PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Togo is a country deeply entrenched in darkness which has scarcely been challenged by intercessory prayer and the power of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even among professing Christians there is much participation in animism and voodoo rituals. Pray for Christians to break with these false beliefs and embrace the freedom of Christ. Pray for God to raise up Bible believing Pastors who speak and live truth in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The country of Togo in West Africa.
The Five Sola's of the Reformation
Halloween reminds me that it is October 31st. October 31st reminds me of Reformation Day. Reformation Day reminds me of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. And the Protestant Reformation reminds me of the Five Sola’s.
Reformation
Day is the anniversary celebration in some Protestant Churches of the nailing of Martin Luther’s 95 theses on the Wittenberg Castle Church door in October 31st, 1517. Martin Luther’s aim
to reform the Catholic Church with regard to the selling of indulgences led to
a confrontation with the Catholic Church that fuelled the Protestant
Reformation. The Reformation was a
return to the authority of the Bible which led to a renewed understanding of
the truth of Justification by faith. The thrust of the Reformation is summed up
in the five Sola’s of the
Reformation.Sola is the Latin word for alone. Here are the five foundational
Sola’s of the Reformation.
Sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone, was the foundation for the Reformation. Sola Scriptura declared that the Bible was the sole authority for truth and conduct. At the Diet of Worms, where Martin Luther was put on trial for his challenge to Catholic teachings, he declared “my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen." Sola Scriptura meant that all that the Church did and taught was to be supported by the authority of Scripture alone. The teachings and conduct of the Church were not to be based on past traditions, or the influence of the surrounding culture, or the teachings of men but on the Word of God alone. No teaching or conduct was to be added to the Church that was not authorized by the Word of God. The Reformation’s call of Sola Scriptura was a call for the authority of Scripture alone, condemning all that was not based on the absolute authority of the Bible.
Solus Christus: Christ Alone. The Reformation called the church back to faith in Christ as the sole mediator between God and man. For the Reformers, Solus Christus, meant that salvation was through Christ alone. Nothing was to be added to Christ and nothing was needed for salvation but Christ alone. Solus Chrisus denied the teachings of purgatory and indulgences for the dead, the mediation of Mary and the saints, and sacramental salvation through infant baptism. As the Heidelberg Catechism teaches, “...either Jesus is not a complete Savior or they, who by a true faith receive this Savior, must find all things in him necessary to their salvation."
Sola Gratia: Grace Alone. The heart cry of the Reformation was salvation from sin in Christ Alone through Grace Alone. Grace was the unmerited favor of God. The Reformers understood by the clear teaching of Scripture that salvation was not earned but given by God to undeserving sinners. The Reformers understood that God offered salvation freely to all because Jesus Christ stepped in, took the punishment upon Himself and bore the judgment due to sinners, and that with His own blood He paid for the sins which made them enemies of God and thereby satisfied God’s Holy Justice. Salvation was not to be worked for, earned or merited but to be freely received as a Grace from God.
Sola Fide: Faith Alone. Faith was the hand that took the grace gift of salvation in Christ. The Reformers taught that a man was justified (declared righteous by God) by believing that God had provided salvation in Christ and that those who believed were justified by faith. Those who religiously worked for God’s acceptance could never be saved but those who received by faith the righteousness that God provided in Jesus Christ were instantly saved and received eternal life. As Romans 1.17 teaches, “In the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last”.
Soli Deo Gloria: The Glory of God Alone. The Reformation reclaimed a focus on God’s Glory. All that was done was to be done to bring glory to God. Maintenance and advancement of the institutional church was not their priority. Their priority was to lift up the Character of God and the Sovereign Purposes of God in all that was done in and out of the Church. Truth glorified God. Holy living glorified God. Honest secular work glorified God. Marriage glorified God. All of life could glorify God. The Reformation had a high view of God and placed God at the center of all things. Their desire to glorify God coloured all that they did and taught.
For me the five Sola’s of the Reformation summarize basic Christianity – The absolute authority of the Bible for truth and conduct; Salvation from sin in Christ, by Grace, through faith; and a life lived for the Glory of God. God invites you to read His Word, receive His Gift of Salvation in Christ by faith, and to Glorify Him with your life.
Sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone, was the foundation for the Reformation. Sola Scriptura declared that the Bible was the sole authority for truth and conduct. At the Diet of Worms, where Martin Luther was put on trial for his challenge to Catholic teachings, he declared “my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen." Sola Scriptura meant that all that the Church did and taught was to be supported by the authority of Scripture alone. The teachings and conduct of the Church were not to be based on past traditions, or the influence of the surrounding culture, or the teachings of men but on the Word of God alone. No teaching or conduct was to be added to the Church that was not authorized by the Word of God. The Reformation’s call of Sola Scriptura was a call for the authority of Scripture alone, condemning all that was not based on the absolute authority of the Bible.
Solus Christus: Christ Alone. The Reformation called the church back to faith in Christ as the sole mediator between God and man. For the Reformers, Solus Christus, meant that salvation was through Christ alone. Nothing was to be added to Christ and nothing was needed for salvation but Christ alone. Solus Chrisus denied the teachings of purgatory and indulgences for the dead, the mediation of Mary and the saints, and sacramental salvation through infant baptism. As the Heidelberg Catechism teaches, “...either Jesus is not a complete Savior or they, who by a true faith receive this Savior, must find all things in him necessary to their salvation."
Sola Gratia: Grace Alone. The heart cry of the Reformation was salvation from sin in Christ Alone through Grace Alone. Grace was the unmerited favor of God. The Reformers understood by the clear teaching of Scripture that salvation was not earned but given by God to undeserving sinners. The Reformers understood that God offered salvation freely to all because Jesus Christ stepped in, took the punishment upon Himself and bore the judgment due to sinners, and that with His own blood He paid for the sins which made them enemies of God and thereby satisfied God’s Holy Justice. Salvation was not to be worked for, earned or merited but to be freely received as a Grace from God.
Sola Fide: Faith Alone. Faith was the hand that took the grace gift of salvation in Christ. The Reformers taught that a man was justified (declared righteous by God) by believing that God had provided salvation in Christ and that those who believed were justified by faith. Those who religiously worked for God’s acceptance could never be saved but those who received by faith the righteousness that God provided in Jesus Christ were instantly saved and received eternal life. As Romans 1.17 teaches, “In the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last”.
Soli Deo Gloria: The Glory of God Alone. The Reformation reclaimed a focus on God’s Glory. All that was done was to be done to bring glory to God. Maintenance and advancement of the institutional church was not their priority. Their priority was to lift up the Character of God and the Sovereign Purposes of God in all that was done in and out of the Church. Truth glorified God. Holy living glorified God. Honest secular work glorified God. Marriage glorified God. All of life could glorify God. The Reformation had a high view of God and placed God at the center of all things. Their desire to glorify God coloured all that they did and taught.
For me the five Sola’s of the Reformation summarize basic Christianity – The absolute authority of the Bible for truth and conduct; Salvation from sin in Christ, by Grace, through faith; and a life lived for the Glory of God. God invites you to read His Word, receive His Gift of Salvation in Christ by faith, and to Glorify Him with your life.
Good Articles This Week:
1) The Pashtuns
2) "Gosnell" is this Halloween's Most Horrifying Film
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