The Reformation: The Solas

The Reformation: The Solas

Michael Linton

May 23, 2017

The Reformation: The Solas

        The Protestant Reformation changed Christianity forever.  The Magisterial Reformers, such as Ulrich Zwingli and Martin Luther, the Anabaptists, and the Roman Catholic Church individually detained their own particular doctrine concerning each of the solas. Stirred to action by the corruption and abuses they saw in the Roman Catholic Church of the time, visionary pastors and leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin spearheaded a movement that transformed Christianity and eventually led to the emergence of the Protestant denominations that exist today.

 The Reformers conveyed that in referring to the New Testament that salvation was by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The Roman Catholic Church imparted salvation by grace with works to merit justification. Now the Anabaptists took the view of if one is saved then works will be the proof of salvation. The three Solas are phrases (or slogans) that emerged during the Reformation to summarize the Reformers’ theological convictions about the essentials of Christianity.

The three Sola’s are Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority. The Scriptures are our ultimate and trustworthy authority for faith and practice. The Bible gives us everything we need for our theology. Every word of the 66 books of the Bible is inspired by God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit also helps us to understand and obey Scripture. Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ. Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone. We are saved solely through faith in Jesus Christ because of God’s grace and Christ’s merit alone. We are not saved by our merits or declared righteous by our good works. God grants salvation not because of the good things we do, and despite our sin.

 The Magisterial Reformers, whom had the “grace alone” (Sola Gratia) theology was that justification comes to the Christian by grace only. In other words, salvation is attained by grace alone through faith alone without any works contributing to it in any way; according to Gonzalez (2010), “It is given, not because they are righteous, nor because they fulfill the demands of divine justice, but simply because God wishes to give it” (p. 25). Luther stated, “He who does not receive salvation purely through grace, independently of all good works, certainly will never secure it” (reformedreader.wordpress.com). The Roman church instilled that by Christ’s gift of grace we are saved, but sacraments implemented via the church, such as baptism or communion, bestow that grace. The Magisterial reformers believes that the magistrate (political authorities) are to promote and defend the official faith of a nation using political means.

On the other hand the Anabaptists negated that thinking stating that, according to Gonzalez (2010), “Neither that rite nor communion confer grace, but rather are outward signs of what takes place inwardly between God and the believer” (p. 74). The Reformer’s justification by faith alone (Sola Fide) was founded by Luther as he studied and learned the book of Romans; a great release to him as he always feared the impartiality of God as harsh and the righteousness of God as unattainable. Anabaptists declines what they call infant baptism and practices believer baptism. The Anabaptists children included in Christ's sacrifice until age of discernment. They also rejected the Sword which was the Word of the Christian. They also rejected the mass, priesthood and other aspects of worship not supported by Scripture.