Doctrine of the Day: The Five "Solas"

Not many of us today know much about the Reformation that started in 1517. Around 2000 I think, one of the major news magazines identified the protestant Reformation is the most significant event of the past millennia.

Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli Philip Melanchthon, John Knox, William Tyndale, and the list goes on. These men fought for the gospel. The Catholic church had strayed deep into unbiblical teachings (and it is still there today). They understood that theology and doctrine, what we believe about the Bible is of utmost importance.

The “five solas” is a term used to designate five great foundational rallying cries of the Protestant reformation. They are as follows:

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone

Sola Fide - Faith Alone

Solus Christus - Christ Alone

Soli Deo Gloria - To God Alone Be Glory

These “five solas” were developed in response to specific perversions of the truth that were taught by the corrupt Roman Catholic Church.

1. The Roman Church taught that the foundation for faith and practice was a combination of the scriptures, sacred tradition, and the teachings of the magisterium and the pope; but the Reformers said, “No, our foundation is sola scriptura”.

2. The Catholic Church taught that we are saved through a combination of God's grace, the merits that we accumulate through penance and good works, and the superfluity of merits that the saints before us accumulated; the reformers responded, “Salvation is a free, undeserved gift from God… sola gratia”.

3. The Catholic Church taught that we are justified by faith and the works that we produce, which the righteousness that God infuses in us through faith brings about. The reformers responded, “No, we are justified by faith alone, which lays hold of the alien righteousness of Christ that God freely credits to the account of those who believe… sola fide”.

4. The Catholic Church taught that we are saved by the merits of Christ and the saints, and that we approach God through Christ, the saints, and Mary, who all pray and intercede for us. The Reformers responded, “No, we are saved by the merits of Christ Alone, and we come to God through Christ Alone… solus christus”.

5. The Catholic Church adhered to what Martin Luther called the “theology of glory” (in opposition to the “theology of the cross”), in which the glory for a sinner's salvation could be attributed partly to Christ, partly to Mary and the saints, and partly to the sinner himself. The reformers responded, “No, the only true gospel is that which gives all glory to God alone, as is taught in the scriptures… soli deo gloria”

We can see a shift in faithfulness in the Church today that is very similar to the one that sparked that great reform. There are many who have forgotten what the gospel is and how important it is that we fight for it.

I am not suggesting we need another Reformation, but there is another Latin phrase that should be a part of our worldview: semper reformanda… “always reforming.”

I am suggesting that we must always keep a close watch on our doctrine and our teaching (1 Timothy 4:16) to make sure it accords with the faith delivered once for all to the saints (Jude 3).