Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

October is a significant month for all protestants because it is when Martin Luther started the groundwork for the Reformation of the unquestioned catholic church. Reformation is a dynamic process. To State in another way, reformation is a process that ought to persist in all aspects of Christian existence. Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda is the idea behind the process of reformation.

“The Church reformed, always reforming” is what the Latin expression “Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda” implies. It conveys the profound message that the church is not a fixed establishment; rather, it is the dynamic, breathing body of Christ that the gospel has moulded throughout the ages. As a church, we are defined not only by the historical reformation but also by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

1. REFORMATION SHOULD BE ROOTED IN THE GRACE OF GOD

The Reformation tells us that grace should be restored rather than merely the dogma being changed. Martin Luther expresses this by saying, “I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise,” The church was reminded throughout the Reformation that salvation is to be obtained only via faith, in grace, and Christ alone.” For by grace you have been saved through faith,” writes Paul in his epistolary epistle to the Ephesians. According to Ephesians 2:8, “And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” The foundation of our identity as a reformed church is this grace, which comes from Christ’s finished work on the cross.

2. REFORMATION SHOULD BE ROOTED IN THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Even if we have a “reformed” view of God’s grace, our church has to be constantly being sculpted and moulded by the Holy Spirit to remain reforming. To put it another way, we ought to let God’s Word constantly refresh and alter us.

John Calvin reminds us “We must make progress every day of our lives.”. The exhortation found in Romans 12:2 is to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, not by conforming to the pattern of this world.” We are urged to reject worldly conformity and pursue regeneration under the Spirit’s direction as we change.

3. REFORMATION SHOULD BE ROOTED IN THE MISSION

One of the primary objectives of a reforming church is to carry out its mission in the world. Our calling is not limited to personal spiritual rejuvenation; it also includes spreading the gospel to every corner of the globe to illuminate the darkness. “The church is the church only when it exists for others,” says Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Our reformation is a tool to share Christ’s love with a damaged world, not an end in and of itself. We should get better at serving, loving, and sharing the good news of hope with others around us as the gospel continues to mould us. Matthew 28:19–20 emphasises this, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit” A reforming church’s mission still revolves around this appeal.

Thus, let’s dedicate ourselves to the continuous process of rejuvenation. The church is to hold on to Christ’s grace while keeping an open mind to the transformative work of the Spirit. Reformation is a tool to share Christ’s love with a damaged world, not an end in and of itself.

As we conclude our reflection on the theme “Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda”-let us remember the reformation of the church is never complete. As Martin Luther once said, “This life is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being, but becoming.” Each generation is tasked with examining its faithfulness to the gospel and Christ the Saviour. In this constant journey of renewal, we must hold fast to the core of our faith. Let us go forward with the conviction that while we are grounded in the reformed truths of our faith, we are also open to the continual work of the Spirit in shaping and refining us.

May God bless you

Alexachen