I have a
belated blog post today. I had intended to finish this blog post two weeks ago
in timing with the anniversary of the protestant reformation…
October 31st
2017 marked the 500th anniversary of the protestant reformation. God
used his Word to show Martin Luther errors taught during his time which
endorsed self-righteousness rather than the Gospel of the grace of God. The
Five Solas are scripturally based truths. At my church, we are doing a sermon
series on Galatians. Some of the things I learned are incorporated into this post. Galatians explains the doctrines of grace and strongly admonishes self righteousness. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul wrote of the danger in seeking justification in law keeping or trying to earn points with God in any way. The protestant reformation didn’t introduce new teachings, rather God used Luther and other reformers to teach Scriptural truths. Galatians was one of the scriptures that Luther studied.
I spent some
time considering the Five Solas recently. I have written a brief summary with Bible
verses and some of my thoughts on the Five Solas. I also wrote a poem which
begins by summarizing the errors of seeking justification by the law and concludes with the
hope we have in Christ.
Sola Scriptura- Scripture alone
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. 2 Timothy
3:16-1
In matters of faith and doctrine, Scripture is the
highest authority. The Bible was written by God.
I write these things to you about those who are
trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides
in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his
anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as
it has taught you, abide in him. 1 John 2: 26-27
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
Believers are anointed with the Holy Spirit and he
teaches us all things through his inspired Word. Believers can understand God’s
word by the power of the Holy Spirit. God does use pastors and the body of Christ
to teach us but it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we believe and
understand his Word. Faithful ministers preach the truth of God’s Word. It is through the Scriptures and the Holy
Spirit’s leading that believers can discern errors and heresies though they may
be taught from pulpits.
Sola Fide- faith alone
God gives us saving faith in his Son. Christians
trust in the completed work of Christ upon the cross for the remission of sins.
Sola Gratia- grace alone
God saves us by grace. Grace is unearned and is bestowed upon us
according to God’s will. He has no respect of persons and does not regard
outward appearances or self-merited good works. God chose to give grace to his
people for his names sake. Those in Christ are given Christ’s righteousness and
their rags of sin are removed (Isaiah 61:10.)
We cannot do good works which please God in our own ability. Though we
may do thing which look good to man’s eyes, self-righteous works are an
abomination to God. God gives true believers the grace to do good works which
are a working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. God is pleased with good works
in true believers but these good works do not earn us favor with God in any
way. He is the one that enables us to do them. God sanctifies believers and conforms them to his image. He gives believers the grace to live in the perfect law of liberty and to increasingly obey his commandments and mortify sin (James 1:25.) To God be the glory.
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. For we
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work
in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
I recently
heard part of a sermon by Alistair Begg and he mentioned a pastor who would
tell everyone he spoke too after church “keep on.” Those two little words
encouraged me because I know God’s grace will make me keep on. Thank God we do
not keep on in our own strength. We cannot.
Solo Christo: “Christ alone”
The only way any human can be justified is through the blood
of Jesus Christ. Christianity is the only true religion; the only religion that
worships a holy God that bought his people with his blood.
Sometimes people may attempt to justify their sins by personal
or cultural standards rather than by biblical truths. They don’t need a Savior
because their actions aren’t really sin. Sin is redefined to fit man’s standard
of morality. This is not good. How can a heart that is deceitful and
desperately sick discern what is moral?
God’s law, the Ten Commandments, is the only true standard
for how we are called to live. However, because of our sinful state, no one can
earn salvation by keeping the law. God kept the law perfectly and died in our
place so that we may have righteousness in him.
The heart is
deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9
Solo Christo,
refers to the Christ of the Bible who is eternal God. He has no beginning and
no end. He took on human flesh in his incarnation. He is fully God and fully
man. He perfectly kept the law then willingly died on the cross bearing the
penalty for the sins of his elect. He rose again three days later, conquering
the power of death. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of
the Father and will one day return to judge the living and the dead. Christ did
it all. No part of our salvation is dependent upon our works.
In asking a child what the word gospel meant, the child
replied: isn’t it the opposite of the law? The answer I was looking for was
Good News. The gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,) tell us of the good
news of our Savior who came to die for us. But later in the day I realized, yes
in a sense the law is the opposite of the gospel. The law is good and holy but
when we try to justify ourselves before God by keeping the law this is bad
news. We cannot measure up.
In the article, 14 Women of the Reformation That You Probably Never Knew About, by Justin Holcolm,
I came across a quote by Olimpia Fulvia Morata. Olimpia
wisely reminds us that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is sufficient to atone
for all of our sins.
Don’t be afraid … No odor of sinners
can be so foul that its force cannot be broken and weakened by the sweetest
odor that flows from the death of Christ, which alone God can perfume.
Therefore seek Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria: “to the glory of God alone”
Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not
the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord
commends. 2 Corinthians 10:17-18
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to
the world. Galatians 6:14
I came across this passage as a cross reference to Galatians
6:14:
By God’s
grace, believers are circumcised in heart and justified before God through his
Son.
A Poem to Conclude
Please note:
when I refer to man in my poetry, I am referring to mankind not a specific
gender. This poem includes many Scripture references. Bible references are
listed next to the lines in my poem. I have italicized paraphrases or quotes of
Scripture in the poem
Shackles of
sin
Disguised as
good
Feet stuck
in mire
That claim
to be walking
Darkness
that says it’s light
Foolishness professes it’s wise Romans 1:22
Can a corpse
dressed in
Fine
garments bring about life?
The law is good but cannot save us Romans 3:20
By the law we’re sinners found
Justification
by our works?
A fable born
of darkness.
He who offends on one point James
2:10
Has offended on all
God’s Word’s
not heard but
Twisted and
mangled
To suit Man’s
desires
Man rises up
in delusions
That by his
own efforts
He’s heaven
bound
Or perhaps
he imagines
Himself so
bad
That God’s
promise
Could not
apply to him
But God’s Word Isaiah 55: 11
Does not return to him empty
It accomplishes his purpose
The wicked turn not
From their evil ways
Faithless hard hearts
Will one day perish
By grace God’s children hear
God’s Word tells of his Isaiah 53:11, Matthew 5:17-18
Righteous Servant
Sent to save many.
His own Son
Fully God and fully man
Kept the law
Each jot and tittle
On the cross he bore our sins
A substitution Galatians
3:11
For the curse we
deserve
Christ redeemed us
From the curse of the
law
As it is written
“cursed
Is everyone who hangs
on a tree”
Faith comes by hearing Romans 10:17
And hearing by the
Word of God
By grace you are saved Ephesians 2:8-9
Through faith, not of
Yourselves, it is a
gift
Of God lest any man
Should boast
Our Savior chose his
own Ephesians
1:4
Before the foundation
of time
None chosen shall be lost
He came to seek and to
save Luke 19:10
To God be the glory
Great things he has done
For his name’s sake
He set his love
Upon wretched men
The lines “to God be the glory, great things he has done”
are from Frances Crosby’s hymn, to God be the glory. Works published before
1923 are public domain and copyright laws do not apply.
