To Online friends: Mar 1, 2017

1 March 2017

Dear Online Friend,

Greetings in the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord!

The year 2017 marks the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. It was on the 31st of October 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses, against unbiblical beliefs and practices, on the main door of the All Saints Cathedral in Wittenberg, Germany. He thundered the oft-repeated text from the Bible, “The just shall live by faith!” (Hab 2:4; Gal 3:11; Rom 1:17; Heb 10:38).

Reformation is to bring back the Church from where it is to where it should be. It includes Revival, Renewal and Restoration. Reformation in general means correction of error, or abolition of abuses and malpractices.

The Bible abounds with stories of Reformation. God used Judges, Kings, Reformers and Prophets for this purpose. In spite of these Reformations there was frequent backsliding among God’s people, especially among the leaders. Several of God’s men and women continue to carry this burden concerning His people, and Christ’s love for the Church. God promises to them that He would make them “Repairers” and “Restorers” (Isa 58:12). Let’s join hands with them!

The summary of the Protestant Reformers’ theological conviction is as follows, in Latin and in English —

1.   Sola Scriptura = Scripture alone!
2.   Sola Fide = Faith alone!
3.   Sola Gratia = Grace alone!
4.   Solo Christo = Christ alone!
5.   Soli Deo Gloria = Glory of God alone!

I preached a 3-hour sermon in Tamil on these 5 Slogans on Sunday the 29th January 2017 in the CSI Church at Kottaiyur near Karaikudi, Tamilnadu. Some of you attended this glorious gathering of 550 believers. This message will be available shortly in audio and video formats. I’ve written down this sermon and published it as a 56-page booklet, which is attached here. PLEASE SET ASIDE AT LEAST AN HOUR TO GO THROUGH THIS MESSAGE WITH YOUR BIBLE OPEN. I assure you that God will ignite a passion in your heart to pray and work for the final Reformation that’s promised to come before the Return of Christ (Acts 3:19-21).

I’ve titled this booklet as “Here I stand!”  This is what Martin Luther asserted on the face of all odds, oppositions and threats! A Church that loses challenge will become a cemetery! This booklet is now available in Tamil also. I am burdened to publish this in all the major languages of India to bless the Indian Church. I also desire to get it translated into German to remind the German Christians of the truths of Reformation which was born in their homeland of Germany! I covet your prayers. Spread this message everywhere!

I urge you to forward this message to Christians and leaders of Churches and Christian organisations, both Protestant and Roman Catholic. The hardcopy is sold at a nominal price of Indian Rs. 10/-. Forwarding extra. This is a timely and an indispensable Bible study. A new generation has come which has no idea of the roots of Reformation.

I call upon you to become a real “Protestant,” to protest all that’s unscriptural and promote Scriptural truths and practices in our Churches. May the Lord raise a Martin Luther for each denomination across the globe so the Church may be purified through the Word of God and presented as a glorious Church when the Lord comes again! (Eph 5:26,27).

Above all, let’s gather wherever we are to intercede before God for another Reformation which will include Revival, Renewal and Restoration for all our Churches. There’s “a cloud as small as a man’s hand!” (1 Ki 18:44). We hear the “sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees!” (2 Sam 5:24). Dear Nehemiahs and Deborahs, arise and act!

I look forward to hearing from you with your suggestions on what all we can do this year for the propagation of the Reformation truths. For example, we can have evening gatherings on any of the 5 Sundays of October in cities and towns for the remeditation of the Reformation Truths. Such an evening gathering can be called a “Reformation Rally.” Plan special programmes on 31 October, the “Reformation Day.” Some mainline Churches usually observe the last Sunday of October each year as the “Reformation Sunday.” Come, let’s rebuild!

— R. Stanley

Attachments:

Here I Stand (English)

Here I Stand (Tamil)

Online Letter 1 March 2017 (Tamil)

 

 


Contributions welcome for this Project:
For Remittance Online: R. STANLEY, Account No. 10545862765,
State Bank of India, Branch No. 7274,
Vellore 632 006, Tamilnadu. IFS Code: SBIN 0007274; SWIFT Code: SBININBB473.
Please do inform me with details after any remittance.