On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther hammered a list of complaints to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. This Ninety-Five Theses would soon trigger a titanic shift in Western Christianity, leading to the Protestant Reformation.
Because of the Bible, the Reformers knew that was not through indulgences, pilgrimages, nor relics that people were saved — it was through Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, and to God’s glory alone. These Five Solas represent the heart of the Reformation, and remembering them can help us to always return back to the essence and bedrock of the Gospel.
The terms are:
- Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)
- Sola Fide (Faith alone)
- Sola Gratia (Grace alone)
- Solus Christus (Christ alone)
- Soli Deo Gloria (God’s glory alone)
To help explore these Five Solas, we have compiled 5 reflections from our SOLA Council members. We hope that these essays will give you more glimpses of the beauty of God’s grace upon us.
1. What I Love About Scripture Alone
By Steve Bang Lee
What we discover is a great need for a greater voice, a higher authority, one that exceeds mere human experiences and human tradition. What we need is a final word, an ultimate authority, that is indeed true, truthful in all that it claims, without error, and is therefore able to validate or invalidate all other voices of authority in our lives.
The Reformation gives us the gift of Sola Scriptura, or Scripture alone, which is the idea that Scripture is the final and ultimate voice of authority in and over the life of the Christian.
2. What I Love About Faith Alone
By Harold Kim
In 3rd grade during Vacation Bible School, my cabin counselor told me how sinful I was. The evidence was clear: My hands were scratched and dirty from a fight. Still, my brain, underneath a tight neat bowlcut, went into shock. I had always been told I was good; I’d even starred in Christmas plays at church!
As the realization of sin settled in – coupled with gruesome images from 80’s movies depicting the end times – I was guided to pray to Jesus. My heart broke with conviction. I sensed my desperate need for a Savior. I had my first “come to Jesus” moment. By faith alone. Nothing more, nothing less. Faith was all I could give.
3. What I Love About Grace Alone
By Justin Kim
The Reformers understood the power and the significance of God’s grace in the work of salvation. Grace itself is amazing. That God shows favor to sinners is astounding. But it’s the sola part that takes this Protestant Reformation theme to another stratosphere! God is un-obligated to do anything for sinful man. But the sinner is saved by the grace of God, His unmerited favor, alone.
4. What I Love About Christ Alone
By Steve Choi
One of the key teachings from the reformers was summarized in the doctrine of Solus Christus or Christ Alone. This means He alone is the source of our salvation and hope.
Martin Luther said that Jesus Christ is the “center and circumference of the Bible” — meaning that who He is and what He did on the cross is the fundamental teaching of Scripture. I love this teaching for many reasons.
5. What I Love About Glory Alone
By Michael Lee
It has been well noted in the previous four articles that the five Solas ultimately reflect the heart of the Gospel. The fifth Sola summarizes this truth in full. How are sinners reconciled to God? How does God accomplish His redeeming work in our lives? The Scriptures alone testify that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The Father sends, the Son accomplishes, and the Spirit applies. This is what it means for our salvation to be monergistic — it is completely the work of God that overcomes our inability and depravity.
We must always remember that Christians are not a category of people who are more reasonable, logical, or humble than others. This is why God alone gets the glory in our salvation. The gospel reminds us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.