Journeys of a Former Firebrand

The 5 Solas: Foundations for the Life of a Follower of Jesus

William J. Brown's avatar

Pastor of Grizzly Flats Community Church

William J. Brown

So, I’m going to scare you. No, I’m not going to jump out from behind a bush or take you on a rollercoaster. I’m going to teach you Latin. (Yikes!)

It isn’t really that scary though. These are phrases that every follower of Jesus should know, but you only have to know the English versions. (Whew! That was a close call!)

The 5 Solas, five Latin phrases born out of the Reformation, offer a simple yet profound outline for understanding the important truths of our salvation. They are:

  • Sola Scriptura
  • Solus Christus
  • Sola Gratia
  • Sola Fide
  • Soli Deo Gloria

Don’t worry. I’ll explain what they mean in a little bit. Hang tight. It’ll all make sense in a moment.

You see, the Five Solas remind us that salvation’s not about human effort, church tradition, or anything we bring to the table. It’s all about God. Let’s explore these foundational principles and see how they can transform our lives as followers of Jesus Christ.

Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone

Imagine a world without a compass, a map, or any guide to navigate life’s journey. That’s what our spiritual lives would be like without the Word of God. Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone – emphasizes the Bible’s authority as the foundation of our faith. It’s not just a collection of ancient writings.

It’s God’s revelation to us. His love letter. His instructions to us. It’s the only book that shows us the way to salvation as it illuminates the path we should walk.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17, NIV)

The Bible is more than just a guide. It’s the very words of God, and it holds the final authority in our lives. Our beliefs, our understanding of salvation, and our entire walk with Christ must be grounded in Scripture alone.

Solus Christus – Christ Alone

If Sola Scriptura is the foundation, then Solus Christus – Christ alone – is the cornerstone. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. No priest, church, or personal goodness can save us—only Jesus.

He does this by taking on the penalty incurred by our sin. He paid our sin debt for us on the cross.

Isaiah 53:5 paints this picture vividly: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV)

Jesus took our place, satisfying God’s wrath and paying the penalty for our sin. Without Him, we would still be lost in our trespasses, separated from a holy God (Ephesians 2:1-5). Jesus, fully God and fully man, is the only one who could bridge the gap. As He Himself declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV)

Sola Gratia – Grace Alone

But why would a perfect and holy God save rebellious sinners? One word: grace. Sola Gratia – grace alone – emphasizes the unmerited favor of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (NIV)

Salvation is not a reward for good behavior. It’s not something we earn by going to church, reading our Bible, or being a “good person.” It is entirely a gift from God, given out of His love and mercy. If it weren’t for His grace, we would remain spiritually dead and hopeless (Ephesians 2:1-3). But God, rich in mercy, chose to save us despite our sinfulness. That’s grace.

Sola Fide – Faith Alone

If grace is God’s role in salvation, then faith is our response. We don’t contribute to our salvation, but we do receive it through faith. Sola Fide – faith alone – highlights the importance of our trust in Christ.

Romans 3:28 says, “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” (NIV)

Faith is trusting in what Christ has done for us. It is resting in His finished work on the cross, rather than in our own efforts. It can’t be bought, fought for or bartered for. The author of Hebrews reminds us of this fact:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV)

That’s faith alone and nothing else. Faith is our access point to God’s grace—without it, we remain lost.

Soli Deo Gloria – To the Glory of God Alone

Now, here’s the big question. Why does all of this matter? Why did God save us? Of course, salvation rescues us from hell, and that’s incredible. But ultimately, the purpose of our salvation is something much more.

What could be greater than saving us from hell? It’s simple. Salvation is all about the glory of God.

Ephesians 1:12 tells us, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” (NIV)

Did you catch that? God had the whole plan in mind. But He didn’t just create it to save us. That’s certainly important. It just isn’t the main idea.

God saved us so that He could show all of creation how great He is. Save someone you love, and you’re a hero. Save someone who hates you, and you’re a saint.

The Bible describes our situation before we came to God exactly this way. We didn’t dislike God. We hated Him!

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” (Colossians 1:21–22, NIV)

God saved us despite our hostility toward Him. We were His enemies. But to show us how amazing He is, He saved His rebellious creation anyway.

So What?

The 5 Solas aren’t just statements in an archaic language. They shape how we live.

  • We treasure Scripture because it’s the foundation of truth. We study it, meditate on it, and allow it to guide our thoughts and actions.
  • We trust in Christ alone for our salvation, resting in His finished work. We don’t rely on our own efforts or good deeds, but on the grace He freely offers.
  • We lean on God’s grace, knowing we bring nothing to the table. We acknowledge our dependence on Him and receive His undeserved favor with gratitude.
  • We live by faith, continually depending on God. We trust in His promises, even when we don’t see the immediate results.
  • We live for God’s glory, making Him the center of everything. We seek to honor Him in all we do, whether in our work, our relationships, or our quiet moments of reflection.

The 5 Solas remind us that salvation is entirely God’s work, and our response is humble gratitude and obedience. Praise be to God for His amazing salvation! Glory to God alone!

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