The Five Solas: Scriptura, Christus, Fide, Gratia & Deo Gloria Series

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."