More than five hundred years ago, the Protestant Reformation called the church back to the authority of Scripture and the good news that sinners are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone. Over the course of his pastoral ministry, Alistair Begg routinely took a Sunday adjacent to October 31—traditionally, the day when Martin Luther published his Ninety-Five Theses—to reflect on the Reformation’s legacy and relevance for today’s believers.
As we prepare again to observe this important day in church history, we invite you to revisit a selection of these Reformation Day sermons, which together remind us of the biblical truths the Reformers labored to recover and preserve—and of our responsibility to hold fast to those same truths and pass them faithfully to the generations that follow.
The Hinge of Salvation
The Reformation marked the rediscovery of the apostolic Gospel by a troubled monk, Martin Luther, who was seeking peace with God. In this message, Alistair Begg unpacks the biblical truth of justification by faith, which the Reformation retrieved, explaining why it is important, what it means, and how we receive it. This doctrine is the beating heart of the biblical message—God’s free offer of salvation in Jesus Christ to those who believe.
After Darkness, Light
Justification means to be declared right in the eyes of the law. But how can God justify those who are truly guilty? We must look to the cross of Jesus Christ, where God executed perfect judgment by punishing sin. The faultless Son bore the punishment that we deserve. Alistair Begg reminds us of the truth that spurred the Reformation: Justification is based on God’s work of counting our sins against Christ and crediting the righteousness of Christ to our account.
“Here I Stand”
The Reformation was both a revival and a theological revolution, and its core conviction remains vital for the church today. Commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Alistair Begg explains that Martin Luther faced a crucial question that is common to all: How can undeserving sinners be pardoned by a holy God? The distinguishing feature of the Christian church is the proclamation of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The doctrine of justification remains the doctrine upon which the church stands or falls.
Grace, Faith, Jesus
Burdened by his works-based religion, Martin Luther knew no peace until God’s Spirit revealed the Gospel’s message of grace. At his conversion, Luther acknowledged that salvation is not based on merit; rather, it comes by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone. In this sermon, Alistair Begg highlights the grace and love of God, who works to call sinners to Himself. Whether we are weighed down by failure or enslaved to pride, we can find forgiveness at the cross of Jesus.
Faith in Jesus
The Reformation marked a pivotal event in church history—namely, a return to the apostolic Gospel. In this message, Alistair Begg examines the good news of salvation as proclaimed in Romans 3: that a right standing with God is not something that we are called to produce but something which God has chosen to provide to us as a gift by faith in Jesus. Only the cross of Calvary can bring undeserving sinners into a living relationship with a holy God.
Reformation Day Reminders
How does a sinner get right with God? Some people may not acknowledge the gravity of the human condition and the inability of man to fix it. Others may strive to earn God’s favor as a result of following man-made rules and regulations. Alistair Begg helps us to understand that a right standing with God is not something we can produce ourselves but something that God in His grace has provided for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Gospel Is the Power of God
In a culture increasingly interested in therapy over theology, the Bible alone is able to make us wise for salvation. In this message, Alistair Begg highlights the Gospel’s power to reveal God’s righteous character and activity. If believers are to boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus to a world that would shame us into silence, we must be convinced of this truth: the Gospel alone is the power of God to save men and women from eternal condemnation.
Historical Theology
Over five hundred years ago, Christianity was buried under layers of superstition, immorality, and biblical illiteracy—yet questions about life and death, knowledge and authority, and how sinful men and women could be made right with God remained. In this message, Alistair Begg recounts how the church of medieval Europe came to rediscover the Gospel message found in Jesus’ life and death. Through Martin Luther and others, the true significance and sufficiency of Christ’s death was recovered, bringing reform to the church and the promise of salvation to all who trust in Him.
