Last week I said that I would be starting a series of devotions on the five Solas. As a bit of a review, the five Solas are a series of doctrines (a doctrine is a teaching or something that one believes in) that came out of the Reformation period in history (1500-1600’s). During this period of history, the Roman Catholic Church began dictating what people could and could not believe and practice in regards to personal faith. There was a group of people known as “the reformers” who made the decision to study and interpret Scripture for themselves instead of adhering to the Catholic church’s traditions not found in Scripture. “Sola Scriptura,” which means “by Scripture alone,” is the belief that the Bible is the only inspired and authoritative word of God, the only source for Christian doctrine, and that it is self-interpreting.
The Catholic Church
To really understand the significance of Sola Scriptura, we need to understand some of the basic beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church believes that Peter and Paul had special authority in Scripture. Matthew 16:18-19 says, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” The Roman Catholic Church interprets this to mean that Peter was the original head of the church. They also believe that the Pope is the successor to Peter, so whatever the Pope says is what is true and bound in heaven and on earth. This leaves a lot of room for errors! Please don’t misunderstand me; I do believe that there are Catholics who are genuinely saved. But we still see errors in the way the Roman Catholic Church is run today, and some of these ideas are even starting to appear in protestant churches. Here are a few examples:
1. Adding to Scripture. Deuteronomy 4:1-2 says, “Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.” We see clearly that we are not to add or take away from what is clearly written in the Bible. The Roman Catholic Church and other Christian churches have begun adding things to scripture that just aren’t there. Ideas of purgatory (a place we go to before heaven or hell), penance (doing deeds to earn forgiveness for our sins), or the idea that one just needs to be “good” to get into heaven, are not founded in Scripture. But how will we know if someone is adding or taking away from the scripture unless we study it for ourselves?
2. Supremacy of the Pope and Emphasis of the Dead. The Catholic Church places great emphasis on the Pope because they believe that the Pope is the successor to Peter. As mentioned previously, they believe that based on Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus gave Peter special authority, so in their minds, Peter’s successors should have that same authority. But we have Scripture and the Holy Spirit as our authorities in this world according to John 16:13 (“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”) And the Pope is as fallible as everyone else. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God’s Holy Word is perfect, because they are the words of a perfect God.
Catholics also put undue emphasis on dead spirits, such as the spirit of Mary and other saints of the Bible. The problem is these dead people are dead. Their souls are in heaven; they can’t help us anymore! Isaiah 8:19-20 says, “When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” We are never told in Scripture to pray to these dead spirits. In fact the Bible clearly states in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, we can talk directly to God any time that we want to and He will hear us.
Studying Scripture For Ourselves
So how can we overcome false doctrines? How can we know if an idea or something that is being preached is indeed false? The answer is: through daily study of God’s word, and the application of what we read.
1. Daily study. One reason that the church in America has drifted so far from Biblical truths in many respects is because Christians—young and old—have neglected the daily discipline of studying God’s Word. How many of you open your Bibles each day? Sometimes we think that we’re too young to have to read our Bibles every day and that we’ll do that when we’re older. But in Luke 2 we see that Jesus was in the temple talking with, questioning, and listening to the teachers. They were most likely discussing the scriptures. And the verse says that “all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.” So by age 12, Jesus was already very familiar with the Scriptures. What should that say to us? Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Are you hiding God’s Word in your heart?
2. Application. This is probably the most important part in studying the scriptures. Even if we are faithful to read God’s word every day of our lives, if we don’t apply it and learn its meaning to us today, then it does us absolutely no good at all. Many people like to turn to study guides, commentaries, or a pastor to help them apply it. Sola Scriptura does not in any way undermine the need for a Pastor and the Church, but we must be studying Scripture for ourselves and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance and wisdom. Again, all men are fallible but God’s Word is perfect. How will we know if someone is preaching the truth unless we study it for ourselves?
Another important note is that Scripture is complete! Everything we need to know about our relationship with God and others is contained in the Bible. Second Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” God’s word thoroughly equips us for good works that He has planned for us! That’s why it’s so important that we understand the meaning of His Words in the Bible.
Which brings to me to one final note: we can’t twist the Bible to suit our beliefs; we need to interpret it and base our doctrines on what the Bible actually says. And how do we find out what the Bible says? By reading and studying it for ourselves!
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