Dear Congregation,
Solus Christus (Christ Alone) unites all the Solas. Without the person and work of Jesus Christ we have nothing.
1. Jesus is the central theme and aim of the Bible (sola scriptura) - it's all about him.
2. Jesus is the sole means by which we receive God’s grace (sola gratia).
3. Jesus is the object of our faith. The only faith that saves is faith in Jesus (sola fide).
4. Everything Jesus did was and is all for the glory of God (Soli Deo Gloria).
So what does it mean that Salvation is through Christ alone?
The Scriptures testify that Christ is the only way man can enter heaven. Jesus himself clearly taught this & the apostles proclaimed the same message.
Key Scriptures:“… for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – the Apostle Peter (Acts 4:12)
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – Jesus (John 14:6)
“For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” – the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 2:5)
ONLY Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is wholly sufficient to secure our salvation. There is no "Christ and _________" in the gospel. Christ has done it all.
I love the book of Hebrews, because it reveals to us that Jesus is better in every way. Better than the angels (chapters 1-2), better than Moses (chapter 3), better than Joshua, Aaron and the Levitical priesthood (chapters 4-8), a better sacrifice, and the guarantee of a better covenant (chapters 9-10). He alone "has once for all perfected the saints" (Hebrews 10:14), so we should not neglect so great a salvation, but lean wholly on Christ (Hebrews 2:3, Hebrews 12:18-29).
Though we have failed to keep the law, Christ obeyed the law for us.Though we deserve the penalty for breaking the law, Christ died for us.
If you take Christ out of the gospel, you have no good news. The essence of the Gospel is that Christ came to do what we could not do (cf. Romans 8:3).
He humbled himself.
He came and dwelt among us.
He obeyed.
He was crucified for our sins.
He was raised from the dead.
He ascended to heaven.
He is seated in heaven, interceding for his chosen people.
He is returning.
Martin Luther said it well, "I must listen to the gospel. It tells me not what I must do, but what Jesus Christ the Son of God has done for me."
The good news is that Christ alone saves, indeed He has saved.
The Song of the Christian
Legend has it that after a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini told the orchestra: “I am nothing. You are nothing. Beethoven is everything.”How much more so can we say this about our living Savior who is the author and finisher of our faith? Truly, in Christ alone my hope is found. The song of the redeemed is always, “My only boast is Jesus”
May this by your heart-song today and forevermore.
Grace and Peace to you in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Matt
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