We took a look in the last article (“What is Reformed” Part 1) at the word Reformed from the perspective of a distinct historical period. Out of that historical period emerged many “reformational truths.” These Reformational truths took on unique form through the various Reformed theologians and church leaders, but can be summarized in what is called the “5 Solas.”
From the Reformation emerged what have been called the Solas of the reformation. Sola is the Latin word meaning “alone.” The five Solas are:
1.) Sola Scriptura, meaning “Scripture Alone”: The bible is sole and supreme authority in all matters of life and worship. The word of God is the measure of all things claiming to be true, good, and beautiful. The bible is the standard for truth.
2.) Sola Gratia, meaning “Grace Alone”: Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. God’s work in saving the lives of sinful humanity is not earned or merited, but is given freely and unconditionally out of God’s abundant grace and love.
3.) Sola Fide, meaning “Faith Alone”: Ephesians 2:1-10 makes clear that even faith is a gift from God, so faith is not the work we do to obtain salvation, but it is the response to God’s grace that wells up within the human heart by the power of the Spirit. Faith is given to God’s people so that grace may be received. The great doctrine of justification by faith alone, what Martin Luther called the doctrine by which the church stands or falls, was expressed in sola fide. Faith, not works or human merit, is the means by which we receive salvation.
4.) Solus Christus, meaning “Christ Alone”: Jesus Christ is the only mediator (connection, bridge, means) between sinful humanity and God. Hebrews makes clear that Christ is the perfect priest who accomplished a perfect sacrifice in laying down his life for the sake of God’s people. Jesus’s perfect righteousness was given to us when he took on himself our utter sinfulness. (2 Cor. 5:21)
5.) Soli Deo Gloria, meaning “the glory of God alone”: The Reformational worldview embraced all of life, down to the details, as an opportunity to bring glory to God. The hear that has experienced the grace of God in salvation will desire that their whole life will bear the imprint of what God has done. All of life is worship, to God and God alone.
The Solas captured the main thrust of the reformation which was this: that the Bible is the standard of God’s truth about all of life, that the bible tells us that God is a gracious God who alone can save humans from their sin and its consequences, which he does when men place their faith in Christ, all of which is for the glory of God alone.
The Reformation was not some foolish attempt to break away from the Catholic church, it was not intended to be a revolution. Only when the Reformation leaders were met with burning stakes and excommunication did they realize that the Catholic church would not listen to their pleas for reform. The Reformation heart is one that has been gripped by the truth of God’s grace through gazing at the person and work of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit through the word of God.
In the next post we will ask, “Is the Reformation over?”