The Reformation in Scotland

John Knox was influential in 16th century Reformation in Scotland. He was mentored by a preacher named George Wishart who gave everything, even his life, for the sake of the gospel. Knox spoke the truth no matter who it offended. In authority at that time was Queen Mary, before whom John Knox defended the faith. John Knox’s desire was that the Church would turn from idolatry and return to the truth of God’s Word.

His patience could be seen by all. He never gave up hope but trusted God would work if they would just wait, trusting, in faith.  Even as a galley slave he would not consent to the spilling of blood for their freedom. He had full confidence that God would cause him to be freed so that he could keep on preaching the Gospel.

Wherever John Knox went he spoke the Word to anyone who would listen. He believed that the Scripture proclaimed that Justification is by Faith Alone, he believed that everyone needed to read the bible, and that everyone is capable of understanding it. He sought to make sure no one believed anything that was outside the teachings of the Word. He had no fear of man or what man might do to him.

Desiring to bring back the true face of the Apostolic Church to the eyes and knowledge of men, Knox did all he could to uproot the lies and idolatry of the Roman Catholic Church. Along with many others, John Knox refused to take Mass that was neither taken nor commanded in the Gospel. He states that “when we join hands with idolatry, both God’s peaceful presence and comfortable defence leaves us, and what will then become of us?”

He had influence in his defence of the faith to worldly powers. He wanted the church to be free from the state, but obey it, in the Lord. He would obey the government insofar as it did not go against God’s Word. So, while he believed the rulers should obey God, they should not force their beliefs upon their subjects. The motivation for honouring our authorities comes from God’s command to honour them for they do not have any authority that he has not given them.

Preaching throughout Scotland, John Knox, like his mentor Wishart, boldly proclaimed the Gospel to everyone who would listen. People respected him for his teaching and his faithfulness to the truth of Scripture. By the Reformation he sought that the people of his country would be free to worship the Lord in truth instead of being forced to participate in Mass which was against the teaching of God’s Word.

Francis Spira

Born 1502 – Died 1548

An Italian named Francis Spira died of despair. Formerly God had used Spira to spread Protestant ideas all over the country. He was not however prepared to lay his whole life before the Cross, he was not ready to leave everything and follow Jesus. Soon he faced persecution because of his preaching of Christ’s name. When he was given the choice to recant or leave his country and his wealth, he chose to keep his wealth and lose his Saviour. It was his love of money that caused him to deny Christ. 

Out of fear for his wealth and his family Spira recanted ‘Protestantism’ and returned to the Church of Rome. Because of this, Spira was convinced that God had forsaken him and his sin could not be forgiven. He saw his fault as a sin against the Holy Spirit. On his return home after his denial he heard the Spirit reproach him for his faithlessness. After his trial and subsequent denial of Christ, he fell into great depression and physical struggle. During this time, although many tried to bring him out of his despair, Francis Spira argued for his own damnation. Soon Francis Spira died.

The story of Francis Spira brought terror to the already doubting John Bunyan and led him to write of his thoughts at that time, “It is too late, I am lost, God hath let me fall-not to my correction, but to my condemnation. My sin is unpardonable.” Bunyan feared that his sin also might be ‘too big’ for Jesus death to cover and that he was unpardonable. Although both Spira and Bunyan used Scriptures as a basis for their depression they did not see the many verses that promise that God’s mercy is enough to cover all of our sins. We need not despair.