Light After Darkness
On October 31, 1517, a man named Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses (statements) to the door of the All Saints Church in Wittenberg disputing a practice of the Roman Catholic Church, Germany. It was standard at that time for people to post their work to the doors of the local church, but this time was different. While the seeds of reform had been sown in the years of darkness prior, this act, with God’s sovereign hand moving in ways only he can, would set off what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. From the Reformation came five statements, foundational to the gospel-centrality the Reformation sought to bring the Church back to: Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia and Soli Deo Gloria.
The work God did in reforming his church some 500 years ago is most certainly not complete. In an age where this world is seeking to push and pressure the church “forward” into post-modern thinking, we need to continually look “backward” to the sources of our faith and those who stood for it. Ensuring that we are centred on the gospel and defining ourselves, our families, our churches by that which God has established for us.
Sermon Notes
Light after Darkness
The Five Solas
Jordan Coros
A church founded on the gospel will be defined by…
- Sola Scriptura, Scripture alone (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21,John 17:17)
- Solus Christus, Christ alone (John 14:6, Mark 10:45, Ephesians 2:5a; 13-16)
- Sola Gratia, Grace alone (Ephesians2:5b-8a, Exodus 34:6,Titus 2:11-14)
- Sola Fide, Faith alone (Ephesians 2:8b-9,Romans 1:17; 3:28)
- Soli Deo Gloria, God’s Glory alone (Romans 11:36)