Five Solas

One of the well-known results of the Reformation was something that is commonly referred to as "the five solas". These are five Latin phrases that summarize the most important points that the Reformers were trying to make in their confrontation of Roman Catholic theology. There were other issues, but these five were the key issues. The "five solas" are sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus, sola scriptura, and soli Deo gloria. In English, they are "faith alone", "grace alone", "Christ alone", "Scripture alone", and "glory to God alone".

It's amazing to me the resistance you find to these five "alones". I expect it from the Roman Catholic world, but even among the so-called Protestants you'll find arguments over what would appear to the casual observer to be absolute givens. Some of the objection is simply on the basis of misunderstanding. Some is on actual content. One objection I've heard multiple times is "You keep using 'alone'. Isn't that contradictory to use it ... 5 times?" So I thought I'd briefly explain what they intended so I may eliminate, hopefully, some of the confusion.

On the surface the claim that "we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone" would, on one hand, appear contradictory ("How can you have multiple 'alones'?") and, on the other hand, indisputable. So let's see if we can take it apart a little and see if it works. First, you need to keep in mind that the five solas were a product of the Reformation. They were intended to address issues. If a doctor told you "Here, take these pills" without anyone addressing some sort of problem, you'd think he was up to something. You have to have the issues at hand to understand the remedy. In the case of the Reformation, there were five basic issues. Rome held that, while faith was certainly part of salvation, it was necessary to work to be saved. They believed that grace was essential, but there was some merit going on. They agreed that salvation was through Christ, but it was dispensed via the Church. So the Reformers countered these three points. In context, then, sola fide affirms that we are saved through faith apart from works. It is faith apart from works, but not necessarily apart from everything else, you see. Sola gratia affirms that we are saved solely by the grace of God, not on the basis of any merit we think we might have. Solus Christus claims that Christ and Him alone is the one who saves. The Church does not save, dispense salvation, perform as an intermediary of salvation, or any such thing. You see, then, that the "alones" of these solas doesn't mean "apart from anything else", but "apart from that which was claimed".

As for the other two, they operate the same way ... and are also equally misunderstood. The "alone" of sola scriptura means that the Scripture is the only authority in matters of faith and practice. Often misunderstood in the "alone" of this one is "You're saying that Scripture is the sole source of truth?" No. Again ... context. The Roman Catholic perspective was a three-tiered approach to authority and Christian truth. They held (still hold) that the Scripture, the Church, and Tradition form the authority on matters of faith and practice. The Reformers denied this and argued that the Word of God alone was sufficient and authoritative, being the infallible and inerrant revelation of God. Thus, the "sole" in this case means "apart from the Church or Tradition".

The final "sola" is less controversial ... but also less examined. Soli Deo gloria claims that salvation is from God alone and solely for His glory. No one else -- not person nor Church nor anyone else -- gets the glory for this. As in all things that God does, He does it for His glory.

Maybe, just maybe you might disagree with one or more of these "five solas". If you are Roman Catholic, you most certainly will. I think, though, that most Protestants should be able to point out the Scriptures that teach these very things. We are saved by God's grace (and not anything good in ourselves) through the means of faith (and nothing we contribute) in the person and work of Jesus Christ (and no other person or work). These are fundamental to the Gospel. We don't earn it. We don't achieve it. We don't get it from some other source. Anything else is ... another gospel (Gal 1:6-8).