DETOUR: The 5 Solas – Solus Christus
During the time that Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to the doors of a church in Germany, the Roman Catholic church was operating in a manner that Luther felt was missing the mark. The reformers did not reject the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrine of the person of Christ. The problem was the work of Christ. Rome’s sacramental theology (the 7 sacraments beginning with Infant Baptism and ending with Last Rites) had been “added to” the work of Christ for salvation. The Reformers pushed back and went back to the Scriptures to re-establish that SALVATION COMES THROUGH JESUS + NOTHING ELSE!
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
Why can He say that? Christianity is the only religion where the deity comes TO mankind. It is the only grace-based faith. Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified, buried, raised from the dead, and ascended to the Right Hand of God. He fully God and fully Man. He is sufficient.
When He said, “It is Finished” on the cross, it was done. He was the propitiation – the sacrifice that satisfied the wrath of God and allowed us to be restored to Him.
1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” – Christ uniquely stands between God and man.
Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Solus Christus – in Christ Alone!
QUESTIONS:
1. You were bought with a price, the life of God’s son, Jesus. You are His if you trust Him for salvation. How does it make you feel knowing He loves you and He is the only way to a right relationship with the Father?
2. Often we try to justify His love by our actions, good deeds, and enough prayer. How does this mirror the Roman Catholic church’s sacraments? Why should we do good deeds?
3. Memorize John 14:6 this week.
