On November 10, 1483, a baby boy was born in Eisleben, Germany. God later used that young man to change the world through what we call the Reformation. His name was Martin Luther and on October 31, 1517, we remember Reformation Day and the events that changed history. Every last Sunday of October, Christians gather to celebrate Reformation Day. But what exactly happened on that day and what makes it so important still today?
In 1505, at the age of 21, Martin left law school and vowed to become a monk. In 1508, he began studying in Wittenberg, Germany and received his bachelor’s degree in Bible a year later. In 1510-11, Martin walked from Germany to Rome and saw first-hand the grandeur of St. Peter’s Cathedral.
It was that 1,600-mile roundtrip pilgrimage to Rome that stirred the true conflict in Martin’s heart. Let's take a look at the important history behind Reformation Day.
The Issue with Indulgences
During the 16th century, the Roman Catholic Church in Europe was selling documents, or letters, called indulgences which would supposedly pardon the sins of those in possession of them. You could even purchase indulgences for your relatives who were already dead, to shorten the time they had to spend paying for their sins in purgatory.
“One way a humble Christian could get ahead and earn indulgences was not only in paying money when an indulgence preacher came by but in traveling to a place exhibiting relics. One paid a small amount to view the relics, of course, but once one had viewed them, one was awarded an indulgence, and some of these indulgences could be quite significant. For example, here in Rome lay the fabled Crypt of Callixtus, which was said to hold the bones of forty popes and seventy-six thousand martyrs! If one journeyed through a certain one of these catacombs five times while Mass was being celebrated, one earned an indulgence allowing a single soul to be freed from purgatory. Considering it was believed that one might spend thousands or even millions of years suffering in purgatory, this was a bargain that would be nearly impossible to pass up. Still, who knew how this had all been calculated? On the other hand, who would have time to care? It was an endless buffet of eternal riches, a veritable groaning board of everlasting goodies, and anyone wasting time thinking about them and not taking advantage of them while one had the opportunity must be reckoned worse than a fool!” (Eric Metaxas, Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World).
One notorious figure in this scheme was Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar, who aggressively sold indulgences throughout Germany, famously declaring, “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” Luther was deeply disturbed by the way this practice exploited people’s fears and ignorance for financial gain, and he believed it undermined the true Christian teaching on repentance and salvation.
In Rome, Martin saw with his own eyes the end result of all the money being made by the church and the sale of indulgences and the exhibition of relics. He also had read the Bible and never found any passage proving that one could purchase forgiveness with money. In fact, that went directly against what the Bible said about forgiveness and the pardon of sins. Forgiveness was only found through faith in Jesus Christ and the blood He shed on the cross when He paid for our sins with His life!
“…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22).
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:23-25).
Following the pilgrimage to Rome, Martin returned to Wittenberg on foot where he spent the majority of the rest of his life. He went on to receive his doctorate in theology from the Wittenberg seminary. In 1514, he was made the preacher in the Wittenberg City Church. He was already the vicar of the Wittenberg monastery, and in 1515 Staupitz promoted him to become the vicar-general of eleven monasteries, which he was obliged to oversee and visit.
What Happened on Reformation Day, October 31, 1517
Eleven days before his 34th birthday, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther set into motion a series of events that began what we today refer to as the Protestant Reformation: a major reform of the “Christian” church that ultimately divided it into two major branches, the Catholics and the Protestants.
“On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther addressed an important letter to Archbishop Albrecht of Mainz, for . . . it was in Albrecht’s name that indulgences were being peddled far and wide, and Luther wanted to let the honorable archbishop know of it, lest the faithful under his care continue to be torn away from the faith. . . . The letter that Luther sent to Archbishop Albrecht included a copy of these Ninety-five Theses. The letter and the theses were first sent to Magdeburg and forwarded to Albrecht. He did not even open the letter until November 17, and when he did open it, he was not in any mood to take its contents very well. . . . Because he knew that it might be some time until he heard back from Albrecht, Luther also sent the theses to his friend Johannes Lang in Erfurt and some others. These were academic allies and friends he respected, and Luther doubtless thought sending the theses to them would help stir a debate and would lead toward dealing with the issues at hand more generally. The Nuremberg Humanist and printer Christopher Scheurl was impressed with what he read and thought that the theses should be reprinted, and without the fussy legality of needing to obtain copyright permissions, he simply printed them himself, right there in his own town of Nuremberg, instantly ensuring that they would have a dramatically wider reading. In this way, the horse snuck out of the barn, because once the theses were circulating, the whole controversy would take on a life of its own.” (Metaxas)
The 95 Theses, written by Martin Luther, centered around several key themes that challenged the authority and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. One of the primary concerns was the sale of indulgences, which allowed people to purchase certificates to reduce time in purgatory for themselves or their loved ones. Luther condemned this practice as unbiblical, arguing that salvation is a gift from God, received by faith alone, not something that can be earned through good works or bought with money. Another key theme was the call for genuine repentance, emphasizing that forgiveness comes from God through a contrite heart, not through financial transactions or religious rituals. Additionally, Luther highlighted the principle of Sola Scriptura, affirming that the Bible is the ultimate authority in matters of faith, above any human institution, including the Pope or the Church. He also stressed the need for believers to engage directly with Scripture, advocating for reform within the Church to align practices with biblical teachings.
No one knows for sure if the 95 Theses were posted on the wooden door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg precisely on October 31, 1517, but that date indeed was the start of the storm about to hit the church, and the world. As a result, Reformation Day is commemorated each year on October 31st. This act marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that sought to reform the Church’s practices and doctrines, sparking profound changes in Christianity. Reformation Day is more than just a remembrance of a historical event—it serves as a call for renewal within the Church and a reminder for believers to remain faithful to the truths of the gospel. It symbolizes the importance of spiritual integrity, standing against corruption, and aligning faith with God’s Word. For Protestants, it is a celebration of freedom in Christ, the accessibility of Scripture, and the centrality of faith in salvation. The legacy of Reformation Day continues to inspire believers today in examining our beliefs to be Biblical and true.
Ripple Effects of Reformation Day
The Reformation wasn’t just a moment in history—Reformation day began a spiritual revolution that reshaped Christianity from the inside out, transforming both what believers believe and how they live out their faith. At the heart of the Reformation was Sola Scriptura—the belief that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice. Martin Luther argued that Scripture, not human traditions or church decrees, should guide believers in understanding God’s will. This was a radical shift. For centuries, the Catholic Church had placed church teachings and the authority of the Pope on equal footing with the Bible. But Luther’s message handed that authority back to everyday believers, empowering them to read and interpret the Bible for themselves. It was a call to move from institutional control to personal faith, allowing individuals to encounter God directly through His Word.
Luther also shook the foundation of traditional theology with his teaching on Justification by Faith. He insisted that salvation is a gift from God, not something earned through good works, rituals, or the purchase of indulgences. In a world where people were told they had to contribute to their own salvation, this was liberating. Luther’s message was clear: Faith in Jesus Christ is enough. This teaching restored the heart of the gospel, reminding believers that God’s grace—not human effort—is the source of salvation. Even today, this principle stands as one of the pillars of Protestant theology, reminding us of the beauty of God’s undeserved love.
Another key outcome of the Reformation was the translation of the Bible into local languages, making God’s Word accessible to ordinary people for the first time. Before this, the Bible was locked in Latin, a language only the clergy could read. Luther’s translation of the Bible into German, followed by others in English, French, and more, gave people the tools to encounter God personally through Scripture. Suddenly, the Bible was no longer reserved for scholars and priests—it was available for farmers, merchants, and anyone hungry for truth. This accessibility transformed lives, sparking spiritual growth and allowing believers to engage with their faith in a new way.
The Reformation also led to the birth of new Protestant denominations, each with its own interpretation of Scripture and style of worship. Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, and Methodism emerged as distinct traditions, each offering believers a unique way to express their faith. These new movements created a diverse Christian landscape, giving people the opportunity to find communities that resonated with their convictions and cultures, while still holding to the shared beliefs of salvation through faith and the authority of Scripture.
Finally, the Reformation planted the seeds of religious freedom by challenging the idea that a single institution could dictate matters of faith. Luther’s bold stand against church corruption and his insistence on following Scripture alone laid the foundation for what would eventually become the separation of church and state. This shift empowered people to choose their beliefs based on personal conviction, rather than societal pressure or government coercion. The ripple effect of this freedom has influenced movements for religious liberty across the world, encouraging believers to worship according to their conscience and convictions.
The Reformation wasn’t just about reshaping theology—it was about restoring the heart of the gospel and giving believers the freedom to live out their faith authentically. It reminds us even today to stay rooted in Scripture, rely on God’s grace, and never take for granted the gift of personal faith in Jesus Christ.
What Does Reformation Day Mean for Us Today?
1517 was a long time ago, so why should we care about observing and celebrating Reformation Day today? The following are two take-aways for followers of Jesus today:
1. Forgiveness of sin is available only through faith in Jesus Christ
“And 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).
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all...” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
2. If the Church (the body) does not align with the Word of God and Christ (the Head of the body), reform is necessary and good
“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18).
“…Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. . . . the church submits to Christ…” (Ephesians 5:23-24).
“Peace if possible, truth at all costs.” – Martin Luther
Reflecting on Reformation Day reminds us of the incredible gift of God’s grace and the centrality of Christ’s sacrifice for us. In a world where we’re often tempted to rely on our own achievements or good deeds, Reformation Day pulls us back to the truth that our forgiveness and salvation are gifts from God, available only through faith in Jesus. The Reformers recognized the freedom and peace that comes from this truth, and they fought courageously to make sure it was at the heart of the church's teaching. When we celebrate this day, we’re reminded to place our faith in Christ alone and to live in the joy and gratitude that comes from His grace.
Reformation Day also challenges us to look at our own lives and churches with a fresh perspective. Are we aligned with God’s Word, with Christ at the center? The Reformers didn’t seek change for its own sake but out of a deep love for the gospel and a desire to see the church faithful to Christ. In the same way, when we find areas of our lives or church practices that drift from the truth, we’re encouraged to return to Jesus, our true foundation. Reformation Day is an invitation to pursue continual growth, humility, and alignment with God’s Word in everything we do.
This day is more than a historical celebration—it’s a call to live boldly in God’s grace and to keep our eyes fixed on Christ. As we remember the courage of the Reformers, let us be inspired to stand firmly on God’s Word, to seek truth, and to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
Happy Reformation Day!
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/ZU_09
Kristi Walker has been a missionary in Berlin, Germany for over 19 years working with CrossWay International Baptist Church. She is the author of three books: Disappointment: A Subtle Path Away from Christ, Convinced: Applying Biblical Principles to Life’s Choices, and Big Picture: 66 Books, 1 Message.