Five Solas

By
Randy Seiver

Jesus represented the Christian life as a narrow way into which many will never enter. Such matters as our authority for all we believe and practice, God’s way of salvation, and God’s purpose for creating all things, all reflect the narrowness of this way. There are five crucial questions we can answer using the word “alone” or “only.” They are: 1. What is the basis of our authority? [Answer--The Scriptures alone]. 2. On what basis does God save sinners? [Answer--By grace alone, through the redemptive work of Christ alone]. 3. Through what means does God save sinners? [Answer--Through faith alone]. 4. Who or what is to be the object of our faith? [Answer--Christ alone]. 5. Who should receive the credit for salvation? Does the sinners deserve any credit at all or is all the credit due to God? [Answer--To God alone be the glory]. Consider with me the meaning of each of these phrases and their importance in our understanding of the Bible’s message.

The Scriptures Alone

The Scriptures alone are our rule of faith and practice. When we speak of the Scriptures, we are referring to the sixty-six books that make up the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, God’s revealed will. When we say the Scriptures are our sole rule of faith and practice, we mean everything we believe and everything we do must find its basis in God’s Word. We do not look to personal experience, tradition, denominational practice, personal feelings, or creedal statements as the basis of what we believe and practice. If the Bible does not teach a doctrine or command us to implement an activity, we have no duty to believe the teaching or implement the practice. Though creeds and confessions of faith may be helpful in showing us what our forebears have believed about the Bible’s teaching, they should never be viewed as our authority in matters of faith and practice.
No Church, or assembly of churches, or council has the authority to dictate to believers what we must believe and do. The Bible alone is a sufficient guide. As we give attention to the Scriptures, using sound and accepted principles of interpretation and depending on the Holy Spirit to guide us, we will be complete and thoroughly furnished for all good works (see-2 Timothy 3:16-17). Our duty is to bring all our thoughts and all our practices into agreement with the Scriptures. This is the only path to true unity.

By Grace Alone

There are really only two religions in the world; one of works the other of grace. Biblical writers used the word translated “grace” in different ways. At times they used the word grace in the sense of elegance or beauty. Occasionally, they used the word in the sense of enabling (James 4:6). Concerning God’s method of saving sinners, these writers used the term to mean God’s undeserved favor or blessing granted to those who deserved his wrath and curse. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). If the basis of our right standing before God has the slightest mixture of human effort, it is no longer of grace. The apostle makes it quite clear salvation is “not of works.” Our very best works are unacceptable to a holy God. The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). Since this is true, the sinner’s salvation must be based on the unmerited and ill-merited favor of God alone.

Through Faith Alone

In order that salvation might be by grace alone, it must be through faith alone. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, it [a right legal standing before God] is of faith that it might be according to grace so that the promise might be sure to all the seed. . . . ( Romans 4: 16). Faith is accounting God faithful and trusting him to fulfill his promises. Such confidence does not naturally flow from sinful human hearts. It is not an innate virtue or meritorious work the sinner produces to gain God’s favor. It is God’s gift to those he has purposed to save. This is what the apostle wrote, “For the sake of Christ, it has been granted to you as a gracious gift, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” ( Phil 1:29). If faith were the product of sinful human nature, sinful human beings would have some basis of boasting in God’s presence, but such is not the case.

In Christ Alone

Jesus made it quite clear there is no way to the Father apart from him. This is what he said; “I am the way, truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The way in which he said these words emphasizes more forcefully the exclusivity of his claim. His words could be translated, “I, myself, am. . . and no one else is . . . .” We need Jesus as the “way” because, like sheep, we have gone astray and turned to our own way (see Isaiah 53:6). We need Jesus as the “truth” because, due to our refusal to glorify God, our foolish hearts and minds have been darkened by sin, and we have lost the knowledge of God (Read Romans 1:21-28). We need Jesus as our life, because, by nature, we are dead toward God as a result of our trespasses and sins (See–Ephesians 2: 1-3). It is impossible to know God or have a right relationship with him unless we seek to know him exclusively through Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, “. . . there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). This means not only must we seek to know God through Jesus Christ, but that we must seek to know him through Jesus Christ alone. Any other person who claims to be a mediator between sinners and God is an imposter. There is only one Priest through whom we must approach God; we need no other.

To God Alone Be the Glory

One of the criteria by which we must test everything we believe and everything we do is the question, “Who receives the glory?” Any teaching, method, or act of religious worship that leaves any basis for human pride must originate from some source other than God himself. When Jesus chided the Pharisees for there faulty acts of religious worship and service, his issue was not with their actions, but with their motives. Every action they performed was done that they might be seen by other people. Instead of seeking God’s glory, they were seeking praise for themselves. This is what Jesus told his disciples to avoid when they performed their acts of religious service, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men” (Matt. 6:1-2). By this he did not mean it was wrong to carry on Christian activities in the presence of other people. In the same sermon he had said, “Let you light shine in such a way that people may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Jesus is concerned with our motives. Do we do what we do to be seen by and have glory from other people or for the purpose of glorifying God?

God has so ordered his plan for the ages that he will make his glory (the sum of his glorious attributes) known in his universe. Additionally, he refuses to share his glory with any lesser god or with any other being. He saves sinners in such a way that no flesh [human being] will be able to boast in his presence (see 1 Cor. 1:29-31). For this reason, we must reject any teaching or practice that leaves fallen sinners any ground for boasting. We need to realize that any difference that may exist between us and the vilest sinner who ever lived exists because of God́s work and not ours. Paul asked members of the Corinthian church, “Who makes you differ from another, and what do you have that you have not received? Now, if you received it, why do you boast as if you had not received it” (1 Cor. 4:7)?

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). By this he means we are to live in such a way that others will see God’s glorious attributes through our lives. It is God’s purpose to make his glorious attributes known in the earth. The question we must ask is whether our beliefs and practices are in line with that purpose.

If only we will keep these five principles in mind, they will provide a safe guide for us as we live and seek to please God. If there is only one authoritative standard, the Scriptures, only one way of salvation, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and only one purpose and goal in all we do, to glorify God alone.

Every religion cannot be right. Even churches claiming to be part of the Christian religion must be in error if they fail to walk according to the principles we have set forth here. Your duty is to examine your belief system and that of every religion you encounter in the light of these principles. Then you must embrace only that which measures up to this standard.