Holding Fast to the Word: A Reformation Day Reflection

Question, “Why does the Reformation still matter, and how can Christians today hold fast to the Word of God?”

Answer: The Reformation was not merely a historical event, it was a recovery of the gospel and a return to Scripture as the ultimate authority for faith and life. On Reformation Day, we remember that truth still matters, and that every generation must once again anchor itself in the unchanging Word of God.

The Reformers stood firm against powerful institutions and cultural opposition, not because they were brave by nature, but because they were captivated by Scripture’s authority and sufficiency. Their cry, Sola Scriptura, Scripture alone, remains the foundation for every believer who desires to be faithful to Christ today.

1. The Word That Reforms Hearts

At its heart, the Reformation was about God’s Word doing God’s work. When Martin Luther translated the Bible into the language of the people, it set hearts ablaze with truth.

God’s Word reforms not just churches but lives. It convicts, corrects, and comforts, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. It exposes sin and reveals the Savior. True revival and reformation never begin with new strategies or trends, but with a renewed confidence in the written Word of God.

2. Scripture Alone as the Supreme Authority

The Reformers insisted that the Bible, not tradition, not church councils, not personal experience, has the final say.

Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens, Psalm 119:89.

Scripture cannot be broken, John 10:35.

That conviction gave men like Luther, Calvin, and Tyndale courage to stand before kings and councils with an open Bible and say, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God.”

Today, that same conviction must guide us. The Bible is not just an old book, it is binding on our minds and sufficient for our lives.

3. Holding Fast in a World of Shifting Truths

In every age, the truth of Scripture comes under attack. The pressures of modern culture, relativism, emotionalism, and the worship of self, tempt Christians to trade conviction for comfort.

But Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth” in John 17:17. Truth is not a moving target, it is anchored in the character of God and revealed in the pages of Scripture.

To hold fast to the Word is to stand firm when the world bends, to trust Scripture when feelings falter, and to obey even when obedience is costly.

4. The Call to Reformation Continues

Reformation is not a one-time event, it is the ongoing task of the Church. Each generation must guard the gospel, teach sound doctrine, and correct error with gentleness and conviction, 2 Timothy 2:24-26 and 2 Timothy 4:1-5.

Reformation Day calls us not merely to celebrate history, but to continue the work of fidelity to God’s Word in our time. We hold fast by reading, studying, obeying, proclaiming, and living the Word of God.

5. Remember, Reform, and Rejoice

We remember the courage of those who stood for truth. We reform our own hearts by returning to Scripture. We rejoice in the God who still speaks through His Word.

The Reformation endures because the Word of God endures. To hold fast to that Word is to join the faithful throughout the ages who found Christ sufficient, Scripture trustworthy, and the gospel worth defending, no matter the cost.