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In continuing the series of the five solas of the Protestant Reformation, we have reached Solus Christus, salvation found in Christ alone.
Solus Christus is obviously at the heart of the Christian religion. The theological definition of a Christian is “one who believes in Christ and seeks to live according to his teachings.”[i]
Christianity and the Reformation would not exist without Jesus Christ.
The Scriptures make His deity clear:
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves” (John 14:10-11).
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21)
A thorough compilation of the “I am” statements from Jesus is found in John chapters 8-15.
Within Jewish law, it was a death sentence to blaspheme God or claim to be a deity. Even the Jews of Jesus’ time felt Jesus was teaching His divine nature.
Within the Reformation, living by Christ alone signaled both faith and grace. Sins are forgiven through Jesus Christ, and through His crucifixion and resurrection, a new life is given to sinners who repent and believe.
Church traditions and practices matter, but the most basic facts of Christianity, believing and trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation, are the core of the religion.
Christianity only asks for the surrender of your life and unbelief, not works.
Jesus’ teachings matter, as do His saving power and lordship. He is both Savior and Lord and is the core tenet of being made new (born again).
While Christian leaders, teachers, and elders are important, they are fallible human beings. Jesus was perfect as He was God. His teachings and commands take precedence.
Salvation is not found in anyone outside of Jesus Christ. This is what defines Christianity. The three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) all acknowledge the person of Jesus Christ, but only one teaches He was God. This is the significance of salvation by Christ alone.
C.S. Lewis taught Jesus was either a liar (falsely claiming to be God), a lunatic (believing He was God, but was not) or Lord (telling the truth of His deity). Lewis wrote:
“A man who was merely a man and said the things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.”[ii]
As Christians, we know Jesus is LORD. He is the foundation of our worldview and belief system.
Acknowledging and accepting Christ alone is the central tenet within the five solas. Jesus is Lord and Savior.
[i] Millard J. Erickson, The Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology (Wheaton: Crossway, 2001), 33.
[ii] C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper One, 2001), 52.