Background: The Five Solas are in line with the Gospel: Jesus died and rose again according to the Old and New Testaments. He reigns as Saviour and Lord and promises forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who repent and believe.
- Sola Gratia – by Grace Alone (Eph. 2:4-5)Grace is God’s unmerited favour. Do you know what it means that the God of glory freely gives you the grace to believe and to see His glory for eternity? God redeems sinners for His own sovereign purposes. We are dead in our sins and incapable of saving ourselves. Thomas Watson said: “Grace is not a skill and a faculty that is in man’s account, but it is a gracious gift of God for them who cannot help themselves.” John Flavel: “Grace did not come to free us from all liabilities and keep us from struggling with temptations, but to free us from wrath and give us strength in our wrestling.”
It is extended to us freely and undeservedly. Let God’s grace change you, thinking on the necessity of Christ’s sacrifice – God unshackling sinners at the cost of His own Son. If we would truly grasp this it will bring about a change in our lives. - Sola Fide – by Faith Alone (Eph. 2v8-9)
Faith is a gift of God, not the idea of man. It has three aspects:
a. Knowledge
b. Assent
c. Trust – means to put your weight down. If you truly have faith and trust in Christ’s finished work, then your good works will follow.
“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). Hebrews 11 tells us that “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Thomas Boston said it beautifully: “Faith is like a window that lets in the light but does not produce it.” - Solus Christus – in Christ Alone (Acts 4v12)
He is the God who became Man, who alone has the power to save people from their sins.
In John 14v6 Jesus said to Thomas: “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”.
Anything that contradicts the Word of God is demonic, coming from the father of lies.
“There is more mercy in Christ than there is sin in us.” – Richard Sibbes.
God has given us no-one else to save us from our sins. - Sola Scriptura – the Scriptures Alone (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Baxter said: “The Word of God is the sun of the Church; the understanding of it makes wise and is itself a wisdom to the soul.” William Perkins: “The Word of God is the means to come to know our duty and to conform our lives to the Truth which it contains.”
It is through diligence of studying the Scriptures that you find clarity on spiritual matters. - Soli Deo Gloria – to the Glory of God Alone (Romans 11:36)
God saves us for His glory alone – it’s not about us (Ps. 115:1; 1 Cor. 10:31 Rev. 5:12-13).
He who boasts most in himself is furthest from the kingdom of God.
A musician should not take the glory for himself but points to the composer.
The reason for our existence is that God gets the glory for His being, His acts of creation and redemption. Everything we do ought to be done for the glory of God.
These things are the bedrock of our faith. May it not merely be theological positions and fancy Latin terms but be guideposts throughout our journey of faith.