Theological Word of the Day(TWotD): Soli Deo Gloria

Soli Deo Gloria! For the Glory of God Alone

The Reformation reclaimed the Scriptural teaching of the sovereignty of God over every aspect of the believer's life. All of life is to be lived to the glory of God. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, "What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever." This great and all consuming purpose was emphasized by those in the 16th and 17th Centuries who sought to reform the church according to the Word of God. In contrast to the monastic division of life into sacred versus secular perpetuated by Roman Church, the reformers saw all of life to be lived under the Lordship of Christ. Every activity of the Christian is to be sanctified unto the glory of God.  

As the Scripture says,
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God; Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (1CO 10:31; 1PE 4:11; REV 1:6; 2PE 3:1; EPH 3:21; REV 7:12; ROM 11:36)

Theological Word of the Day (TWotD): Solus Christus

Theological Word of the Day (TwotD): Sola Gratia

What is Sola Gratia?

by Sam Hughey

     The hallmark and glory of Protestant theology is its commitment to sola gratia,or the assertion that we are saved by grace alone.   This is not limited to those who are Reformed in their theology but also to those who are Arminian in their theology.  No true evangelical Christian will claim that their salvation did "not" come to them entirely by the grace of God alone.   However, many who support the Arminian position will also come dangerously close to the heresy taught by the Roman Catholic Church and others in that the grace of God "must" be coupled with something that "I" do in order for me to be saved.

     Prior to the Protestant Reformation, the Roman Catholic church emphasized grace, but not grace alone.  Roman Catholicism and other religious sects teach that grace requires human cooperation and effort if one is to be saved at all. The error taught among Arminians results from a confusion of Ephesians 2:8,9, et. al.  The false notion of "free will" also plays a large role in the development of grace alone (but adding "my decision").   There really is little, if any, difference between the Roman Catholic view and the Arminian view of salvation, so long as the grace of God must have a cooperation by man of any kind for any reason.

     As a former fundamental Baptist, I was constantly reminded that our salvation is most definitely by the grace of God but the faith of Eph. 2:8 was "mine".  Now, in order for the man of 1 Cor. 2:14 to be saved, God must first call; next, "I" must decide if "I" truly want to be saved (which contradicts 1 Cor. 2:14); and then "I" must invite (or allow) God to come into me and be my savior.  This has trampled upon the grace of God and has made human effort (cooperation) a necessary addition to grace in order to be saved. 

     Actually, Holy Scripture never teaches this.  If anything of human effort, whether it be physical, mental or otherwise, is added to the grace of God then our salvation is not by the grace of God "alone".  John 1:13 clearly states that our salvation does "not" come by our heritage, physical ability or mental agreement of any kind.  The grace of God is the glory of God.  Man must never share this wonderful and glorious gift that can only come from our Lord Himself.  This is what makes grace truly "amazing grace" for why would He save a sinner as I.

     When Paul asked our Lord to be relieved of his "thorn in the flesh", Jesus simply replied; "My grace is sufficient for you".  Oh, if we could only capture the mind of Paul when we attempt to capture the mind of God.  The grace of God is not only sufficient for our "thorns" but also for our very salvation.  In fact, without the grace of God, there would be no salvation from God.  Our so-called "free will", our vain attempts to obey rules and our man-made religious activity will leave us in the same place where it all begins, "spiritually dead" with no hope of salvation in spite of any and all our human activities.

Amazing Grace lyrics by John Newton, 1779 Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed! Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. And when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess within the vail A life of joy and peace. When we've been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we first begun.

Pasted from <http://www.reformedreader.org/sola_gratia.htm>

 

Theological Word of the Day (TWotD): Sola Fide

Theological Word of the Day (TWotD) – Sola Scriptura

Scripture alone (from the Reformation slogan Sola Scriptura) is the teaching that Scripture is the Church's only infallible and sufficient rule for deciding issues of faith and practices that involve doctrines. While the Bible does not contain all knowledge, it does contain that which is necessary for salvation. Indeed, if something is not found in Scripture, it is not binding upon the believer. This view does not deny that the Church has the authority to teach God's Word. Furthermore, while tradition is valuable, it but must be tested by the higher authority of the Scriptures. 

Sola Scriptura "does not mean that the Reformers rejected everything that every Christian in earlier ages has said: indeed, they often cited the early Christians as supporters of their own positions. However, they recognized that those earlier believers were not inspired, were not inerrant, and, in fact, quite often made errors in their judgments and beliefs, just as people do today. The only infallible rule of faith, they argued, is found in the pages of Holy Writ." [1]
 

In all of this, the role of the Holy Spirit is vital. The Word can only be received and obeyed by the Holy Spirit.

(From Theopedia)