SUNDAY November 2, 2025

The Five Solas

But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Hebrews 6:9-10

The gift of salvation has been freely given to us! Ephesians 2:8 establishes that salvation is through grace, not by any works done by man. God's love drew us to Himself, and His mercy gave us what we did not deserve (Romans 5:8). The miracle of new birth––regeneration––is given to us through the power of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

In church history, during the Reformation, there were five statements that were agreed upon in regard to the doctrine of our salvation. They were sometimes called The Five Solas: We are saved by Scripture alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and finally we do all for the glory of God alone––amazing, amazing!

Only Jesus Christ alone is able to save us. Therefore, people must clearly understand Acts 4:12: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  How did the pathway to salvation become available to us? The only way for Christ to secure our salvation was through the finished work of the Cross. The message of the Cross is central to our salvation: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). Through the power of the Cross, Christ has atoned for our sins.

Accompanying our salvation is the natural outpouring of our love for Christ, our holy conduct, and our good works. These works have no merit in our salvation. Again, they are solely a manifestation of our love for Christ in action.

In Christ alone God’s rich provision of salvation for sinners is treasured up: by Christ alone God’s abundant mercies come down from heaven to earth. Christ’s blood alone can cleanse us; Christ’s righteousness alone can cleanse us; Christ’s merit alone can give us a title to heaven.
~J.C. Ryle~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!