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Luther and the Reformation
Centuries after his death, Martin Luther is celebrated as an intellectual giant, a brave opponent of corruption, a shaper of culture, indeed, as one of the most significant figures in Western history. Many people, however, are unaware of the events of Luther’s life that led him to make a courageous stand for the gospel in the sixteenth century. In this series, R.C. Sproul provides a thorough introduction to the life and thought of Martin Luther. With an eye to the lessons we can learn today, Dr. Sproul traces the major events of Luther’s life and explores the gospel recovered by Luther and the other Protestant Reformers. Audio CD. Ten 23–minute messages, including Spanish navigation and dubbed equivalent.
Audio CD
First published September 1, 2013
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About the author
R.C. Sproul
675 books1,971 followersDr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.
Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.
He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.
Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 7, 2025
Luther and the Reformation by R.C. Sproul is a short overview of the events that shook the world in the sixteenth century. Dr. Sproul surveys the iconic life of Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic monk turned evangelical theologian. He traces Luther’s steps from the famous thunderbolt experience to the door of the monastery.
After wrestling with Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, which eventually led to his conversion, Dr. Sproul walks readers through the progression of events from Wittenberg, Worms, and the Wartburg castle.
Luther and the Reformation, while brief is an easy-to-read account of Luther’s life and theological commitments. It may serve as “first steps” for readers who are unfamiliar with the Protestant Reformation and also serve as a “refresher course” for students versed in these matters.
Soli Deo gloria!
After wrestling with Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, which eventually led to his conversion, Dr. Sproul walks readers through the progression of events from Wittenberg, Worms, and the Wartburg castle.
Luther and the Reformation, while brief is an easy-to-read account of Luther’s life and theological commitments. It may serve as “first steps” for readers who are unfamiliar with the Protestant Reformation and also serve as a “refresher course” for students versed in these matters.
Soli Deo gloria!
June 18, 2018
Actual Rating: 4.25
June 5, 2025
Great little audio lecture. R.C. did a good job of pinpointing and articulating what led up to and caused the Protestant Reformation while following the thread of Martin Luther’s life. He also articulates the key differences between current Catholic teachings and Protestant teachings on justification and sanctification. I recommend it.
December 8, 2022
This little booklet is like listening to an old Sproul lecture. If you have listened to him teach on Luther before much of this will be review. There really wasn’t any new content. And there are no footnotes or references for what he says. It seems like he just sat at the computer one day and started writing. That being said, it’s pretty fantastic. I couldn’t help but read it in his voice. It’s short enough to read in a couple days and served as a reminder of what Luther fought for, and how we should keep fighting that today!
January 12, 2023
Phenomenal. This was, perhaps, the simplest, most concise, and most accessible short format description of Martin Luther and the reformation. The story of Luther is first told with brevity, excellence, and engaging detail, followed by a more nuanced and detailed explanation of the primary issues that distinguish the differences between the Catholic and Protestant views of justification.
October 11, 2023
10/10/2023 * 4 - 4.5 stars
Read for Reformation month. Great little book that I'll have to reread.
Read for Reformation month. Great little book that I'll have to reread.
November 4, 2024
Excellent, concise summary of the events that brought about the Reformation.
October 25, 2022
In this short book, R. C. Sproul provides a brief biography of Martin Luther up until the time of the Protestant Reformation and then addresses the main issues that led to the Reformation, and continue to this day.
Sproul writes that the during the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church experienced a steady change in its understanding of biblical Christianity, most importantly in its understanding of salvation. This system of salvation that developed within the Roman Catholic Church came to a crisis with the sixteenth-century Reformation.
Martin Luther was planning on a career in law, until a crisis took place in July 1505. As he was walking home from the university a lightning bolt struck the ground just a few feet from where he was walking. It was so close to him that it knocked him on the ground. He saw this as a message from God. He was terrified, and he cried out in his fear, “Help me, St. Anne; I will become a monk.” He followed through by moving to the Augustinian monastery in the city of Erfurt. His Father Hans was furious with his son for disappointing him by not pursuing a career in law.
Sproul reviews a few moments of crisis that would test Luther’s sanity. The first took place when he was to give and celebrate his first Mass as an ordained monk.
Another point of crisis for Luther concerned the practice of pilgrimage when he travelled to Rome. Luther’s most significant crisis, the tower experience, began when he was given the task of lecturing on the book of Romans at Wittenberg as professor of Bible on the faculty at Wittenberg.
As Luther studied Romans 1:17, he concluded that the righteousness by which we will be saved is not ours. For the first time in his life, he understood the gospel and what it means to be redeemed by somebody else’s righteousness.
Sproul writes about Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, written in 1517 against the corruption behind the sale of indulgences. The last thing that Luther wanted or expected to do was to start a protest or a reformation. He wanted to look at the theological issues inherent in the whole question of indulgences (an indulgence is a papal grant by which a certain amount of merit is taken out of the treasury of merit and applied to those who are deficient in merit, so that their time in purgatory will be less). The treasury of merit is a vast sum of merits that had been amassed through the centuries through the work of Christ, through the work of the Apostles, and through the work of the great saints. The emphasis of the theses concerned indulgences and the doctrine of the treasury of merit.
Sproul then takes us through Luther’s dispute with Roman Catholic leaders which culminated in an imperial diet called in the German city of Worms in 1521. When asked to recant his writings, Luther stated:
“Unless I’m convinced by sacred Scripture or by evident reason, I cannot recant, for my conscience is held captive by the Word of God, and to act against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.”
Sproul then looks at the Roman Catholic and Protestant views of justification. Here are a few helpful quotes from that section of the book:
• Luther asserted that the doctrine of justification by faith alone is the article on which the church stands or falls, and that this issue touches the very core of the biblical teaching of salvation.
• In Rome, the idea emerged that justification occurs after sanctification. in Protestantism, justification was understood to come before the process of sanctification.
• From the Roman Catholic perspective, justification occurs primarily through the use of the sacraments.
• Roman Catholicism teaches that the grace and the righteousness of Christ are poured or infused into the soul of the person at baptism, and that the person is then in a state of grace, at least conditionally.
• A loss of saving grace occurs when the person commits a particular type of sin. The Roman Catholic Church calls this a mortal sin. Mortal sin is called mortal because it is serious enough to cause the death of the justifying grace that was infused into the person at baptism. Reformer John Calvin would go on to say that though every sin is mortal in the sense that it deserves death, no sin is mortal in the sense that it destroys the saving grace that a Christian receives at his justification.
• The Roman Catholic Council of Trent (1545-1563), stands immutable on the teaching on justification.
• The Reformation was about affirming the biblical gospel—the moment a person possesses saving faith, he is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, is declared to be just on the basis of the righteousness of Christ, and is adopted into the family of God.
• The Reformation view of justification is that when God declares a person to be just in His sight, it’s not because of what He finds in that person under His analysis, but rather it is on the grounds of something that is added to that person. And what is added to that person is the righteousness of Christ.
• If any word was at the center of the firestorm of the sixteenth-century controversy and remains central to the debate even in our day, it is the word imputation.
• Luther and the rest of the Reformers believed that the ground of our justification is God’s imputing somebody else’s righteousness to our account. And of course, what is reckoned to our account is the righteousness of Christ.
• The good news is simply this: I can be reconciled to God. I can be justified by God not on the basis of what I do but on the basis of what’s been accomplished for me by Christ.
• We can do nothing to earn, to deserve, or to add to the merit of Jesus Christ. When we stand before the judgment seat of God, we come with nothing in our hand except the righteousness of Christ. We cling to the cross of Christ and put our trust in Him and in Him alone.
Sproul writes that the during the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church experienced a steady change in its understanding of biblical Christianity, most importantly in its understanding of salvation. This system of salvation that developed within the Roman Catholic Church came to a crisis with the sixteenth-century Reformation.
Martin Luther was planning on a career in law, until a crisis took place in July 1505. As he was walking home from the university a lightning bolt struck the ground just a few feet from where he was walking. It was so close to him that it knocked him on the ground. He saw this as a message from God. He was terrified, and he cried out in his fear, “Help me, St. Anne; I will become a monk.” He followed through by moving to the Augustinian monastery in the city of Erfurt. His Father Hans was furious with his son for disappointing him by not pursuing a career in law.
Sproul reviews a few moments of crisis that would test Luther’s sanity. The first took place when he was to give and celebrate his first Mass as an ordained monk.
Another point of crisis for Luther concerned the practice of pilgrimage when he travelled to Rome. Luther’s most significant crisis, the tower experience, began when he was given the task of lecturing on the book of Romans at Wittenberg as professor of Bible on the faculty at Wittenberg.
As Luther studied Romans 1:17, he concluded that the righteousness by which we will be saved is not ours. For the first time in his life, he understood the gospel and what it means to be redeemed by somebody else’s righteousness.
Sproul writes about Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, written in 1517 against the corruption behind the sale of indulgences. The last thing that Luther wanted or expected to do was to start a protest or a reformation. He wanted to look at the theological issues inherent in the whole question of indulgences (an indulgence is a papal grant by which a certain amount of merit is taken out of the treasury of merit and applied to those who are deficient in merit, so that their time in purgatory will be less). The treasury of merit is a vast sum of merits that had been amassed through the centuries through the work of Christ, through the work of the Apostles, and through the work of the great saints. The emphasis of the theses concerned indulgences and the doctrine of the treasury of merit.
Sproul then takes us through Luther’s dispute with Roman Catholic leaders which culminated in an imperial diet called in the German city of Worms in 1521. When asked to recant his writings, Luther stated:
“Unless I’m convinced by sacred Scripture or by evident reason, I cannot recant, for my conscience is held captive by the Word of God, and to act against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.”
Sproul then looks at the Roman Catholic and Protestant views of justification. Here are a few helpful quotes from that section of the book:
• Luther asserted that the doctrine of justification by faith alone is the article on which the church stands or falls, and that this issue touches the very core of the biblical teaching of salvation.
• In Rome, the idea emerged that justification occurs after sanctification. in Protestantism, justification was understood to come before the process of sanctification.
• From the Roman Catholic perspective, justification occurs primarily through the use of the sacraments.
• Roman Catholicism teaches that the grace and the righteousness of Christ are poured or infused into the soul of the person at baptism, and that the person is then in a state of grace, at least conditionally.
• A loss of saving grace occurs when the person commits a particular type of sin. The Roman Catholic Church calls this a mortal sin. Mortal sin is called mortal because it is serious enough to cause the death of the justifying grace that was infused into the person at baptism. Reformer John Calvin would go on to say that though every sin is mortal in the sense that it deserves death, no sin is mortal in the sense that it destroys the saving grace that a Christian receives at his justification.
• The Roman Catholic Council of Trent (1545-1563), stands immutable on the teaching on justification.
• The Reformation was about affirming the biblical gospel—the moment a person possesses saving faith, he is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, is declared to be just on the basis of the righteousness of Christ, and is adopted into the family of God.
• The Reformation view of justification is that when God declares a person to be just in His sight, it’s not because of what He finds in that person under His analysis, but rather it is on the grounds of something that is added to that person. And what is added to that person is the righteousness of Christ.
• If any word was at the center of the firestorm of the sixteenth-century controversy and remains central to the debate even in our day, it is the word imputation.
• Luther and the rest of the Reformers believed that the ground of our justification is God’s imputing somebody else’s righteousness to our account. And of course, what is reckoned to our account is the righteousness of Christ.
• The good news is simply this: I can be reconciled to God. I can be justified by God not on the basis of what I do but on the basis of what’s been accomplished for me by Christ.
• We can do nothing to earn, to deserve, or to add to the merit of Jesus Christ. When we stand before the judgment seat of God, we come with nothing in our hand except the righteousness of Christ. We cling to the cross of Christ and put our trust in Him and in Him alone.
January 8, 2019
If anyone wants a brief primer on the life of Martin Luther and the idea of justification by grace through faith, this audio book (more like a presentation by reformed, popular, intellectual evangelical RC Sproul) is a decent place to start.
Sproul gives the cliff notes version of Luther's life and his devotion to his faith as a Catholic. His father wanted him to study law and Luther did although he ended up dropping out to study theology and philosophy. On July 2, 1505, a lightning bolt struck near Luther and he called out to Saint Anna stating that he would become a monk. As he studied the Bible, he became haunted by Romans 1:16-17. "Salvation to everyone who believes." No mention of good works.
October 31, 1517 is the famous date when Luther nailed the 95 theses to the door at Wittenberg where he passionately disputed the Catholic Church's selling of indulgences. The reformation would be launched.
Luther is a protestant hero however, Sproul doesn't get into some of the complexities of his character (anti-semitism for instance). In a small book like this, it is certainly impossible to cover all the ground of someone's life but important to bring in some of the unsavory elements.
The final half of the book (roughly) has Sproul defending justification by faith as a legal and theological concept. A significant amount of time is spent comparing and contrasting Romans (written by Paul) and the epistle of James (which Luther had controversial remarks about).
All in all, this is a decent place to start in diving into the life of Martin Luther. If Sproul did his job right for you as the reader, you should be hungry to dive into more thorough works for more information about one of the most significant personalities in western civilization and the world over.
Sproul gives the cliff notes version of Luther's life and his devotion to his faith as a Catholic. His father wanted him to study law and Luther did although he ended up dropping out to study theology and philosophy. On July 2, 1505, a lightning bolt struck near Luther and he called out to Saint Anna stating that he would become a monk. As he studied the Bible, he became haunted by Romans 1:16-17. "Salvation to everyone who believes." No mention of good works.
October 31, 1517 is the famous date when Luther nailed the 95 theses to the door at Wittenberg where he passionately disputed the Catholic Church's selling of indulgences. The reformation would be launched.
Luther is a protestant hero however, Sproul doesn't get into some of the complexities of his character (anti-semitism for instance). In a small book like this, it is certainly impossible to cover all the ground of someone's life but important to bring in some of the unsavory elements.
The final half of the book (roughly) has Sproul defending justification by faith as a legal and theological concept. A significant amount of time is spent comparing and contrasting Romans (written by Paul) and the epistle of James (which Luther had controversial remarks about).
All in all, this is a decent place to start in diving into the life of Martin Luther. If Sproul did his job right for you as the reader, you should be hungry to dive into more thorough works for more information about one of the most significant personalities in western civilization and the world over.
January 22, 2024
I really needed this.
I just started listening to it because
1) I recently discovered Sproul and I love his writing
2) I've been wanting to know what Luther was all about.
3) It is a short audiobook.
Like I said I really needed this and this came at a time when I've been called back to the service of God, and I'm actively reading scripture and theology books. I'm trying to find out exactly what I believe, what Bible translation I should be reading, what Church I should go to (I have been living outside of my childhood home and church for 12-13 years now.)
One option for church would be from my wife's Catholic faith. A church that if we end up going when my work schedule permits, we will go. My church growing up was Protestant and similar to the Baptist traditions.
All that said, this book really helped me to understand some of the key differences between Catholicism and the Reformed denominations.
I learned things I really should have known about my own church's history long ago.
Of course, this is but one step in my journey of understanding. I will continue to read my Bible, read more on the reformers, and I have committed to reading all 756 pages of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that will compare to all the fun one has reading dense legal jargon.
I just started listening to it because
1) I recently discovered Sproul and I love his writing
2) I've been wanting to know what Luther was all about.
3) It is a short audiobook.
Like I said I really needed this and this came at a time when I've been called back to the service of God, and I'm actively reading scripture and theology books. I'm trying to find out exactly what I believe, what Bible translation I should be reading, what Church I should go to (I have been living outside of my childhood home and church for 12-13 years now.)
One option for church would be from my wife's Catholic faith. A church that if we end up going when my work schedule permits, we will go. My church growing up was Protestant and similar to the Baptist traditions.
All that said, this book really helped me to understand some of the key differences between Catholicism and the Reformed denominations.
I learned things I really should have known about my own church's history long ago.
Of course, this is but one step in my journey of understanding. I will continue to read my Bible, read more on the reformers, and I have committed to reading all 756 pages of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that will compare to all the fun one has reading dense legal jargon.
December 27, 2021
I somehow stumbled onto this book while commuting to work and thought I would give it a go. I have not read a really solid biography of Luther and am always eager for new approaches to the historical record. Unfortunately, this was more a study guide for a particular reformist strain of contemporary Christianity than a solid review of the man who began the Reformation. Some of the context was helpful, including Luther's approach to sin and obedience and a better articulation of medieval Catholic practices. And Sproul keeps the book entertaining and engaging. But this isn't really a biography but rather a justification of reformationist theology.
Read more at https://znovels.blogspot.com/2021/12/...
Read more at https://znovels.blogspot.com/2021/12/...
January 25, 2024
Luther’s story has always fascinated and inspired me. Sproul does a great job giving us the highlights of what drove and separate Luther from Roman Catholicism. I love how it was put, “he was looking for a reformation, not a revolution.” So this is what the gospel does. When one sees the absolute truth and beauty of Christ, he begins a mission to chase the truth, and to cut all entanglements of lies. However, it doesn’t mean everyone will respond to it, especially those who hold the power at that time. But Faith and the assurance of Christ on your side propels you to the impossible.
November 6, 2019
R.C. Sproul gives a solid account of Martin Luther and the Reformation. I was really impressed with the information given without dumbing it down or calling out heresy. Sproul helps you see and get a bit of understanding why Martin had chosen to discuss the issues at hand, wanting unity but in the end getting division. Something he truly didn't want in the first place but knew these things needed to be addressed.
November 3, 2022
If you want an in depth biography of ML.as well a details about all the players in this historic drama read Eric Metaxas biography of Martin Luther. Sproul gives an overview of the monks life and the events leading to the Reformation. He also expands on the theological distinctions of the opposing views at the time. This is great but I was wanting more anecdotal stories and tales of Martin Luther’s quick wit and humor for the anniversary of that incident with the door.
January 5, 2024
A Few years I learned thru genealogy that my family has been traced back to a small German village and my ancestors were very early followers of Martin Luther. I found it interesting then. I knew about the Reformation period but not a whole lot about it. So I pick this up to learn more about why and how this movement came to be.
A Christian is never in a state of completion but always in a process of becoming.~ Martin Luther
A Christian is never in a state of completion but always in a process of becoming.~ Martin Luther
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October 26, 2025Succinct but informative biography of Luther. I appreciate how Sproul addressed Roman Catholicism by not casting it aside as completely ridiculous. He allowed Scripture to speak and added helpful explanations, especially in the last two chapters - while carrying a worthy sense of importance in the doctrine of salvation. I will try to keep dikaiosuné and Simul Justus et Peccator in my weltanshauung.
March 13, 2022
This is an excellent overview of Martin Luther and the Reformation. It's short and accessible even if the reader doesn't have knowledge of the topic already. Sproul focuses too much on the theology of justification when he could have written more about Luther himself - but the writing about Roman Catholic and Protestant beliefs was helpful.
November 5, 2024
Luther was a STUD. This book is a very short and helpful summary of the key issues during the reformation. Soteriology is really at the center, not ecclesiology, perceived 2nd commandment violations, Mariology, or prayer to the saints. Protestants need to get this down PAT to avoid straw manning Papists.
January 16, 2023
An incredible little book. I have always loved Sprouls writing and this one was entertaining and very educational. Some big topics packed into a little over 100 pages, and it is a great read. Highly recommend.
October 30, 2024
In honor of Reformation Day I wanted to revisit this book by R.C. Sproul. Highly recommend this wonderful review of the great Martin Luther and the dawn of the Reformation, and the theological doctrines that to this day divide Protestants and Catholics.
April 1, 2025
Listened to the audiobook. The first half of the book was about Luther‘s life, while the second part was more about theology and explaining the difference between the Reformers and the Roman Catholicism church
May 24, 2017
Very good intro to Luther's life and theology.
April 17, 2023
It's a great little book that explains the reformation and why it's still important today.
February 3, 2024
Nice overview of reformation topics. A good discussion on the politics of the day
November 8, 2024
A brief summary of Luther’s life and works. Sproul is great, as always.
September 18, 2025
Though very brief, this book was really helpful to me! Good overview of the timeline and issues of the Reformation.
Also…chapters were perfectly timed for walking to class!!
Also…chapters were perfectly timed for walking to class!!
November 1, 2025
Very good primer into the Reformation and Luther’s role. Sola Deo Gloria, “to God alone be the glory.” For salvation is from the Lord.
November 16, 2025
An excellent introduction to Martin Luther. The first half is a biography, and the last half focuses on Luther's theological views compared with those of Roman Catholics.
February 23, 2024
A good overview of Luther and the issues that lead to the Protestant Reformation. Sproul's writing is easy to read and explains the significance of the debate over justification, as well as the importance of the authority of Scripture. The book also serves as a reminder on how much of a difference one person can make when they are reliant on the power of Scripture.
March 7, 2017
Lucidity, objectivity and humor mark RC Sproul's approach despite his reformed background.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews