Essay: The 5 Solas & Our Assurance
- Justin Savage
- Feb 2, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 24, 2023
Turning to the 5 Solas can help us understand what salvation is and how it was accomplished, giving us comfort as we meditate on the gospel truths therein. Each of them lays for us a piece of the solid rock of assurance to stand on so that we may rest in the gospel.
What are the 5 Solas?
The 5 solas are a set of declarations by protestants during the reformation that lay the foundation of their protest against the Roman Catholic church:
Sola Scriptura - On The Authority of Scripture Alone
Sola Gratia - By Grace Alone
Sola Fide - Through Faith Alone
Solo Christo - In Christ Alone
Soli Deo Gloria - To The Glory of God Alone
Each contains the Latin word “sola” meaning “alone”, against the Catholic church’s teaching of additional works to be done for salvation - faith plus works, scripture plus papal authority, and so on. In defining their protest in these five statements, the reformers laid down not only a direct opposition to the Catholic church, but defined the core truths of how man is saved.
All religions teach a system of works righteousness. Islam requires adherence to the five pillars and the following of the law, only to maybe be accepted into heaven. Judaism, likewise, teaches following the law for salvation can be achieved. Even secular humanism professes that only the material exists, and therefore you are only responsible for yourself. There is nothing outside of you that is meaningfully acting upon you, so you are your only hope. Christianity, however, tears down the model of works righteousness and recognizes what we all can see - we are sinners incapable of the perfection we know is required of us. We cannot save ourselves.
In the beatitudes Jesus says "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). If that is the just requirement, we must be honest and confess that we will not inherit eternal life on that basis. But Christ lived a perfect life on our behalf, and took the punishment of sin we deserve. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The glorious gospel that the reformers recovered was that we are not saved by our works but rather through faith in the works of Christ done for us. By this Gospel alone we can have assurance of our salvation and stand on the solid rock, for all other ground is sinking sand.
"When God's righteousness is mentioned in the gospel, it is God's action of declaring righteous the unrighteous sinner who has faith in Jesus Christ. The righteousness by which a person is justified (declared righteous) is not his own but that of another, Christ.” - Martin Luther
However, many Christians often struggle to find joy as they look at their own works, their own failings and shortcomings. We often turn inward and see how undeserving we are and come to the conclusion that we are not worthy of such salvation. Christian, stop navel gazing and turn outward to see what was done for you in salvation outside of yourself. Realize it was not ultimately done for you, but for the glory of God alone. Turning to the 5 solas can help us understand what this means for us and gives comfort as we meditate on the gospel truths therein. Each of them lays for us a piece of the solid rock of assurance to stand on so that we may rest in the gospel.
Sola Scriptura
The bible alone is the only source of authority for the Christian. Paul writes in 2 Timothy “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This means that everything needed for all aspects of the Christian life can be found in the word of God.
This also means that you can have full assurance of the truth of the Gospel. There is no other way man may be saved by, no other God or savior, and no other source of authority besides the bible. This includes yourself and your own ideas. Often our own thoughts about salvation and assurance are the source of our despair and how often our hearts deceive us! “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Turn to the bible to ensure you are thinking correctly. Measure your fears against the truths found in the word of God. Satan’s goal is always to keep you away from the scriptures for the very reason that in them you will find the words of eternal life and comfort. He wants to keep you in despair while God calls you to open His word and see the sweetness of His Gospel and the rest it provides. Base your assurance on the word of God, not the thoughts of your heart or the sayings of man.
Sola Gratia
At the core of all Christian life is grace. It is by grace that we awoke this morning, it is by grace there is a roof over our heads, and it is by grace we live another day tomorrow. Although we make our efforts and strive for success, God’s grace is the driving force behind it all. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1). Without his mercy & benevolence we would all achieve nothing. So too is it with salvation. Paul writes in Ephesians “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
You do nothing to contribute to your salvation nor do you have any part to play in God’s choosing of you. This means that nothing can be done to un-elect you or cause you to be elect. Salvation by God’s grace alone gives us comfort so we can put to death the fears of inadequacy and not measuring up “enough”.
"You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” - Jonathan Edwards
In a world without Christ we would be right to have such fear, but God’s grace has chosen us before the foundations of the world were laid. You who believe in the gospel & trust in Christ only do so today because before God said “Let there be light” he said “I choose you”. And it was done on the basis of nothing but his grace. Are you fearful that your sin demerits this grace? Turn to the bible: “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20-21).
Sola Fide
A gospel that saves by grace alone goes hand in hand with a gospel that saves by faith alone. As mentioned previously, all other religions teach a system of works righteousness to be saved which springs forth from humanity’s default position of sinful self reliance. God, however, gives us salvation to be had as a free gift. "For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17).
Gifts are things given without purchase because someone else purchases it for you. Christ bought your salvation, and you, with the price of His blood given for you freely to take. This makes God the one doing all the work and thus deserving of the full glory. This gift is taken by faith alone, meaning you trust in his works and death on the cross alone to save you, not your own works or performance.
Unfortunately, our pride often prevents us from laying hold of this wonderful gift. We all know the feeling a Husband can get when work needs to be done around the house. He would often desire to try and fix it himself rather than hire a professional. To many men it can be that they want to show they can do it, when hiring a professional guarantees a much better result. To the outsider, it’s a no brainer. The toilet needs to be fixed so if hiring the work out to someone qualified means the job gets done right, why would he want to do all the work himself for a subpar result? The fallacy seems obvious in the 3rd person, but we can too often be blinded to this within ourselves when it comes to our trust in the Gospel. Many will perish in hell because of their inability to trust in Christ alone by faith.
Pride says you need to be good enough for this, earn it, and deserve it. But Christ says that you need to trust in his righteousness by faith and let the professional do the job (so to speak). You cannot earn it or deserve it - that’s not how gifts work. Reach out and take, for this glorious good news is yours to have by faith alone apart from any works of the law! Repent from your sins that put your savior on the cross and rest in the fact it is all forgiven, and will be forgiven. Regardless of what you have done, for those who receive this free gift, he will never cast you out.
Solo Christo
More to come soon!
Soli Deo Gloria
More to come soon!
The response is one of awe at a God so great and a savior so lovely that our hearts begin to love a God who would do such a thing for us. Our love will never be perfect, nor to the degree God deserves it to be, but seeing His self sacrificial love, we will be consumed by an imperfect love that drives us away from the sin that put our savior on the cross, and to a rest in his salvation.
Stuart Scott said of this, "Just as [our salvation] is not gained by our merit, likewise, it cannot by lost on the basis of our performance. Those who truly understand God's grace will no longer be driven by fear, duty, or the need to appease God. Obedience and service will flow out of gratitude."(1)
“So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: "I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!” - Martin Luther
(1) The Exemplary Husband
Further Study
For further study on the ideas and concepts discussed in this article, please refer to the resources below:
What are the 5 Solas? GotQuestions.org
Luther & the “Five Solas” of the Reformation Marc Minter, marcminter.com
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