5 SOLAS

SOLA GRATIA: Grace alone

SOLA FIDE: Faith alone

SOLA SCRIPTURA: Scripture alone

Solo Christo: Christ alone

Soli Deo Gloria: To the glory of God alone

SOLA GRATIA: Grace Alone

“Non-Christians seem to think that the Incarnation implies some particular merit or excellence in humanity. But of course it implies just the reverse: a particular demerit and depravity. No creature that deserved Redemption would need to be redeemed. They that are whole need not the physician. Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for; to make them worth it.”

C.S. Lewis

Total Depravity

Romans 3:9–18 ESV

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

EXTENT - EFFECT - EXPRESSION

QUESTIONS:

1. Look back into your life and reflect on how many times you disappointed God. How important is God’s grace to you in light of your past mistakes?

2. There are 3 divisions on Romans 3:10-18 (Extent, Effect, Expression), which among the 3 had an impact on understand the grace of God more for you?

3. Since man is totally depraved and God is Holy, why did God still come down to earth and die for man?

GRACE IN THE OT

Man’s Nature

Psalm 53:1-3

1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

As you noticed, its very similar to what Paul said in Romans 3. Not only is God’s character the same in the Old Testament but man’s character (apart from Adam and Eve before the fall) is also the same. Man has been sinning against God ever since Eve ate the fruit in the garden. God is omniscient, this incommunicable attribute of God is seen v.2 when the Psalmist says “God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand.” God knows every heart of man and He knows every intention. The Psalmist in the next verse concludes that all have fallen away and all have been corrupted.

God’s Sovereignty

Psalms 93:1

1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Psalms 93:1

Psalms 97:1

​1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Psalms 97:1

Psalms 99:1

​1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

God’s Grace

Psalm 103

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalms 103:2-5

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalms 103:8

GRACE ALONE IN THE NT

“Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein He pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed unto us, and received by faith alone.”

John Gerstner

Saved by Grace

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Renewed by Grace

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Not only has God justified us by His grace, but the very fact that we are a new creation is from His grace as well. A dead man cannot revive himself, therefore there has to be a supernatural power that has to come and intervene. When God makes us alive spiritually, he doesn’t just save us and leave us. He sanctifies us for His glory and the reason why we can live the Chrisitan life is by the grace of God as well.

Saved unto good works

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

QUESTIONS:

1. What are some ways you can live out the grace given to you and serve God?

2. Have you ever had a point in your life where you believed that you had to work for your salvation?

3. How has God sanctified you since you started following Him?