sinners, like you and me, and God; gained peace between warring neighbors. He broke down the barrier that separates one person from another person, making them one person in Christ’s body. The differences in nationality, ethnicity, and skin tone hold no weight to all who are in Jesus Christ by true faith. There is no place in the body of Christ for racism on any level; national pride, or any mindset that sets one people group above another. Even as citizens of the heavenly kingdom, let our boasting be in Christ alone and what He did for us to gain entry into it; as believers in Christ we are not better than the rest of mankind. Let’s not forget, we are people saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone to the glory of God alone – it’s ALL about God reaching down to sinners making them right in His eyes only for the sake of Jesus Christ, who was sent by the Father to atone for the sins of His Chosen people making them fit to live in eternity with Him who is perfectly holy and righteous.

Remember also there was nothing in mankind’s nature or works to obligate God to save the sinner (Romans 3:9-20); the sinner is conceived and born in sin and does nothing and is incapable of doing anything to merit God’s favor, much less, earn his or her salvation. The hope of the sinner is based solidly and solely on the work of Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection about 2,000 years ago.

This is the weapon of the Reformation Warrior – the proclamation of this gospel message. It’s a message of hope in Jesus Christ, who delivers repentant sinners from their bondage to sin having obtained for them the forgiveness of their sins, and freed them so that they might live by faith serving the living God in obedience to His word, His commandments, having turned away from serving the lusts of the flesh, bowing to the pressures of the world and embracing the deceptions of the Devil.  It’s a message of peace and reconciliation through the full satisfaction of the requirements of the law and the wrath of God against sin; to make for Himself one people in the household ofGod, a living temple, created for good works, done by faith according to the word of God in thankfulness to God for their redemption from their sin and misery to His glory.

Won’t you this day commit to being a Reformation Warrior, eager to serve God by faith in this spiritual battle by proclaiming the Gospel message as God gives you opportunity to do so wherever you may be. But first, ask yourself in whom are you putting your trust for your salvation and eternal hope of heaven. If it’s not in Jesus Christ alone and His death and resurrection, then won’t you this day repent of your sins and by faith come to Jesus Christ, resting alone in His work on the cross on your behalf where He obtained for you the forgiveness of sin, righteousness, salvation and everlasting life, looking to Him alone because of His resurrection for your eternal hope to the glory of God? Then, go and by faith fight the good fight of the Faith as a Reformation Warrior filled with the Holy Spirit, going in God’s love, in humbleness of heart and in the gentleness of the Spirit of peace.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Written by: Rev. Richard Stetler