“If it (salvation) is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” Romans 11:6
Lord Jesus, right out of the shoot, thank you. Thank you for who you are, for everything you have accomplished on our behalf, and for what you’re doing right now as our resurrected, reigning, and sure-to-return King. I always feel that way, but fresh gratitude is always a good thing. Yesterday afternoon, you ignited my thankfulness through a new friend.
We were chatting about world missions, fly-fishing, and Swiss bakeries. I don’t remember the segue, but the “5 Solas” entered our conversation—five Latin phrases which summarize how you, our Father, and the Holy Spirit so generously saves us and relate to us. This “5-pack” bears repeating any day of the week.
Sola Scriptura – Only the Bible is our errorless, trustworthy, God-breathed source for what we are to believe about salvation—God, the world, and ourselves.
Solus Christus – Only you, Jesus—and your work on our behalf, are sufficient to save us. We add nothing to our salvation but our need of you. We were dead in our sins, not just misinformed about salvation.
Sola Gratia – Only God’s grace is the source, basis, and guarantee of our entire salvation. Like Paul stated in Romans 11:6, if we try to add anything to God’s grace, “grace ceases to be grace.”
Sola Fide – Only faith is the delivery and receptor “system” for saving grace. Even faith is a gift to us (Eph. 2:8-10). We are so needy, and you are so generous.
Soli Deo Gloria – Jesus, all of these taken together make it clear. From beginning to end, our “salvation is of (from and through) the Lord.” You, our Father, and the Spirit deserve all the glory, and our now and forever praise. So Very Amen.