THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION by Pastor Scott Henry

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses for reform on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther’s students then took the 95 theses, made copies and distributed them throughout Germany, and this was the catalyst that sparked the Protestant Reformation.  The main emphasis of the Reformation was to bring the straying church back to the teaching of Scripture, especially regarding the doctrine of justification.  You see, the Reformers understood the Bible to be the very Word of God and therefore the Bible alone can instruct us concerning every issue of faith and life (2 Peter 1:3).  It was from this understanding of Scripture that the “Five Solas” of the Reformation were developed.

  • Sola Scriptura: the Bible is the only authority in faith and life. This teaching opposed the Roman Catholic doctrine of church tradition and the authority of the Pope (Matt. 4:4; John 12:48).
  • Sola fide: we are justified through faith alone, not faith plus works (Ephesians 2:8-10). 
  • Sola Gratia: we are saved by God’s grace alone, not because of anything we have done. Salvation is simply according to God’s good pleasure. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Ephesians 1:5).
  • Sola Christo: we are saved by the person and work of Jesus Christ alone; Not Christ plus the sacraments or Christ plus good works, but by Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5).
  • Lastly, Soli Deo Gloria: ALL things are to be done unto God’s glory alone. (1 Cor. 10:31)

Now it’s important to realize that each of these “Solas” is under attack today, and not just in liberal churches, or in the secular world, but these five “Solas” are being undermined even in the evangelical church.  And if we lose them, we lose biblical Christianity, because without the “Solas” we lose the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 

The single most important question any person could ever ask is, “How can a sinful man be reconciled to a holy God?”  How is it possible for a sinner, who has violated ALL the holy standards of God’s law, to escape the penalty of eternal death and be received into God’s favor?  From the moment man fell into sin he has been seeking to answer this question in a myriad of ways.  Adam thought it enough to cover himself with figs leaves, whereas Cain believed bringing his produce should be enough to satisfy God.  And the Pharisees of Jesus’ day declared themselves righteous in God’s sight on the basis of their obedience to the works of the Law.  

Therefore it should come as no surprise to us that there are modern-day Pharisees who declare that fallen, sinful man can be justified before the holy God of Scripture on the grounds of their own obedience to God.  They even say this is what the Scriptures teach, but according to Scripture, NO SINFUL MAN will ever be justified in the sight of God according to what he has done.  Rather, Scripture declares that man is justified by grace alone through faith alone apart from the works of the Law, and that any man seeking to be justified by his works is under the curse. CLEARLY STATED: GOD JUSTIFIES HIS PEOPLE BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE, BY CHRIST ALONE, FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE!!  

Praise be to God for giving us faithful men who fearlessly recovered the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9: “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.”