This article is the first of a series on the “Solas” of the Protestant Reformation. They will post each Thursday here on The Post.
A Brief History
Every Evangelical Christian church is rooted in the Protestant Reformation.
The Protestant Reformation started when men such as John Wycliffe, Jan Hus, Martin Luther, Huldreich Zwingli, and John Calvin objected to numerous unbiblical practices that had become a part of church life.
Martin Luther was greatly incensed by the practice of “indulgences.” To raise money, the Roman Catholic Church provided a way to pay for forgiveness, even for people already dead. There is more to what paying for such indulgences includes, its origin and history, but it worked like a get-out-of-hell-free card.
This led to a movement that set out to reform the Roman Church. When it was clear the Church, the only recognized church at that time, would not change, the Protestant movement separated from it.
Initially, three primary churches developed, then a fourth, for mostly the same reasons. There was …
- The Lutheran Church, started by followers of Martin Luther.
- The Reformed Church, started by John Calvin’s followers.
- The Presbyterian Church, started by John Knox in Scotland.
- The Anglican Church, the Reformation Church of England.
Although many people had similar concerns, Martin Luther is most well-known for his ninety-five theses posted on the door of the church in Wittenberg. Luther was a monk who taught moral theology at the University of Wittenberg. The original intent of these theses was to promote discussion, not dissension, but the Roman church did not see it that way. There is much more to the story, but the essence is that Luther and other Reformers challenged the authority of the pope and certain practices of the Church that were not biblical.
The driving force of the Protestant Reformation was to bring the Church back to its biblical roots. The Scriptures are to be the final authoritative basis governing all doctrines and practices of the Church, not the pope nor church leaders.
Protestantism is a broad term that includes churches or communities of believers who are not part of the Roman Catholic Church, but who hold to a biblical foundation of faith.
Other churches grew out of the four primary ones mentioned above because of other distinctions in theology, doctrine, and practices, but the essentials of the Christian faith remain the same.
The 5 Solas
The primary tenets of the Protestant Reformation are summarized in the 5 Solas (originally in Latin)
- Sola Scriptura / Scripture Alone > The Bible alone is the sole authority for all matters of faith and practice.
- Sola Gratia / Grace Alone > Salvation by grace alone.
Salvation is proof of God’s undeserved favor; we are rescued from God’s wrath by His grace alone, not by any work we do. - Sola Fide / Faith Alone > Salvation by faith alone.
We are justified by faith in Christ alone, not by the works of the Law. - Sola Christus / Christ Alone > In Christ alone.
Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone; no one and nothing else can save. - Soli Dei Gloria / Glory of God Alone > For the glory of God alone.
Salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God for His glory alone.
We need to be aware of deceptions perpetrated by the enemy of our soul. As the Apostle Paul points out, we need a pure and undivided devotion to Jesus.
But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. (2 Cor 11:3 NLT)
It is always about Jesus! He is the Head of the Body of Christ—the Church. He is the Core of the Gospel. He is the Alpha (first) and Omega (last). He is the only Son of God—Savior, Lord of Lords, and Returning King.
Our relationship with the Lord Jesus needs to deepen so we are not vulnerable to clever arguments, deceptions, or anything else that would draw us away from a pure, uncomplicated commitment to Him.
I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments… And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him… Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. (Col 2:4, 6, 8 NLT)
We need to pursue spiritual maturity, not by gathering more theological knowledge, but by deepening our understanding of Jesus—who He is and what He’s done to redeem and restore us.
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. (Eph 4:13-14 NLT)
It is who you know, not what you know. We need to be rooted and grounded in our relationship with Jesus, not just gain more knowledge about Him. We need to understand what He says.
The four gospels are the bedrock of our faith, as they were for the Early Church. Jesus is the One who interprets the truth of the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms for us. He did this personally for the apostles (Luke 24:44), and He will do it for us by the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27).
Jesus is the Cornerstone of our faith (1 Cor 3:11; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:4-6). Jesus is our plumb line, our spiritual point of reference. As Jesus said to His closest followers—
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63)
If the truths we hold about Jesus and the Christian faith do not line up with what He says, then we are on shaky ground.
