THE REFORMATION SOLAS

The 16^th century Protestant Reformation was a special movement raised of God to reform a most deformed Church in a very dark age. It was a movement entirely based upon the Biblical foundations of Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Sola Fide (Faith Alone), and Solus Christus (Christ Alone).

Now, let us look at the Solas of the Reformation vis-à-vis the beliefs and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC).

Sola Scriptura

The RCC does not believe that the Christian Faith should be based on Scripture alone. To the RCC, human traditions must be added to Holy Scripture. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “‘Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture … are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out of the same divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing, and move towards the same goal.’ … As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, ‘does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the Holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.’”

For the RCC, it is not Scripture alone but Scripture plus tradition, and usually tradition trumps Scripture. For example, the tradition of indulgences which came into existence only in 1095 allowed a person to buy forgiveness and even time off purgatory by purchasing a letter of indulgence (a discount coupon for sins committed or yet to committed). In 1516, Tetzel the indulgence salesman went about with his jingle, “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul in purgatory springs.”

(Today, you can get time off purgatory if you follow the Pope’s tweets. The Guardian on 16 July 2013 reported, “In its latest attempt to keep up with the times the Vatican has married one of its oldest traditions to the world of social media by offering ‘indulgences’ to followers of Pope Francis’ tweets.”)

The sale of indulgences drew the ire of Martin Luther who nailed his 95 theses on the castle door of Wittenberg on 31 October 1517 in protest. He vehemently opposed the peddling of forgiveness, for salvation is free, paid for in full by the blood of Christ (Rom 3:24, 8:32, 1 Pet 1:18–19)!

By what authority did Martin Luther preach and teach that salvation is free and cannot be bought or sold? It is by the authority of Scripture, and Scripture alone. In 1521, in Worms, he was given an ultimatum to recant his teachings and writings, and his “Here I Stand” has become the battle cry of the Reformation, “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me. Amen.”

Indeed, this is precisely what God demands of His people—to believe and obey the Bible and the Bible alone, no matter what any human being or authority might say. “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” (Rom 3:4). The Christian appeal is always, “Thus saith the Lord”, “It is written”. Why? It is because “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim 3:16–17). The Lord Jesus enjoined the Jews who were blinded by their traditions to “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39).

The Bible’s absolute authority over man and Church is well stated in the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) Chapter 1, Article 4, “The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.” And Article 8, “The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which, at the time of the writing of it, was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and, by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical; so as, in all controversies of religion, the Church is finally to appeal unto them.” And thus as a Reformation and Reformed school of theology, the Far Eastern Bible College affirms without apology at 4.1.1 of its Constitution: “We believe in the divine, Verbal Plenary Inspiration (Autographs) and Verbal Plenary Preservation (Apographs) of the Scriptures in the original languages, their consequent inerrancy and infallibility, and as the perfect Word of God, the supreme and final authority in faith and life (2 Tim 3:16, 2 Pet 1:20–21, Ps 12:6–7, Matt 5:18, 24:35).”

Sola Gratia

The RCC does not believe that salvation is purely by the grace of God alone. It teaches that man must do good to show himself worthy or deserving of salvation. In other words, man must work for his salvation. One way of doing so is to keep the seven sacraments of the RCC, namely, Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Marriage, Ordination, and Extreme Unction. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.”

Contrary to the RCC, the Bible says that salvation is by the pure grace and mercy of God alone. “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Rom 9:15–16). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit 3:5).

How then is this grace of God received? Not by works but by faith and faith alone.

Sola Fide

The RCC believes that justification comes by faith and works, but the Reformation teaches that justification comes by faith alone. Luther who found no salvation by works finally found salvation by faith as taught in Romans 1:17, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” The Scriptures state clearly, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8–9). Abraham is an excellent example of a man justified by faith alone, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Rom 4:1–3). “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).

The Westminster Shorter Catechism (Q33) states, “Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.” It is clear from Scripture that God declares the repentant sinner righteous by means of faith alone, on account of the righteousness of Christ alone. But for the RCC it is not faith alone, neither is it Christ alone.

Solus Christus

The RCC does not see Jesus Christ as sole Mediator and Saviour; Mary is considered “Co-Mediatrix”. It is well known that Catholics do not rely solely on Jesus, for they are particularly fond of Mary. They go to Mary especially when their prayers to Jesus are not answered. They are confident that Mary as “Mother of God” would get Jesus to hear and answer their prayers. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The Virgin Mary … is acknowledged and honoured as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer… She is “clearly the mother of the members of the Christ”… since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of the head. Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church.”

It goes on to state, “This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly … Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation … Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.”

What does the Bible say? The Bible in no uncertain terms says that there is only one Mediator and identifies Him as Christ Jesus, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5). Mary did not die for our sins, Jesus did, and hence only He can intercede and bring us the gifts of eternal salvation, “But this man [Jesus], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb 7:24–25). Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).

The RCC says Mary is Mediatrix, but lo and behold Mary never took upon herself such a title and role. Mary never saw herself as Saviour, only a sinner. In fact in her Magnificat, she confessed her need of a Saviour, “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” (Luke 1:46–47). There is no question Mary knew Jesus as her God and Saviour. It is all about Jesus, not about her. If Mary were here, she would surely disavow the Mariolatry that is found in the RCC today.

What is more is that nowhere in the Bible do we find any of the Apostles telling us to pray to Mary or seek the intercession of Mary. The last time Mary was mentioned in the Bible is in Acts 1:14. The rest of the Bible says nothing about her. This silence is telling. What we do find throughout the Bible is Jesus. Only Jesus, always Jesus! The Apostle Peter himself said, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10–12).

Know that a gospel that is not Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus is no gospel at all. The Apostle Paul warned against those who would pervert the gospel of Christ and preach another gospel, “As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal 1:9). It is the gospel of the Reformation and not the RCC that saves. Soli Deo Gloria! JK