The Reformation
Although the 16th-century Reformation may be regarded as a historic relic, the principles it enunciated continue to have relevance for Christians today, comprehensively shaping our devotions to God, faith, and salvation.
In this post, we'll look at the Five Solas from the Reformation, their scriptural foundations, arguments for and against, and how they clearly convey the foundations of Christianity.
Since New Testament churches are decentralized entities with a plurality of elders in leadership, it is easy to see how a centralized entity with a single leader could grow in dominance; historically, such was Roman Catholicism. In the early 16th century, religious, political, and social upheaval in Europe sparked calls for reforms in the practices and beliefs of the Roman Church. The Reformation directly confronted these abuses and the Roman Church.
Martin Luther, a German monk who challenged the authority of the Church primarily objected to the sale of indulgences, which were certificates that promised forgiveness of sins in exchange for money. Luther believed that salvation could not be bought nor earned through works but was a gift of God's grace that could only be received through faith in Jesus Christ.
The resulting Reformation led to a re-establishment of Biblical Christianity which rejected many of the teachings and practices of that era and set a standard of belief that is straightforward and penetrating even today.
The Five Solas of the Reformation can be summarized as follows:
The Five Solas are individually inclusive of scripture, faith, grace, Jesus Christ, and the glory of God.
Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone): means that the Bible is the only source of authority for Christian faith and practice and was a response to the belief prioritizing tradition.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 articulates, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
Psalm 19:7 says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."
Some have argued that the concept of Sola Scriptura is not supported by the Bible because the Bible itself does not teach it explicitly. However, the Bible does teach the sufficiency and authority of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Matthew 4:4), and commands against adding to or taking from the Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6, Deuteronomy 12:32, Revelation 22:18-19). Also, Mark 7:13 warns of invalidating Scripture through the addition of tradition.
Sola Fide (Faith alone): means that salvation is by faith alone, and not by any good works or merit on the part of the believer, and is a response to the belief in the necessity of good works for salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Galatians 2:16 articulates, "Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law, no one will be justified."
Some have argued that James 2:24, which states "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone" is proof against Sola Fide, but this verse is actually talking about the relationship between faith and works; that is, true faith produces good works, not that works produces salvation.
Sola Gratia (Grace alone): means that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned or deserved. This was a response to the belief in the necessity of sacraments and good works for both the origination and even maintenance of one's salvation.
Romans 3:23-24 expresses, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
Titus 3:4-7 states, "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Solus Christus (Christ alone): indicates that salvation is through Christ alone and not through any other mediators or means. This was a response to the belief in the required intercession of priests, saints, and the Pope, as well as reliance on other religions and even false gods.
John 14:6 expresses, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Acts 4:12 articulates, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name [Christ] under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
See the major argument against this below.
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone): means that all glory and honor belong to God alone and not to any human being, institution, or creation. This was a response to a misplaced emphasis on the authority and duty to the Church and its leaders.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Romans 11:36 says, "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."
The first question and answer of the Westminster Shorter Catechism confirm this declaration: “What is the chief end of man? To glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”
Refuting the Solas
No passage of Scripture directly refutes the Five Solas. The arguments raised against them, examined above, turn out to rest on misreadings rather than on contrary texts.
One point draws sustained fire: the exclusivity of Solus Christus.
Acts 4:12 allows no exceptions: “…there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
The objection is familiar, and it usually arrives as a question about fairness. What about the man in a remote village who never hears the name of Christ? Is he condemned for an accident of geography?
Two answers must be refused before the right one comes into view.
The first is that such a man is simply innocent. Scripture does not permit it. The second is that his sincerity saves him apart from the gospel. Scripture does not permit that either.
What General Revelation Actually Does
God has revealed Himself outside the pages of the Bible, and the reach of that revelation is genuine.
Romans 1:20: “For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
Read the last clause carefully. The purpose Paul assigns to general revelation is not salvation. It is the removal of every excuse.
Acts 17:26–27: “And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him.”
God arranges nations and eras so that men will seek Him. That is real, and it is deliberate. But creation and conscience testify to God’s power and to His moral law. They say nothing about a crucified and risen Savior.
You cannot get to the cross by looking at a sunset.
The Verses Most Often Misapplied
Two passages get pressed into service for the opposite conclusion, and both say less than is claimed.
Acts 10:34–35 records Peter saying that “in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.” This is read as though sincerity were sufficient. But look at where Peter is standing when he says it. He is in Cornelius’s house, sent there by God, about to preach the gospel. Nine verses later he tells them that forgiveness comes to “everyone who believes in Him.” Peter is not describing an alternate route to salvation; he is announcing that Gentiles are eligible for the only route there is.
John 10:16 has Jesus saying “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice.” The sheep outside the fold are Gentiles, not the unevangelized. And notice the mechanism. They hear His voice. Someone preaches.
The Cornelius Pattern
Cornelius is the strongest test case in Scripture, and he settles the question.
He was devout. He feared God. He gave generously and prayed continually. If sincerity under general revelation could save a man, Cornelius was saved before Peter ever arrived.
He was not. God sent an angel, and the angel did not preach the gospel. The angel sent for Peter, who would “declare to you a message by which you will be saved” (Acts 11:14).
That is the pattern, and Paul states the principle behind it.
Romans 10:14, 17: “how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?... So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
God does not save the sincere seeker apart from the gospel. He gets the gospel to the seeker.
Why This Strengthens The Solas Rather Than Threatening Them
The inclusivist answer feels merciful and costs everything. If men can be saved by responding well to creation, then Christ alone is not true, faith in Him is not necessary, and the missionary enterprise becomes an act of cruelty that raises the standard for people who were doing fine without it.
The exclusive answer is harder and holds together. Every man has enough light to be guilty. No man has enough light to be saved. So God sends messengers, and He has been doing it since Acts 10.
That is not a problem for Solus Christus. It is the reason for the Great Commission.
Conclusion
It is unfortunate that so many churches fail miserably in teaching even the fundamentals of Christianity. Many concentrate on contemporary topics such as social justice issues or pick and choose biblical passages as supposed support for their weak sermonettes for christianettes. Subsequent to the Reformation, not only were the Five Solas known and understood by believers, but summaries of Christian principles, such as the Westminster Catechism, were also employed to instruct believers in the various truths of the bible.
If nothing more, The Five Solas; "We believe in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone" is a superb foundation for understanding and declaring the principle tenets of the Christian faith.
Your point, "It is unfortunate that so many churches fail miserably in teaching even the fundamentals of Christianity. Many concentrate on contemporary topics such as social justice issues or pick and choose biblical passages as supposed support for their weak sermonettes for christianettes." is sadly more than true in the majority of so-called "Christian" churches these days... Just restacked this post as this is an important message for all who consider themselves Christians.
Until we return to this basic tenet of honoring and obeying God in our lives, because of the gift of our salvation, we will continue to suffer as we allow evil to continue to grow. The churches of today have lost their purpose. It’s all about man. Thus, we must be Christ’s church ourselves; each of us, and daily live His Truth. Perhaps this is His Way of creating heaven on earth; having the monuments to and cathedrals of men fall away to expose man’s folly and reveal the most basic of God’s Truth. We need nothing but our faith and allegiance to His will for Him to reign supreme.