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.  It was from this understanding of Scripture that the “Five Solas” of the Reformation were developed.

  1. 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).
  2. SOLA FIDE: we are justified through faith alone, not faith plus works (Ephesians 2:8-10). 
  3. 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).
  4. 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 Tim. 2:5).
  5. 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 Protestant churches.  And if we lose them, we lose biblical Christianity, because without the “Solas” we lose the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

“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).  The teaching of Scripture concerning salvation is very clear –– salvation is by grace alone –– through faith alone –– in Jesus Christ ALONE.  But what did the Apostle Paul mean when he wrote “you have been saved?”  First of all, he means that believers have been rescued from the penalty of sin.  Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death, and every person has earned these wages.  And so when Paul speaks of being saved he means, in the first place, that believers have been spared the just judgment of God against their sins.  But he also means that believers have been rescued from the dominion, guilt, and consequences of sin.  Before a person trusts in Jesus Christ they are enslaved to sin (Eph. 2:1-3; John 8:34), but when Jesus saves a person He breaks the power of reigning sin in their life.  Jesus now becomes their Master and Savior, and the principle of grace begins to reign in the soul of the redeemed person.  Are you one of the redeemed of Christ?  Do you trust Him ALONE as your only righteous standing before God?  Then praise God for saving you by His wondrous, amazing grace, which is in Christ Jesus, and let your glorying be that of Jesus Christ.  As it is written: “But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.  For in these I delight,” says the LORD” (Jer. 9:24).