Grace Alone,
Faith Alone,
the Scriptures Alone | (https://www.christianphotographers.com/images/jasForum.jpg) |
Both the Bible and human experience testify that all men and women are defective in character. The Bible puts it this way:
"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God". (Romans 3:23) Because of this, it is impossible for human beings to merit God's favour. Isaiah tells us that
"all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags". (Isaiah 64:6)
Keeping the Ten Commandments will not make us fit for heaven. The Law of God was not given to prepare us for heaven, but rather to show us that we are sinners before God. St. Paul the Apostle said
"Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin". (Romans 3:20)
The key to the problem is found in the New Testament:
"For by Grace are ye saved, through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast". (Ephesians 2:8,9)
God manifested His grace by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die for sinners such as you and I.
"God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". (Romans 5:8 )
FAITH ALONEIn the light of God's absolute and infinite holiness, how can a poor sinner deserving of the judgment of Hell, be brought into an eternal relationship with God and enjoy the knowledge of sins forgiven? The answer is profound and simple--
BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE!St. John the Apostle tells us that he wrote his Gospel for the purpose of bringing the truth of
"faith in Christ alone" to us; he says,
"But these things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through His name". (John 20:31)
St. Paul makes a similar statement in Romans 5:1.
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by FAITH into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God". In Romans 1:17, Paul triumphantly proclaims
"THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH". Will you, like Paul, stand in
GRACE by
FAITH or will you continue to sink in the mire of your own feeble "good works"? All human "rationalizing" (be it ever so pious or profane) is always a substitute for faith. God requires faith to believe that it is
NOTHING OF SELF but
EVERYTHING IN CHRIST.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish but have everlasting life". (John 3:16)
THE SCRIPTURES ALONEThe blessed Son of God said of the religious people and priests of His day, "In vain do they worship Me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men". (Mark 7:7) He also said to them "Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures".
It is sad that in our day many religious and non-religious people are also in error for the same reason. They follow human traditions and rituals and ignore what the Bible has to say. St. Paul tells us that
"all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness".David the psalmist wrote,
"Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven". (Psalm 119:89) and the Lord Jesus declared
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but MY WORDS shall NOT pass away". (Mark 13:31) It is that same word that shall judge us in the last day. (John 12:48)
The Holy Scriptures alone must be our guide in spiritual matters. There we find that when we believe to the saving of the soul, we should:
- Tell others of God's grace. (Matthew 28:19)
- Join with other of like faith. (Hebrews 10:25)
- Separate ourselves from ungodly systems. (2 Corinthians 6:16)
Jack Scott loved his Lord! He passed away on January 10, 2001 after a lengthy illness.
He is missed greatly by his family.
It is always so very good to see a restatement of the great "solas" of Scripture: sola Scriptura, sola fides, sola gratis, and sola dei gloria.
AMEN!