The Five Solas
We hold to the five "solas" of the
Protestant Reformation:
1. SOLA SCRIPTURA (Scripture alone)- The
scriptures were written fully inspired of God, and therefore are inerrant. For this reason, the Bible alone should be our rule
(standard or canon) of faith
and practice. The words, thoughts and actions of men may be
accurately judged by scripture, and thereby affirmed or corrected by
it. The scriptures should therefore bind the conscience of all
believers. Sola scriptura also holds that the Bible alone
is a sufficient teacher to lead men to salvation.
Sola
scriptura regards the scriptures alone as our supreme standard, but
also recognizes that there can be correct interpretations of scripture such as
the early creeds. Compare it with these two competing ideas:
Sola ecclesia - the concept that an earthly church
organization is more authoritative than scripture. Should we regard the
words of men to be more truthful than the words of God? Of course not!
Solo
scriptura -the idea that scripture is our only authoritative
standard, but no human
interpretation should be regarded as authoritative. This is nonsense, because if
an interpretation is correct, then it must be authoritative! Solo
scriptura leads to the relativistic idea, often promoted by heretics,
that no one can really know which interpretation is correct. Heretics use this
idea to claim as much validity for their own private interpretations as
those that orthodox believers have held since Christianity began. By
contrast, we believe that the Holy Spirit has been making the intent of the
scriptures known to men since the inception of the church, who have
summarized the most important and foundational doctrines of the faith
in the early creeds.
All of the books that became a part of the Bible
(i.e., the canon of scripture) were accepted as scripture
because believers down through the ages have found them to be
trustworthy and true. The Bible itself teaches the infallibility and
inerrancy of scripture:
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Peter 2:9 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
3:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Ps 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
2Sa 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
1 Peter 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass
withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Mt 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are
able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
We must combine our belief in the inerrancy of
scripture with a recognition of our own capacity to err in
interpreting it. No mortal man is always an infallible interpreter of
scripture!
2. SOLA FIDE (Faith Alone)- We are justified by faith alone. The merits of Christ imputed to us by faith
are the sole ground of our acceptance by God.
However, given the opportunity, a true saving faith will evidence
itself by good works, for
"Faith without works is dead."
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
James 2:26 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
3. SOLUS CHRISTUS (Christ alone)- There is only one mediator
between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, by whose work we are redeemed.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
4. SOLA GRATIA (Grace alone)- Our salvation rests only on God’s
unmerited grace
working for us and in us.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
5. SOLI DEO GLORIA (To God alone be the
glory)- No created thing or creature should lay claim to, or be
given, the glory due to God alone.
Mt 6:13b For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Gal 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Ex 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Romans 1:22-23 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
1Jo 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
