Five Solas Are Everything

It is a fact that my desk and shelves are adorned with many a clipped or copied quote from great men and women, along with the occasional Tumbleweeds cartoon. Sometimes I am diligent enough to cite the sources for these quotes, and sometimes I let it slip. The quote I'm about to share is one of those that dangles in my office without proper citation. I have no idea where I found it - somewhere in the vast ocean of the web.

The Five Solas; Evidence of the Genuine Gospel

"The Reformers from the 16th and 17th centuries gave us a method of understand this exclusive Gospel. The Fives Solas are the polemic, divisive, markers that are evidence of the genuine Gospel. They state that it is from Scripture Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone to the Glory of God Alone. Any emphasis outside of this marks that form of the gospel as false. No part of it can be removed and used instead nor can they stand apart from the rest.

"These Five Solas together with nothing taken away and nothing added seems quite narrow doesn't it? That is because the Gospel is narrow for it is the narrow gate. Christ is the only way to God and those whom He saves come to Him on His terms, not theirs. These terms do not include religiosity. No, there is nothing added. we come empty handed to the cross.

"What we must never forget is that God is Sovereign. He is going to save His people, not by our efforts, but as we obey Him in making disciples where He has us. He saves His people from first to last. He preserves them eternally. He has graciously given us the opportunity to be part of this great work of bringing people in to the Kingdom."

There are so many aberrations of the Gospel in our world today. No doubt there have always been. To know the Gospel in simple, rock solid, unadorned terms in priceless, and necessary.