During the Reformation five hundred years ago, the reformers taught some reoccurring truths. These truths were contrary to the prevailing teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, therefore a reformation needed to take place to correct the errors that were contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible. These truths are now called the “Five Solas”. At Grace Bible Sanctuary, we have banners with these ‘five solas’ hanging behind the pulpit as a reminder of these truths.

The word sola in Latin means only or alone, and these five truths are: sola gratia, sola fida, solus Christus, sola scriptura, and soli Deo gloria. These are the Latin phrases. In English they mean, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone.

Each of these five phrases represent a Bible doctrine that we will try and synthesis so as to give an overview of these doctrines as seen in the gospel. When we describe these truths from scripture you will noticed that they overlap, it is hard to teach one apart from the other.

Sola Gratia – by grace alone

The word grace is defined as unmerited favor. It is something that we do not earn or deserve, salvation is a gift. Romans 3:24 says, “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus”. The word justified means to be declared righteous; this is opposed to earning one’s own righteousness through good works. The reason we cannot earn our righteousness is found in the preceding verse that says, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” You see we do not have any righteousness to offer to God. In James 2:10 it says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he is guilty of all.” You see the law is treated as a whole unit and not just a lot of individual laws. Think of a mirror, if just one corner is broken the whole mirror has been broken. This is why Romans 3:20 says, “because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified in His sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” The law of God is like a mirror designed to show us that we are sinners who have disobeyed God’s law. Break just one law and our life record becomes that of a law-breaker; we can no longer claim to be a law-keeper. This is why we need a Savior; “for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom.6:23).

Some might argue that we need to do our part to be justified. Let us look at Romans 11:6 that says, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” Grace automatically excludes works; it cannot be both. If it is by works then it is no longer grace. Works excludes grace. It cannot be that ‘grace does it’s part and I do my part’. This is why we have to say we are saved by grace alone. Any religion that does not say our salvation is by grace alone has erred from the truth; this is because it has opened the door for people to keep their self-righteous pride and boast that they did their part.

The following verses put good works in proper perspective — that works are the fruit and not the root of one’s salvation. Read carefully, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). Once God has saved a person by grace, His Holy Spirit is on the inside of us leading us to do good works. Just as there is no power in putting the cart before the horse to pull the cart, so there is no saving power to put works before grace to save our soul. Works are the results and fruit of our salvation.

Sola Fida – through faith alone

As we have just read in Ephesians 2: 8-9 faith and grace go hand in hand. Even the faith we have to believe is a grace gift from God (Eph. 2:8). A clear verse for faith alone is Heb. 11:6 which says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him for they that come to God must believe that He is and that He is rewarder of those that seek Him”. In Romans chapters 3, 4, and 5 Paul develops the argument of why justification is by faith apart from law-keeping. Let me highlight a few verses. Romans 3:27-28 says, “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law”. Paul clearly does not consider faith to be a work of human effort. Rather, faith may be viewed as a ‘godward’ orientation of our soul, where we now love God, trust Him and His word, and desire to please Him. The opposite orientation – distrusting God and rejecting His word, hating Him and exulting in rejecting His authority, is a description of godless, unfaithful unbelievers. Faith, like grace, excludes boasting, since all the glory and credit for our salvation rightfully belongs to God alone.

Now let us read Romans 4, verses 14-16a, where Paul uses the example of Abraham, who was saved by his faith and who was promised that his descendants would be saved. Yet, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all lived hundreds of years before Moses, who gave the law. There Paul writes, “For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; for the law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there is no violation. For this reason, it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants.” So, if someone tries to use law-keeping as a part of getting saved, then faith is made ineffective or void. Verse 16 makes it clear that it has to be by faith alone so that it will be by grace (unmerited favor).

The law can only declare that we are guilty before God, but it is the blood of Christ and faith in Him that can “cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God “(Hebrews 9:14). Now remember good works and a changed life will follow genuine saving faith because the Holy Spirit is in us, but if there is no fruit there is no root, (James 2:17, Matt. 7:15-20).

Solus Christus – in Jesus Christ alone

God says all unredeemed people are dead in their trespasses and sin, without hope, spiritually bankrupt, and incapable of saving themselves (Eph. 2:1,12 Matt. 5:3). The only choice for being saved from God’s wrath is to come to the one who can save us. Jesus himself made this exclusive claim in John 14:6 where He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” Jesus could say this because He is the creator God of heaven, earth, and everything in it, (John 1:3 Colossians 1:15-19). As the ultimate authority, He has the right to establish the parameters for salvation. The Apostle Paul makes this argument for Christ being the only way to the Father in Galatians 2:21 where he said, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness came through the law, then Christ died needlessly.” If the triune God had made any alternative way for a sinner to be declared righteous, then it was not necessary for Jesus to die at all as a substitute for our sins. Paul again makes this exclusive claim about Christ in I Timothy 2:5-6a, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.” .

Christ alone is the atoning sacrifice for sin, but His death was not permanent. Romans 4:25 (KJV) says, Jesus “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” Christ’s resurrection is a vindication that Jesus is who He said He was and that the Father has accepted Jesus’ sacrifice as a complete, satisfactory payment for the sins of men. No other individual has made this kind of once-for-all-time sacrifice (Heb. 10:14) and come back to life (Rom. 10:9). No other individual is worthy of this kind of exclusivity (Rev. 5:9). No other individual is the only way to God (Act 4:12). The apostle Paul also said, “If anyone does not love the Lord he is to be accursed,” (I Cor. 16:22).

Sola Scriptura – according to scripture alone

This sola is the teaching that the Bible is the only infallible authority for faith and practice of the Christian life. Here are just a few of the reasons.

1. Not the smallest detail of God’s word will pass away till all is fulfilled (Matt. 5:18). God’s word will never pass away and cannot be broken or altered, (Matt. 24:35, Jn. 10:35).

2. It is the truth by which our lives are changed or sanctified (Jn.17:17, I Cor. 2:13). God’s word can make one wise unto salvation, (II Tim. 3:15).

3. All scripture is God breathed or has its source directly from Him and the Holy Spirit, and therefore is infallible in the original writings, (II Tim. 3:16, II Pet. 1:20-21).

4. It is sufficient to make the man of God ‘perfect and thoroughly furnished’ for all good works (II Tim. 3:17, KJV).

5. It is the foundation of the church, based on what the apostles and prophets gave us in the Old and New Testament, with Christ Jesus Himself the corner stone, (Ephesians 2:19-20).

6. It produces faith in people’s lives, (Rom. 10:17, Jn. 20:31).

7. Since the word of God is pure, God’s servants will love it (Psa. 119:140).

8. Since, pastors, priests, popes, church denominations or counsels, and church traditions are made up of men who are finite and fallible or sinful and often self-deceived (Jer. 17: 9, Isa. 64:6), the only wise thing to do is rely on the Holy God’s infallible word as our only source of truth.

9. It is also a way of holding spiritual leaders accountable to make sure they are being good stewards of teaching God’s truth.
   
   
   

Soli Deo Gloria – for God’s glory alone

As we have seen, our salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross and resurrection. Since sinful man has no ability to contribute anything towards his salvation and therefore has no right to boast, all the glory can only go to God. The Bible says, He is the author and finisher of our faith or the originator and the one who will carry it through to completion (Heb. 12:2, Rom. 8:29-30). He is the One who chose us from the beginning for salvation and called us through the gospel (II Thess. 2:13-14). His choice of us for this inheritance was even before we were born so we cannot take any credit for that. As it says in I Cor. 1:31b, “Let him that boasts, boast in the Lord.”

This can be very humbling, and it is a deathblow to man’s ego or pride. Isaiah 42:8 says, “I am the LORD (Yahweh), that is my name; I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to idols.” This is our opportunity to magnify Him and His grace towards us. Thank you Jesus!

Conclusion

These are the “five solas”, or five truths represented by the banners in Grace Bible Sanctuary. These truths are inter-dependent and much deeper and applicable than this short summary explains. We have seen how scripture verifies that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, based on the scripture alone, and all for the glory of God alone.

All the verses quoted were from the NASB translation, unless otherwise noted.