Solus Christus

    As part of our sinful nature, we humans tend to like to think that we are involved in everything, don't we? We often inflate our part in the retelling for it to seem as if we are just a little bit more important than we are.  

    As we look into the "5 Solas,"  we are going to take a brief look at Solus Christus today.  "Christ Alone."  We often apply this primarily to salvation. Justification --salvation from hell, or eternal separation from God, is made possible ONLY by the work of Christ on the cross. However, this applies to all areas of our life as we experience the sanctifying work of Christ in our lives -- transforming us into His image.  In both justification and sanctification, it is Christ alone who accomplishes this beautiful work in and through us.  

    Looking back at the time of Martin Luther, salvation was taught by the Roman Catholic church, who controlled what and how Scripture was accessible to the parishioners. Salvation from sin was basically a hopeless case.  IF you paid the church the required indulgences for each sin you committed or IF you served the church adequately, the best you could really hope for was years cut off of your purgatory sentence.  Salvation was tied entirely to human endeavors. The gospel was all but lost, it seemed.  We have already briefly looked at how Martin Luther and other courageous men and women were used of God to bring the true gospel back into focus.  Solus Christus is at the heart of the gospel.  What glorious hope it brought to the believers in the Dark Ages, as well as to us today!

    Solus Christus removes any of the sinful, human element from the scenario.  You see, Scripture tells us that even our very best is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  How can filthy rags make anything clean or presentable to a Holy God?  Obviously, they can't.  So, we are removed from the task completely.  Jesus, through His work of redemption is the ONLY one worthy and powerful enough to make humanity fit for the perfection of Heaven.  

    Solus Christus really extends beyond justification.  It really is the crux of the entire Bible.  Jesus says in Luke 24:27:

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

ALL of Scripture is to show us Christ.  From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is the focus.  He is all that we need.  We do nothing! Our justification as well as our sanctification rests in Him and His finished work on the cross.  Here is how we know this:

John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

I Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Acts 4:10-12 – let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead– by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.

This brings me such comfort.  I mess up everything I touch.  I, personally, am so thankful that I have no part at all in my salvation.  Jesus did it ALL!  I can trust Him and I can rest in His promises.  

I pray that that brings you comfort and peace today, as well.  

Soli Deo Gloria!

💓Heather Sparks💓