What was one of the primary benefits to come out of the Reformation?

Mike Davenport explains in this video that because the people during the time of the Reformation didn’t have the Bible in their own, common language, they couldn’t lean upon Scripture alone. They were dependent on the often-faulty interpretations of others. But, with the Scripture now translated, they could search the Word of God for themselves.

Why is the Reformation important for the Church and why should we be looking back to something that happened 500 years ago? The Reformation helped to communicate principles such as Scripture alone is sufficient and that we ought to do all for the glory of God alone. Today is no different. We also need to be a people that are directed by the glory of God alone and understand what God wants us to do and follow it with all of our hearts.  

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

In terms of the Reformation and the doctrines flowing out of that, one of the doctrines I resonate most with is Sola Scriptura, that in the Bible alone, because the people didn't have that written in their own common language, They did not know and couldn't lean upon scripture alone. They were dependent on the church and what the church said. But with the Bible now written in their common language, they could now say, what do the scriptures say? And they could rest their selves on that, especially as men tried to disconnect their dependence upon the church and what the church said as they were able to tell them, be Berean in spirit, search the Scriptures for yourselves and see if these things are really true. And so that's one of the main doctrines.

But I think also, sola Deo gloria, for the glory of God alone is one that really resonates with me. Because coming out of this, why do we do the things that we do? Why is Reformation important in the church? Why should we still be looking back to the Reformation that happened 500 years ago? Why should we even consider that?

And why is it incumbent upon us to still be reforming as a people? And I think it's because we need to more and more be a people that are directed by the glory of God alone. And then we need to understand what it is that God wants us to do and follow that with all of our hearts. You