Sola Gratia Research Paper

The Protestant Reformation of the 16th century transformed Christianity forever. Provoked for change by the exploitation and abuses they saw in the Roman Catholic Church, leaders and pastors such as Martin Luther and John Calvin organized an effort that would soon alter Christianity and ultimately lead to the emergence of the Protestant denominations that exist today. These leaders believed that the church had drifted away from the crucial original teachings of Christianity, most importantly the understanding of salvation, how people can be forgiven of sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and receive eternal life with God. The Reformation pursued to re-establish Christianity on the original message of Jesus and the early …show more content…
It is the philosophy that salvation comes by divine grace only, not as something earned by the sinner. Salvation is an unearned gift from God for Jesus’ sake. This doctrine affirms divine monergism in salvation. God acts alone to save the sinner, the responsibility for salvation does not concern the sinner to any degree.
The fourth Solas is Solus Christus, which means “Christ alone.” Solas Christus excludes the priestly class as essential for sacraments. It is the philosophy that Christ is the only intermediary between God and man, and that there is salvation through no other. Protestants reject all other mediators between God and man except the honoring of the Virgin Mary and other exemplary saints.
The fifth Solas is Soli Deo Gloria, which means “to the glory of God alone.” Soli Deo Gloria stands in disagreement to the worship perceived by many to be present in the Roman Catholic Church, of Mary the mother of Jesus, the saints, or angels. It is the philosophy that all glory is to be owed to God alone, since redemption is accomplished exclusively by His will and action. Not only the reward of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, but also the reward of faith in that sacrifice, created in the heart of the believer by the Holy