10 Quotes from Reformers to Strengthen Your Faith

David Teems | Updated: May 10, 2022

Reformation day is on October 31, which is the day in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses, outlining what he saw as the abuses of the Catholic Church, to the church door in Wittenburg, Germany. This act sparked what has come to be known as the Protestant Reformation--a time of great turmoil in Europe, but also amazing growth and revival. Through the Reformation, emphasis was placed back on Scripture and on having a personal relationship with Christ. Another important doctrine to emerge from this time period was that salvation was by God's grace, through Christ alone, without the need for good works. The reformers had a massive impact on society, which we still feel today. We commemorate their work and the importance they placed on faith, Scripture, and knowing Jesus through 10 moving quotes.

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1. Martin Luther

"A Christian lives not to himself, but in Christ and his neighbor. Otherwise, he is not a Christian. He lives in Christ through faith, in his neighbor through love. By faith, he is caught up beyond himself into God. By love, he descends beneath himself into his neighbor. Yet he always remains in God and in his love, as Christ says in John 1:51, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.'"

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2. Thomas Cranmer

"Lord of all power and might, which art the author and giver of all good things; graft in our hearts the love of thy name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy help us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord."

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3. Desiderius Erasmus

"The sun itself is not more common and open to all than the teaching of Christ. ... I wish the scripture were translated into all languages, so they might be read and understood, not only by Scots and Irish, but also by Turks and Saracens. ... I wish the farm worker might sing parts of them [scripture] at the plow and the weaver hum them to the tune of his shuttle, and the traveler might beguile the weariness of the way by reciting them."

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4. John Calvin

"We are not our own; therefore, as far as possible, let us forget ourselves and the things that are ours. On the other hand, we are God's; let us, therefore, live and die to him. We are God's; therefore, let his wisdom and will preside over all our actions. We are God's; to him, then as the only legitimate end, let every part of our life be directed."

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5. Philip Melanchthon

"But what sweeter comfort can be given than these words of Paul in Romans 8:1, 'There is, therefore, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus'? That is, even though the regenerate are not without sin, yet God has received them and pronounced the believers righteous for the sake of His Son."

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6. William Tyndale

"God giveth no man his grace that he should let it lay still and do no good withal, but that he should increase it and multiply it with lending it to others, and with open declaring of it with the outward works, provoke and draw others to God."

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7. John Knox

"I write, that you, knowing this of the holy word, and most blessed gospel and voice of God, which once you have heard, I trust to your comfort, may now, in this hour of darkness, and most raging tempest, thirst and pray, that you may hear yet once again this amiable voice of our Saviour Christ, 'Be of good comfort, it is I, fear not.'"

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8. Jan Hus

"I write you this letter in my prison and with my shackled hand, expecting after tomorrow my sentence of death, and have an entire confidence in God that he will not forsake me; that he will not suffer me to renounce his word, or abjure errors wickedly ascribed to me by false witnesses. When we shall meet again in a happy eternity, you will know with what clemency the Lord deigns to assist me in my cruel trials.

... Lastly, I appeal to you to love one another, to shut out no one from the path of divine truth, and to watch that the upright be not oppressed by violence. Amen."

9. Katherine Parr

"O Lord Jesus, most loving spouse, who shall give me wings of perfect love that I may fly up from these worldly miseries to rest in thee? O when shall I ascend to Thee, Lord Jesus, that the sighings and desires of my heart may move and incline Thee to hear me."

10. Girolamo Savonarola

"Send the fire and the power and the love of the Holy Spirit upon your Church. Your Church is so weak and feeble, dear Lord. There are so many millions in this world who have not yet heard the words of truth and salvation from the holy gospel. May the day not be far when all shall confess you as their Father and know you as their Savior."

Quotes taken from Godspeed: Voices of the Reformation, a devotional by David Teems. Used with permission.

Publication date: October 11, 2017