10-30-22 ‘Sola’ - the heart of the Protestant Reformation

Scripture   John 14:6

There are many inadequate views regarding the essential nature of the Protestant Reformation. Some consider Luther as an ecclesiastical rebel who sought to overthrow an ancient church organization. Nothing was further from his purpose. He pleaded only that the gospel of Christ be given free course within the church. The Reformation was not a summons to attack the Roman Catholic Church but to affirm the positive convictions derived from God’s revelation of himself in Christ.
Another misconception is that Luther was a political and economic revolutionist. It is true that he divested religion of its monastic garb and put it in overalls. We are rediscovering today the dynamite in his teaching on the priesthood of all Believers and the sacredness of everyday work. But Luther was convinced that outward conditions would not improve until men experienced the transforming power of Christ and became the means for releasing it into all areas of life.
Still another inadequate view is that of seeing Luther as a moral reformer, champion of the freedom of conscience and the right of private judgment. To be sure, when the solitary monk took his stand against the emperor and pope on the ground of conscience, it was the beginning of a new age. Without the forces that he set in motion, the American way of freedom and democracy, which rests upon the dignity and initiative of the individual, would hardly have been possible. But freedom from external restraint is only a by-product of the Reformation, not its essence. Luther did not say "My conscience is free" but "My conscience is bound to the word of God." When individuals and nations try to declare themselves free from God, they find that they are free only to destroy themselves.
Luther’s real cause, which became the heart of the Reformation, was the restoration of the gospel, the good news of God’s own way of establishing personal fellowship with men. It is what Paul calls "God’s way of putting men right with himself." Luther focused his attention upon two main ideas. First, God is God in all his sovereignty and holiness. Second, man is man in all his incapacity to be the master of his fate. He desperately needs God but is unable to establish contact with him. The "true treasure of the church" is the gospel, for it brings the two together. It takes man’s hand and puts it in God’s hand.
The best way to set forth the basic message of the Reformation is not to recount historical events or explain theological principles but to describe the experience by which sinful man finds God’s saving grace. It was this experience that transformed Luther from a frightened monk into a heroic reformer who altered the course of history. But the Reformation becomes meaningful to us only when we make this same discovery. Luther became a reformer when he discovered the true meaning of the "good news." Whether our discovery of it has an emotional or an educational pattern, whether it is sudden or gradual, early in life or late, depends on the personality of each individual. But the content is always the same. Paul sums it up in these words: "All men have sinned and are far away from God’s saving presence. But by the free gift of God’s grace they are all put right with him through Christ Jesus."
Christ sets us free from the tyranny of the law that condemns us and from the fear of judgment and puts us into a right relation with God. This is the heart of the gospel and the heart of the Reformation. The theology of the Reformation echoes its throbs: sola scriptura, by scripture alone; sola fide, by faith alone; sola gratia, by grace alone; sola Christus, by Christ alone.
 
          I don’t know of a better definition of a person who is ALL IN for Christ than this: A devoted follower of Jesus believes and practices sola scriptura, by scripture alone; sola fide, by faith alone; sola gratia, by grace alone; sola Christus, by Christ alone.

          The mission of Ashland Church is to build an inspired community that creatively and compassionately connects people to Jesus Christ. That statement is held up on 3 pillars;  Believing, Belonging, Becoming! The first is believing. Do you believe in the Bible alone, faith alone, grace alone, and Christ alone? Those four ideas set forth in that way by Martin Luther is what we at Ashland Church believe and hope you will believe too. 

sola scriptura = by scripture alone
the BIBLE (I stand on the word of God alone!) – Let’s sing it correctly
“The B I B L E, yes that’s the book for me. I stand on the word of God alone, the B I B L E – BIBLE!”
2 Timothy 3:14-17
          But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
          If we aren’t reading it, we aren’t knowing it; if we aren’t studying it, we aren’t understanding it; if we aren’t applying it, we aren’t living it!
Hebrews 4:12
          For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES CAN HELP YOU IN DAILY LIFE!

On his sixteenth birthday the son approached his father and asked, "Dad, I'm sixteen now. When I get my license can I drive the family car?"
His dad looked at him and said, "Son, driving the car takes maturity, and first, you must prove you are responsible enough. And one way you must do that is to bring up your grades. They are not acceptable. Secondly, you must read the Bible every day. And finally, I want you to get that haircut—it looks outrageous."
The son began the task of fulfilling his father's requirements, knowing that the last might be impossible. When his grades came out he came to his dad with a big smile. "Look, Dad, all A's and B's on my report card. Now can I drive the family car?"
"Very good, Son. You are one-third the way there, but have you been reading the Bible?" the father asked.
"Yes, Dad, everyday," said the son.
"Very good, Son. You are two-thirds of the way there. Now when are you going to get that hair cut?"
The son, thinking he could outsmart his dad, responded, "Well, I don't see why I should get my hair cut to drive the car. Jesus had long hair, didn't he?" The father looked at his boy and said, "That's right, Son, and Jesus walked everywhere he went."
 
 
sola fide = by faith alone
          Faith Alone is a difficult concept. Most people want choices. They want the choice of having faith or not having faith but hope that God will still take everyone to heaven – even those without faith. Others want choices of finding God by what ever means they choose instead of the truth that is found in Christ alone. Faith is more than an exercise of intellectual ascent! That is why I sometimes give an altar call – you may believe in your head, but it is when you believe in your heart that your feet begin to move (action steps) and you physically bow before the throne of God’s grace.
James 2:20-26
          You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?  21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
          In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
          This is the only place in scripture that does not agree with sola fide – FAITH ALONE. Or does it? James is plainly saying you are not justified by FAITH ALONE. Actually he is not – he is talking about the qualifier of faith. He brings up a comparison of faith without works (or action) and works without faith. You can have works without faith – which has no eternal value, or you can have faith that produces works which does have eternal value. Faith is not living by a set of rules or principles – it is putting your trust, through action, in the object of those principles – God!  In fact, that confirms sola fide. There is no other way of salvation than through Jesus Christ. Faith is not simply a belief in the idea of Jesus, it is belief that produces fruit. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God.
          Faith alone does mean faith only is the way to salvation, but it also means it is your faith alone – no one can have that faith for you – the Mormons are wrong when they baptize for the  dead.
sola gratia = by grace alone
          Grace has been defined as giving us what we do not deserve. How can God do that for His fallen creation. At first he was so grieved about making us that he wiped us out with a flood. Where does that overwhelming grace come from?
          An elderly woman lost her husband. I tried to comfort. Another woman walked in, embraced her and said “I understand”. She could give what I could not because her husband had died 6 months earlier. She understood and embraced the other woman with grace. Jesus came and experienced what we experience, he was tempted by sin, he had a job, he had siblings. God, in Christ now understands our struggles first hand and because of that, can offer grace immeasurable. It is that grace alone that gives us what we don’t deserve – Eternal life. Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

          Grace is the most amazing gift ever – but it is not free – our grace cost Jesus his very life. ILLUSTRATION: Boy gets home late every day. Warned about consequences he still came home late. Mother said nothing, father said nothing. They sat for dinner and mother and father had full plates with roast and potatoes and vegatbles. The boy was given a plate with bread and a glass of water and just looked at his father and his father’s plate. Eventually, the father traded his own plate for his son’s and gave his son a smile as he plasced this amazing meal before him. From that day, he understood that God’s grace, as needed and wonderful as it is, cost Jesus everything.
 
sola Christus = by Christ alone.
John 14:6     NIV
          Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6     An Expanded Translation
          Jesus says to him, I alone, in contradistinction to all others, am the road and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
 
          Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ's 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men, who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity.
          Jesus painted no pictures yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from him. Jesus wrote no poetry but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world's greatest poets were inspired by him. Jesus built no buildings but St. Peter's Basilica, Rome and Notre Dame in Paris are some of the most beautiful buildings in the world, Jesus composed no music still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in his praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.
          His unique contribution to humanity is the salvation of the soul! Philosophy could not accomplish that. Nor art. Nor literature. Nor music. Only Jesus Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin. He alone can speak peace to the human heart, strengthen the weak, and give life to those who are spiritually dead.
 
CONCLUSION
           The basic emphases of the Reformation, by scripture alone, by faith alone, by grace alone, and by Christ alone, may be summed up in sola crace, by the Cross alone. For there is only one Mediator between God and man, only one bridge between heaven and earth, only one connection between our mortal life and life eternal - the crucified and risen Christ.
HE CARRIED MY HEAVY SIN
          One day a saintly African Christian told his congregation about a vision he had the night before. In the vision he was climbing up the hill to the church. Suddenly he heard steps behind him. He turned and saw a man carrying a very heavy load on his back, climbing that hill. He was full of sympathy for this man and spoke kindly to him. Then he noticed that the man's hands were scarred. Suddenly he realized that this was Jesus. He said to him, "Lord, are you carrying the world's sins up the hill?" "No," said the Lord Jesus, "not the world's sins, just yours!"
          Jesus' atoning sacrifice reaches out to the entire world, but it begins very personally with me, and you.
          Colossians 2:13-15  When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
ILLUSTRATION OF SOLA SCRIPTURA, FIDE, GRATIA, AND CHRISTUS

   

   

           When Stanley Jones was a missionary in India, a British government official told him how he became a changed man. He said that he first became involved in sexual immorality when he went to Europe to study, leaving his trusting wife behind. When he returned home he continued his double life. The innocent trust of his wife stabbed him like a knife until he could bear the guilt no longer. He made up his mind to make a full confession to her but he was afraid that it would break up their marriage. But one day he decided to face it and told her the whole wretched story. As she realized what he was saying, she turned pale, staggered against the wall, and wept. Watching her, he saw his sin crucifying his wife. Her love was being tortured on the cross of his sin. "That moment," he said, "I saw the meaning of the cross of Christ. I saw from her lesser cross the meaning of the greater cross of him who bore the sins of the world. And when she said through her tears that she would not leave me but would help me back to a new life, I felt the offer of a new beginning made by the crucified Christ. From that moment I was a changed man."

 

Amazing Grace Chains