Christ Alone / Solus Christus

Reading: John 14:5-14

John 14:5–14 NIV2011

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

The Solas

Besides Christ Alone: Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone and often added to form the 5 Solas: Glory of God Alone.

In our reading, we see that there is no other way to the Father than through Jesus. He is the ultimate revelation of God. Jesus statement of “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” is comforting and is confronting.

In talking about this passage, Luther said: We must discard all other knowledge and wisdom and know absolutely no one else than “Christ crucified”.

All about Jesus

Illustration: Sunday School quiz. Answer: “Jesus”

Our theology needs to be “All about Jesus!”.

The Bible is about Jesus

Luther and the other Reformers argued that the fundamental concept of the Bible is Jesus Christ - who he is, and what he has done for us in his life, death and resurrection.

This is what we mean by “All about Jesus” - his incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension, reign, return is all included.

Not something new, rather going back to what Jesus himself and those that followed after him had proclaimed:- Road to Emmaus - Luke 24:27

Luke 24:27 NIV2011

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

If we need reading glasses then without them the Bible is “blurry”, we put them on and the words become clear. We read the Scripture whilst wearing “Jesus Glasses”.

Word and Sacrament is about Jesus

Christ is placed before us as Saviour when the Gospel is clearly proclaimed. We see Paul claiming this to the Corinthians - 1 Corinthians 2:2

1 Corinthians 2:2 NIV2011

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

In Holy Communion, we receive Christ’s body and blood - we receive the grace and forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice.

In Baptism, we are buried with Christ, and we are also raised with him.

Salvation is about Jesus

Is the death of Christ sufficient to save every man, woman and child? Yes, cry Luther and the other Reformers.

Is anything else required? No!

Sometimes we turn “Faith Alone” into “we are saved by our Faith and by what Jesus did”. We turn Faith into a work rather than seeing it as “putting our trust in Jesus, and only in Jesus”. It is not “do I have enough faith to be saved?” rather “in whom do you trust for your salvation?”.

The Offense caused by Christ Alone

The claim that there is no other way to be saved but Christ crucified is offensive to our society. 1 Tim 2:5-6a

1 Timothy 2:5–6a (NIV2011)

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.

The World wants us to believe that all roads lead to Heaven. That God, if he exists, is everybody’s buddy - and it’s only the really bad guys that get punished. Christ Alone contradicts this.

Conclusion

The Challenge: are we placing other things in place of Christ?

The Comfort: our salvation is assured in Christ Alone.