Solo Christo

This is the fourth installment of a series I’ve been sharing with my Sunday School on the Five Solas (click here to see the post on Sola Gratia, here for Sola Fide, and here for Sola Scriptura.) Here is a little bit of what Solo Christo means. . .

For the past several devotions I’ve done, we’ve been discussing a series of doctrines called the Five Solas. Today we’re going to talk about the 4^th part of these 5 doctrinal statements: Solo Christo, By Christ Alone.

To refresh your memory, the Five Solas came to be during the Reformation period of history (1500-1600 A.D.) During this period of history, many Christian men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others stood up for the doctrines taught in the Bible instead of bending to the demands of the Catholic episcopacy. They stood up for truth when everyone around them was accepting the lies being taught.

I believe that Solo Christo is the glue that binds these 5 doctrines together. Without Christ, there is no grace, no Savior to have faith in, and no real reason to believe the prophecies in scripture. Without Christ, we are nothing.

I don’t think anyone in this room would disagree with the statement that it is through Christ alone that we receive the gift of salvation and eternal life. John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” We all know that, but do our actions really reflect that belief? I’m sure we’re not seeking after other gods like Buddha or Mohammed for our salvation. But in every human heart, there is still a feeling of captivity to the idea that we have to DO something to earn our salvation.

There is an epidemic in America today of Christians striving to earn their salvation rather than lean on Christ and his atoning sacrifice for our sin. Many try to quell this feeling by outwardly changing their lives through involvement in church, involvement in ministries, and having a shallow knowledge of God’s word. But nothing we ever do can possibly save us from our sins. Titus 3:4-7 says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

But we not only find our salvation in Christ. In Christ we find so much more! Through Christ we have hope, as Paul talks about in the verses we just read. Through Christ we have peace. Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

Through Christ alone, we find comfort. Second Corinthians 1:3-5 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”

As a result of Christ’s death, we are no longer shackled by the chains of our sins. Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Jesus himself says in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Because of our salvation—found through Christ alone—we don’t have to fear death! Second Timothy 4:18 says, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” What a precious and wonderful promise this is!

Let us always remember that without Christ, we are nothing. But with Christ, we have been given everything we need!