The Five Solas
IntroductionThe five solas were crucial to the Reformation, setting the Reformers apart from the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. These solas are:
Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)
Solus Christus (Christ alone)
Sola Fide (Faith alone)
Sola Gratia (Grace alone)
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone)
These principles stand at the heart of our faith, affirming the authority of Scripture, the centrality of Christ, and the doctrines of salvation by faith through grace, all for the glory of God.
The five solas are much more than theological ideas; they encapsulate the essence of the gospel. They explain how the good news of Jesus Christ transforms sinners, and they clarify where the authority of this gospel lies. Though the term "five solas" is relatively recent, the truths they express are deeply rooted in the 16th-century Reformation. Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin passionately defended these solas, not simply as doctrinal points, but as core declarations of the gospel. For them, these solas were worth defending at all costs because they believed that the integrity of the gospel itself was at stake.
Sola Scriptura
Sola Scriptura teaches that Scripture alone is God’s inspired, inerrant, and sufficient Word, the final authority for the church. As 2 Timothy 3:16–17 affirms, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." The Reformers recognised that while church traditions, councils, and leaders have value, they do not carry the same authority as Scripture. As the apostle Peter reminds us, "Above all, you must realise that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:20-21, NLT).
Because Scripture is divinely inspired, it is without error in everything it affirms. As Psalm 12:6 says, "The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over." Scripture’s inerrancy provides assurance to believers that God’s Word is entirely trustworthy, setting it apart from all other fallible authorities.
Furthermore, Sola Scriptura asserts that Scripture is sufficient for all matters of faith and practice. Psalm 19:7 declares, "The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple." The Bible contains everything necessary for salvation, equipping us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). Therefore, all other authorities in the Christian life must be subordinate to Scripture, which alone is our supreme guide.
Solus Christus
Scripture is a priceless gift from God because it reveals Jesus Christ to us. God, in His holiness, could have left us in our sin and condemnation, but instead, He graciously sent His Son to save us. As John 1:14 proclaims, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Our natural inclination might be to think that we can contribute something—our good works or obedience—to our salvation. Yet Scripture is clear: "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard" (Romans 3:23, NLT). Salvation belongs to God alone. God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take on human flesh and substitute Himself for us, fulfilling the law perfectly and bearing the penalty for our sins. As 1 Peter 2:24 says, "He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed."
Christ alone is the basis for our justification before God. As Acts 4:12 declares, "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." It is Christ’s work, and His work alone, that provides the foundation for our standing before God.
Sola Fide
How do we receive the redemption Christ accomplished? Through faith alone. Rather than relying on our own efforts, we place our trust in Christ. Ephesians 2:8–9 makes this abundantly clear: "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."
The Reformers often spoke of a "great exchange"—Christ took our sins upon Himself, and in exchange, we receive His perfect righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 captures this marvellous truth: "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."
This righteousness is not our own; it is Christ’s, credited to us by faith. Romans 5:1 declares, "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." Faith is the means through which we receive this righteousness, and it is by faith alone that we are justified before God (Galatians 2:16).
Sola Gratia
If we are justified by faith in Christ alone, then our salvation is entirely by grace. Sola Gratia teaches that God’s grace is the beginning and the end of our salvation. Ephesians 2:8 emphasises this truth: "God saved you by his grace when you believed." God’s grace extends from eternity past to eternity future, encompassing every part of our salvation. As Ephesians 1:4 reminds us, "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes."
Salvation does not depend on our will or effort, but on God’s mercy. Romans 9:16 states, "So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it." God’s grace is entirely unmerited, and His choice to save us is not based on anything within us but on His sovereign will. Titus 3:5 echoes this: "He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit."
God’s grace is monergistic, meaning that He alone works in us to bring us to new life in Christ. It is by His grace that we are drawn out of darkness and given the gift of faith to believe in Christ. Philippians 1:29 affirms this: "For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him."
Soli Deo Gloria
When we recognise that our salvation is by grace alone, it leads us to glorify God alone. As Romans 11:36 declares, "For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen." If we could contribute anything to our salvation, we would have reason to boast in ourselves. But because salvation is entirely God’s work, He alone is worthy of all praise and honour.
Soli Deo Gloria reminds us that our lives, whether in our daily work or in our worship, should reflect this truth. 1 Corinthians 10:31 exhorts us, "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Likewise, 1 Peter 4:11 encourages us, "Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen."
In summary, the five solas—Scripture alone, Christ alone, faith alone, grace alone, and to God alone be the glory—are the essence of the Reformation. They are not just doctrinal positions but a celebration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation, as revealed in His Holy Word.
