REVIEW
FLIP CHART: SOM’S KEY VERSE, GOAL, MOTTO
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness ….” (Mt. 6:33a).
The law sends us to Christ for justification; Christ sends us back to the law for sanctification.
FLIP CHART: Show new “Perfect Righteousness” chart explaining steps to coming to Christ (As a worm, mourning, meek, spiritual hunger/thirst with the result of legal righteousness). Explain: moral righteousness, immediate moral change at conversion, gradual change through life’s challenges and speeding up moral change via CCRC (Concentration, Choice, Reflection and Confession/Thanksgiving). Key verse, “By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:14).
FLIP CHART: John Stott’s outline of SOM.
TEACHING GOAL: Explain the Reformer’s Biblical understanding of “Sola Fide” & “Soli Deo Gloria”
To finish up his sermon, Jesus gives four powerful illustrations, all with a goal of pressing his listeners for a decision. Each of the illustrations contains a dire warning: destruction, fire, rejection, destruction.
INTRODUCTION:
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Mt. 7:15-20)
REVIEW: . . . . Some key ”SO WHATS?” From the previous lessons.
1. Mt. 7:15-20 warns us against false prophets. We can easily spot false teaching on major doctrines; it is much more difficult to spot gaps in teaching and yet we must make sure the whole counsel of God is taught.
2. The Five Solas: The Gospel of Salvation is based exclusively on Scripture, experienced only in Christ, given solely of God’s grace and appropriated by faith alone with the single purpose of God’s glory.
3. The Scripture is understood with the enlightenment of Holy Spirit but God also gives the church teachers who, using sound principles of Biblical interpretation (hermeneutics), guide his people into His truth.
4. The doctrine of justification by faith is the theological Atlas of the Gospel, the Reformation and Evangelicals. It bears our spiritual world, the entire evangelical knowledge of God as Savior, on its shoulders.
5. Through Justification God declares us not just innocent of guilt but positively righteous. We are freed from guilt and receive Christ’s righteousness as ours.
6. We stand with the Reformers, and say that God’s grace is enough, God’s grace is not just necessary for salvation but it is sufficient for our salvation.
OUTLINE:
THE FIVE “SOLAS” / “ONLIES” OF THE REFORMATION
1. Sola # 1 – Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura)
2. Sola # 2 – Christ Alone (Solus Christus)
3. Sola # 3 – Grace Alone (Sola Gratia)
4. Sola # 4 – Faith Alone (Sola Fide)
5. Sola # 5 – God’s Glory Alone (Soli Deo Gloria)
SOLA FIDE & SOLI DEO GLORIA – (H)
IV. FAITH ALONE (SOLA FIDE)
The Reformers started using the term “Sola Fide” in 1519, right at the start of the Reformation. This is probably the first “Sola” to be clearly articulated.
Sola Scriptura is called the “formal principle” because it is foundational. It rejects church tradition and additional revelations and out of this “formal principle” spring the other four solas.
It is difficult to separate “Sola Fide” from “Solus Christus” and from “Justification by Faith.” They are all about the same thing. Theologians have called “Sola Fide” the material cause or principle of the Reformation. Martin Luther said that this is the “doctrine by which the church stands or falls.”
READING: Finney openly declared, “The doctrine of an imputed righteousness [by faith] is another gospel. For sinners to be forensically pronounced just is impossible and absurd. The doctrine of an imputed righteousness is founded on a most false and nonsensical assumption, representing the atonement, rather than the sinner’s own obedience, as the ground of his justification, which has been a sad occasion of stumbling to many.”
READING: TheWestminster Confession of Faith says, “Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is alone the instrument of justification: yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.” The Genevan Confession likewise pointed out the necessity of those justified living by faith saying, “We confess that the entrance which we have to the great treasures and riches of the goodness of God that is vouchsafed us is by faith; inasmuch as, in certain confidence and assurance of heart, we believe in the promises of the gospel, and receive Jesus Christ as he is offered to us by the Father and described to us by the Word of God (Genevan 11).
The Roman Catholic Church at the time of the Reformation believed in the necessity of faith if a person was to be justified by grace …. But they did not (and do not) believe that faith “alone” is sufficient.
Sola Fide asserts the total exclusion of any righteousness except the “alien” righteousness of Christ.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Cor. 5:21)
ILL: Luther’s Testimony – Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the justice of God and the statement that “the just shall live by faith.” Then I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole of Scripture took on a new meaning, and whereas before “the justice of God” had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love. This passage of Paul became to me a gate to heaven. . . . (Quoted from An Evangelical and Reformed Faith, Terry Johnson)
Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” (Galatians 3:6-11)
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. (Romans 3:28)
Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:4-5)
[We] know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
So the main difference between the Reformers and the RC Church was this: The Reformers said that Faith yields justification and good works; the RC Church said that faith and good works yield justification.
QUESTION: How do you know the “faith” a person has is “saving” faith? Is the Biblical “faith that saves,” the faith that justifies?
A living, vibrant, saving faith will generate good works.
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17)
QUESTION / FLIP-CHART: What are some metaphors of salvation that shows us how Christ saves, how faith appropriates the finished work of Christ in order to embrace salvation by grace? (List them on the Flip Chart)
Metaphor: A figure of speech in which an expression is used that directly connects seemingly unrelated subjects. It acts as if two unrelated things are identical and substitutes on for the other, an implied comparison. (addicted to oil, addicted to debt, addicted to spending)
FORGIVENESS
“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. (Acts 13:38)
ARISE, MY SOUL, ARISE
Five bleeding wounds He bears,
Received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers,
They strongly plead for me.
“Forgive him O forgive!” they cry, (2x)
Faith appropriates the death of Christ by asking to be forgiven.
JUSTIFICATION
However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:5)
JESUS, THY BLOOD & RIGHTEOUSNESS
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
‘Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.
Bold shall I stand in Thy great day;
For who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am
From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.
Faith accepts the verdict of the judge declaring us both absolved from sin, fear, guilt and shame and accepts the new and glorious dress of righteousness.
SUBSTITUTION
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness . . . . (I Peter 2:24)
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. . . . . (I Peter 3:18)
HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOUR
“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood;
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Faith thanks the Savior for bearing my sins.
CLEANSING / WASHING / PURIFICATION
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, . . . the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. . . .If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:7, 9)
ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD?
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed … in the blood …
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained by sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Faith asks God for cleansing from sin with the blood of Christ.
PROPITIATION / ATONEMENT
In Christianity, Propitiation is a theological term denoting that by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., that ‘satisfaction’ or ‘appeasement’ by which it becomes consistent with His character and government to pardon and bless sinners. The propitiation does not procure His love or make Him loving; rather, it renders it consistent for Him to exercise His love towards sinners. (Wikipedia)
The word atonement was invented in the sixteenth century by William Tyndale who recognized that there was not a direct English translation of the biblical Hebraic concept. The word is composed of two parts “at” and “onement” in order to reflect the dual aspect of Christ’s sacrifice: the remission of sin and reconciliation of man to God. Tyndale’s concept overcome the limitations of the word “reconciliation” whilst incorporating aspects of propitiation and forgiveness. (Wikipedia).
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (an atonement) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25, KJV)
And he is the propitiation (atonement) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:2)
DEPTH OF MERCY
Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
If I rightly read Thy heart,
If Thou all compassion art,
Bow Thine ear, in mercy bow,
Pardon and accept me now.
Jesus speaks, and pleads His blood!
He disarms the wrath of God;
Now my Father’s mercies move,
Justice lingers into love.
Faith runs behind the cross to find shelter from the wrath of God.
REDEMPTION
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13)
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (I Peter 1:18-19)
MY JESUS, I LOVE THEE
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine,
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ’tis now.
I love Thee, because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ’tis now.
Faith accepts the blood of Christ as payment for freedom from the bondage of sin.
RECONCILIATION
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (II Corinthians 5:18-20)
ARISE MY SOUL, ARISE
With God I’m reconciled,
His pard’ning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child,
I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh (2x)
And “Father, Abba, Father!” cry.
Faith accepts that Christ’s death paved the way for reconciliation with God.
REGENERATION
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again (John 3:3)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (II Cor. 5:17)
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SINGS
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Faith thanks God for regenerating and making him a new creation.
V. GOD’S GLORY ALONE (SOLI DEO GLORIA)
Glory at the time of the Reformation was given to Mary and saints which almost became minor deities.
The Reformers believed that humans who had been canonized by the Roman Catholic church should not be given glory. Humans should not be exalted for their good works.
Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral actually says that the Reformation “erred because it was God-centered rather than man-centered.” Professed conservatives love Schuller.
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 115:1)
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!!! Amen.” (Romans 11:36)
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (I Cor. 10:21)
If we believe God’s glory is paramount we need to ask ourselves: Is our happiness and joy found in God or in someone or something else? Is our worship entertainment or worship? Is God’s glory or our self-fulfillment the goal of our lives? Do we see God’s grace as the only basis for our salvation, or are we still seeking some credit for ourselves? (Reformation Essentials, Michael Horton)
Salvation was designed to give the maximum amount of exposure to God’s glory.
. . . to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins . . . . , in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. . . . . [The Spirit] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:6-14)
Thesis Five (Soli Deo Gloria)of the Cambridge Declaration: We reaffirm that because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God’s glory and that we must glorify him always. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God and for his glory alone. We deny that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment, if we neglect either Law or Gospel in our preaching, or if self-improvement, self-esteem or self- fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the gospel.
Columbia University professor Eugene Rice offers a fitting conclusion: All the more, the Reformation’s views of God and humanity measure the gulf between the secular imagination of the twentieth century and the sixteenth century’s intoxication with the majesty of God. We can exercise only historical sympathy to try to understand how it was that the most brilliant intelligences of an entire epoch found a total, a supreme liberty in abandoning human weakness to the omnipotence of God.
How can we expect the world to take God and his glory seriously if the church does not? The Reformation slogan Soli Deo Gloria was carved into the organ at Bach’s church in Leipzig and the composer signed his works with its initials. It’s inscribed over taverns and music halls in old sections of Heidelberg and Amsterdam, a lasting tribute to a time when the fragrance of God’s goodness seemed to fill the air. (Reformation Essentials, Michael Horton)
ILL: A couple of months ago Gloria and I visited the Sedona Heritage Museum and saw an old organ there. Engraved in the wood was “For the Glory of God.”
SO WHAT???
1. If a church is to preach the whole counsel of God (Mt. 28:20, Acts 20:26) then it will need to continually preach the five solas of the Reformation, which are not more than the core of the Gospel.
2. Preaching the Five Solas consistently will help us avoid the “Gospel of Gaps” and be false teachers by default.
3. Salvation in every aspect is appropriated by faith alone, not by works, not by self-effort.
4. Salvation in Christ because of grace through faith is God’s way to gain maximum exposure for His glory due to the sacrifice His Son.
5. The Five Solas: The Gospel of Salvation is based exclusively on Scripture, experienced only in Christ, given solely of God’s grace and appropriated by faith alone with the single purpose of God’s glory.