The Five Solas

Introduction

The Five Solas (or “Alones“) are a summary of the biblical Christian Gospel of Jesus Christ. This summary was a product of the Protestant Reformation, a period of Church History that is marked by the attempts of protestant reformers to bring the Roman Catholic church back to being biblical. Simply put, these were Christians who strongly desired biblical reformation in the lives of individuals and in the church body, and rejected man made traditions and doctrines not found in the Holy Scriptures.

“Sola Gratia”
SAVED BY GRACE ALONE

We are saved by God’s grace alone. There is nothing humans can do to merit God’s favor to earn any part of salvation, but it is simply freely given by God.

“Sola Fide”
THROUGH FAITH ALONE

We are saved through our faith alone, which is the medium through which Salvation is granted. Faith and Repentance are granted by God alone, and does not require human works or efforts. However, true saving faith does bear “good fruit”, which such good works and Christlikeness is the visible evidence of a Christian’s salvation.

“Solus Christus”
IN CHRIST ALONE

We are saved in Christ alone, because there is no other Redeemer or Savior. It is only the God-Man Jesus Christ who accomplishes our salvation and paid the due penalty of the Christian’s sin.

“Sola Scriptura”
ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURE ALONE

We are saved according to the Hole Scriptures (the Word of God) alone, because the Scriptures are sufficient in of itself for the believer to obtain the good news, the gospel, about salvation. God (the divine author) has given his Word through human authors to bring forth the divinely-inspired writings of the Scriptures. We recognize the established biblical canon as the 66 books of the Old & New Testament, and reject the uninspired human writings that some try to add into (or take away from) the closed canon.

“Soli Deo Gloria”
FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE

We are saved for the glory of God alone, because no one else is to receive the glory from man’s salvation. Only God who saves shall receive all of the glory, both from the salvation of His people, and from the righteous judgment and holy wrath put upon those who have no salvation from their sin.

Conclusion

The Five Alones contrast with what was declared to be the official doctrine of the Roman Catholic religion (in response to the Reformation), which would add something to each of these:

  • Instead of salvation by God’s grace alone, it is by God’s grace plus human merit.

  • Instead of salvation through our Faith alone, it is through Faith plus human works.

  • Instead of salvation in Jesus Christ alone, it is in Jesus Christ plus other human intermediators.

  • Instead of salvation according to the Scriptures alone, it is according to the Scriptures plus human traditions.

  • Instead of salvation for the glory of God alone, it is for the glory of God plus glory given to other humans.