Soli Deo Gloria

• On October 31st, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany.

• That document was posted to announce that Luther wanted to have a debate concerning the “power and efficacy of indulgences.”

Soli Deo Gloria

• The Five Solas focus on the major theological differences between the Reformers and the Roman Catholic Church.

• Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) states that the Scriptures are our sole authority for all matters of faith and practice.

Soli Deo Gloria

• Sola gratia (grace alone) says that it is only by the grace of God that we can be justified.

• There is nothing, in and of ourselves, that makes us worthy of salvation.

Soli Deo Gloria

• Ephesians 2:4-5—4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive

together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Soli Deo Gloria

• Sola fide (faith alone) says that the only way we can access God’s grace is through faith.

Soli Deo Gloria

• Ephesians 2:8-9—8 For by grace you

have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of

God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

• Our “works” are fruitless and completely unable to achieve the righteousness that God demands.

Soli Deo Gloria

• Romans 3:28—For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

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• Solus Christus (Christ alone) says that we are saved through the righteousness of Christ alone.

• There’s nothing that needs to be added to the finished work of Christ.

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• Romans 5:8-9—8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9

Much more then, having now been

justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him (Christ).

Soli Deo Gloria

• 1 Corinthians 2:2—For I determined to

know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

• Romans 3:23-24—23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being

justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

Soli Deo Gloria• Romans 3:26 says that God “would be

just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

• God is “just” in that He demanded a payment for our sin.

• He is also “the justifier,” because He graciously and lovingly provided His own Son as the only payment that was needed for our sin.

Soli Deo Gloria

• The three solas that deal directly with salvation are the heart of the five solas.

• Sola Scriptura is the foundation upon which the other four solas are built.

• Soli Deo gloria is the pinnacle of the solas.

Soli Deo Gloria

• Our salvation begins and ends with God.

• Therefore, He alone gets all the glory for it.

• No one, besides God Himself, contributes anything to our salvation.

• Even our faith must be a gift from God.

Soli Deo Gloria

• Ephesians 2:8-9—8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of

yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

• If we say that our faith is self-generated, we’re saying that our salvation is more than an undeserved “gift of God.”

Soli Deo Gloria

• No matter how small of a role our faith plays in our salvation, it is still something that is necessary to be declared righteous by God.

Soli Deo Gloria

• Ephesians 2:8-9—8 For by grace you

have been saved through faith; and

that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Soli Deo Gloria

• Salvation is not of ourselves; we did nothing to earn it or to deserve it.

• Rather, salvation is solely a gift from God.

• If we, in any way, deserve God’s grace, then it isn’t grace.

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• Any contribution we make toward our own salvation will result in an equal share of the credit (or glory) for that salvation.

Soli Deo Gloria

• Ephesians 2:8-9—8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a

result of works, so that no one may boast.

• Romans 11:6—But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Soli Deo Gloria

• “‘The gift of God’ in the original Greek appears in the neuter grammatical form, which means that it refers back to both grace and faith earlier in the verse. Grace and faith are both divine gifts.” (R.C. Sproul)

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• “If we believe that we are capable of working up faith in our souls, we cannot boast in Christ alone. But if we understand that we have faith only because of the work of the Holy Spirit, then we can truly give God all the glory for our salvation.

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• We are not to look at ourselves as better than others because we believe the gospel; rather, we are to be profoundly grateful that God has chosen to grant us faith even though we are undeserving sinners.” (R.C. Sproul)

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• Every aspect of our salvation comes from God alone.

• Therefore, all the glory belongs to Him.

• God’s Word tells us that everyone who hears the gospel will make the choice to either accept or reject it.

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• Romans 10:9—that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

• Romans 10:13—for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

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• There is a genuine offer of salvation to all who believe.

• However, the Bible also tells us that our faith, and the salvation that we receive through that faith, are both gifts from God.

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• God is infinitely greater than us and it’s impossible for us to understand everything about Him.

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• Romans 11:33-36—33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?

Soli Deo Gloria

• 35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36 For from Him and through

Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.