On October 31, 1517, a German monk named Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Church of Wittenberg, challenging official Roman Catholic teachings of the time including the sale of indulgences. This was the catalyst for what we know today as the Protestant Reformation. That's not to say that it began on that day. In the 1300's, John Wycliffe also attacked corruption in the Church, and held to the belief that Scripture was our sole authority, and not the Church. Following Wycliffe was John Huss, who also believed in Scripture alone as our sole authority and Christ as the sole head of the Church. Huss was excommunicated from the Church in 1410, and was later burned at the stake in 1415. Luther, however, took the Reformation to another level. He was joined by scholars and pastors such as John Calvin, John Knox, and Huldreich Zwingli.
While not an official motto of the Reformation at the time of Luther, the Five Solas came to summarize the teachings and beliefs of the Reformation. Sola is Latin for "alone". One word, "alone" was so significant. In contrast to the Roman Catholic Church who added the word, "et", Latin for "and". For example, the RCC believed in the authority of Scripture, but not Scripture alone. They believed in the authority of Scripture AND the church. Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria defined the Reformation, and are still battle cries today for the Reformed.
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
We believe that Scripture is divinely inspired and without error and our sole authority. While church councils or creeds are important, they are not our authority, as that is found in Scripture alone. We deny any revelation outside of Scripture. Human traditions and the Pope is not, and can not be authority. Scripture alone is our authority.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)
We believe that we are saved by the grace of God alone. Only God can breath life into a dead person, and the dead person can add nothing. The RCC taught that in addition to the grace of God, we must also add our merits that we accumulate during our lives, as well as the merits of the Saints before us. However, grace can not be demanded or earned, and salvation comes from the grace of God alone.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
We believe in justification by faith in Christ alone. Justification means that we are declared righteous based on the righteousness of Christ, or as Luther put it, "an alien righteousness." A huge breakthrough for Luther in his studies came from reading Romans 1:17, "For therein is the righteousness of God is revealed from faith, to faith: as it is written: 'The just shall live by faith.'" Luther found that God does not demand the sinner keep His law perfectly in order to be saved, rather, God gives righteousness to a sinner based on faith in Christ. We are justified by faith in Christ alone.
Solus Christus (Christ Alone)
We believe that salvation is found in Christ alone. Christ died for all the sins of His people, and that alone was sufficient for the salvation of His people. In addition to Christ, the RCC taught that we are saved by the merits of the Saints, and that Mary and the Saints intercede for us. There is no other mediator between God and man beside Jesus Christ, and there is no other name in which salvation is found, outside of Jesus Christ. Our salvation is in Christ alone.
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)
We believe that our salvation is because of the work of God alone, and that it is for the glory of God, and we therefore give glory to God alone. The RCC taught that the glory for our salvation can be given to Christ, to Mary, to the Saints, and to ourselves. The glory, however, goes to God alone, as He alone, is responsible for our salvation. We should live our lives in all we do giving glory to God, as the chief purpose of man is to glorify God. God alone is worthy of the glory.
The Reformation changed Christianity forever, and brought Christianity back to the original Christian teachings. These five Latin phrases were a rally cry then, and still are today. The Reformation is not over, and we can use the Five Solas today as we fight perversions of Christianity, such as the "Prosperity Gospel". They are a good measuring stick against today's false teachers, like Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and Creflo Dollar.
Post Tenebras Lux... After Darkness, Light
