DETOUR: The 5 Solas – Sola Gratia
“Through the Scriptures alone, we see that we are saved by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone to His Glory Alone.” As we continue to discover the Truth of the 5 Solas of the Reformation, today we focus specifically on “Grace Alone”. Grace is defined as “unmerited favor”.
Justice – Getting what we deserve
Mercy – Not getting what we deserve
Grace – Getting something we don’t deserve
If we understand “Grace Alone”, then we realize that He initiates. He gives. Jonathan Edwards said it this way; “You are dead and contribute nothing to your salvation but the sin that makes it necessary.”
Ephesians 2:1-3 shows us that our “deadness” is a condition, not based on conduct. If we sin, we are dead. Romans 3:23 shows us that “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory”. The earth is a global graveyard.
Ephesians 2:4-9 explains what He did FOR us. “By grace you have been saved through faith”. Dead people can’t do or contribute anything. We cannot earn salvation through works, through striving or trying, or through hiding. He alone does the work of salvation. We believe who He is and what He has done, by faith. That is all we can do.
Eph 2:10a – How He works IN us.
Eph 2:10b – How He works THROUGH us.
This passage is book-ended with a “walk” illustration. We will walk:
Dead Man – walk in sin
Living Man – walk our our salvation through the good works that God prepared beforehand.
Remember, you have been saved for a reason!