Sola Gratia

 

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

~ John Newton

    We all recognize these words to the beautiful hymn, "Amazing Grace," which has been sung for hundreds of years in churches around the world.  John Newton, the author, celebrates the 4th "Sola" that we come to in our study of the "5 Solas,"  Sola Gratia,  or Grace Alone. Mr. Newton knew that his soul's eternal security was a gift that he could never be worthy of receiving. 

  We have discussed that Scripture is our only authority.  Then we have seen that salvation from an eternal hell (justification) is recieved by faith alone, in Christ alone.  The doctrine of Grace Alone teaches us that our justification is offered on the basis of GOD's grace only.

    What is grace?  Grace is unmerited favor with God.  Justice can be defined as getting what we deserve.  Mercy, on the other hand, is not getting what we deserve.  Grace, by contrast, is getting what we do not deserve. 

    The docrine of grace alone helps us understand that salvation is a gift offered by a Holy God.  As the fallen, sinful creation, humanity can never rise to a state of perfection worthy of an eternity in the presence of His holiness.  However, in our wretched state of hopelessness, God offers to us a way -- a miraculous gift of grace. We don't deserve it.  We could never be worthy of that gift -- no matter how "good" we seem in the world's eyes. Thankfully, by His grace, He chose to offer this precious gift to our unworthy souls.  By removing humanity from the picture, Christ's work is magnified, rather than minimized so that we have no opportunity to take any of the credit.  

    Remember, those indulgences that Martin Luther preached against?  The Roman Catholic church had twisted the doctrines of the early church into saying that humans have some part in salvation.  They taught that humans had to have faith AND work hard to get to heaven.  As time went by, this heresy grew into a way for corrupt church leaders to pad their pockets and build grand cathedrals.  They demanded payment in exchange for forgiveness of sins.  Since they controlled access to the Scriptures, many people had no idea that all of their good deeds and money given to the church was futile in their quest for justification. 

    Martin Luther, in his studies of the Scripture, was searching for peace and security of his own salvation.  He found it in the doctrines of grace.  Boldly, he preached and taught what Scripture teaches, that salvation is offered by the grace of God alone. This came at great physical and emotional expense to him during his time on earth. He was excommunicated from the church and even imprisoned for his unwillingness to comply with the dictated teachings of the Roman Catholic church. 

    Ephesians 2:8-9 is one of many passages that clearly teaches this doctrine of grace alone:

    For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

    Every one of us is in need of this grace.  Romans teaches us that our very best, is not good enough to reach God's level of perfection (Romans 3:23) It is ONLY by the grace of God that we receive (by faith in Christ Jesus) salvation, as Paul tells us in Ephesians.  Studying this unmerited favor given by God, is life-changing and leads us to praise and thanksgiving for such a gift.  I would encourage you to study it more for yourself!  This study strengthens your faith and leads you to a deeper love of our Savior. 

Today, I am so thankful for the grace of God, offering to me His gift of justification, which I could never deserve.  

💓Heather Sparks💓