The Five Alones

History rarely happens in neat packages and memorable mnemonics. It’s usually after the fact, perhaps many years after the fact, that scholars and students reflect on the things said and taught and come up with neat ways to sum them up that make it easier for future generations to remember. This was certainly true with the so-called “Five Points of Calvinism” and the acronym TULIP. TULIP is a memorable summary of Calvin’s teaching on the sovereignty of God in salvation, but the origins of the acronym are lost to time. Since the word “tulip” and the phrases denoted by each letter (Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints) are all English, it’s clear this was not an invention of Calvin’s since Calvin was French and, as far as I know, didn’t speak English. In fact, there doesn’t appear to be any reference to this acronym prior to the 20th century. That’s not to say Calvin didn’t believe the doctrines encapsulated by TULIP; he just didn’t invent the acronym.

Likewise the so-called “Five Solas” of the Reformation. No one knows the origins of this summation of the principles upon which the Reformation was built. It too may be a later formulation, possibly even 19th century. Nevertheless, the truths they contain would receive a hearty “amen” from Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Knox, and all their theological descendants.

Unlike TULIP, the Five Solas are usually presented in Latin, not English. This reflects the fact that, for a long time, Latin was the language of the church and the academy. However, since not as many people speak Latin today, it’s more helpful to present them in English, which is what I will do here. The Latin word “sola” is an adjective that means “alone.” So the Five Solas are actually Five Alones, and they are:

• Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura)
• Christ Alone (Solus Christus)
• Grace Alone (Sola Gratia)
• By Faith Alone (Sola Fide)
• Glory to God Alone (Soli Deo Gloria)

You might ask, “Why are they called ‘solas’ and yet one of them is ‘solus’ and another is ‘soli’?” The answer is: Latin grammar. If you want a more complete technical explanation, ask in the comments and I’ll provide it.

So, what do they mean? Briefly:

Scripture Alone

Scripture, the Word of God as contained in the 66 books of the Bible, is our sole authority for life, faith, and doctrine. In His Word, God has revealed to us all we need to know about Himself, His character, His purposes, and His creation (including us) for us to live as He designed us to live. This includes everything we need to know to be reconciled with Him. This doesn’t mean we don’t value the thoughts and insights of men, however, they don’t carry the authoritative weight of Scripture. Even these “alones” are rooted in Scripture!

Christ Alone

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; no one is able to come to God except through him. Only Jesus’ blood is able to cleanse us from the sin that justly condemns us in the sight of God. There is no other name under heaven or earth by which we can be saved except that of Jesus. No human work can earn God’s favor. Our salvation is bought for us totally by Jesus and him alone.

Grace Alone

Salvation is provided to us by grace, and can only be received as a gift. We cannot earn salvation by anything we say or do. Every human being is a fallen, rebel sinner worthy of death. More than death–the lake of fire! No one is righteous, and the effects of sin in each human means that even the very best of us is unworthy of God’s mercy. However, God freely provided forgiveness to us through Christ (and Christ alone–see above). It is His gift to those He wants to save. And as with every good gift, it can’t be earned. It’s certainly not deserved. God gives us the gift of salvation by His grace and His grace alone.

By Faith Alone

God gives salvation to His people as a gift of His grace. We receive that gift by faith, and not by works. Again, we can’t do anything to earn our salvation. We can’t buy it, we can’t barter for it, and we can’t do good deeds to make ourselves worthy of it. No amount of going to church, saying prayers, or reading our Bibles can earn us salvation. We can only reach out in faith to receive it as a gracious gift.

Glory to God Alone

Since our salvation is a work of God and we contribute nothing toward it, the praise, honor, and glory for that salvation belong to God and to God alone. He doesn’t share that glory, and neither should He. We take no credit for our salvation. Even the act of faith is something that God enables us to do. Salvation is all of God from beginning to end. From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.