The 5 pillars of the Protestant Reformation

             

Faith alone (Sola Fide)

Justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. In justification Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God’s perfect justice. Our justification does not rest on any merit to be found in us, nor upon the grounds of an infusion of Christ’s righteousness in us, nor that an institution claiming to be a church that denies or condemns sola fide can be recognized as a legitimate church.

Grace alone (Sola Gratia)
In salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by his grace alone. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life. It is denied that salvation is in any sense a human work. Human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves cannot accomplish this transformation. Faith is not produced by our unregenerated human nature.

Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura)

The inerrant Scripture (the Bible) is the sole source of written divine revelation, which alone can bind the conscience. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured. It is denied that any creed, council or individual may bind a Christian’s conscience, that the Holy Spirit speaks independently of or contrary to what is set forth in the Bible, or that personal spiritual experience can ever be a vehicle of revelation.

Glory to God alone 

(Soli Deo Gloria                   It is affirmed that because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God’s glory and that we must glorify him always. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God and for his glory alone. It is denied that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment, if we neglect either Law or Gospel in our preaching, or if self-improvement, self-esteem or self- fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the gospel.

Christ alone (Solus Christus)

Our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father. It is denied that the gospel is preached if Christ’s substitutionary work is not declared and faith in Christ and his work is not solicited.

Why Faith?

If Christ actually “saved” the elect on the cross, isn't it true to say that the elect are born already justified and there is no need to exercise faith?

This is an important issue and the fact that someone would ask this question is a clear indication that they have failed to grasp the full measure of what the Bible teaches concerning Divine election.

Jesus said, “All that the Father gives to Me will come to Me” (John 6:37). Think about that for a moment, as a vital point is being made; namely this: THE EFFECTS OF GOD'S CHOICE IN ETERNITY (the Father's giving) ARE WORKED OUT IN TIME (the people's coming).

The elect are a love gift from the Father to the Son (in eternity past) but this does not negate the fact that these same people will (IN THE REALM OF TIME) come to the Son. It is not the coming to the Son that CAUSES the Father to give them to the Son. Just the opposite is true in fact. It is the Father’s giving (first) which results in the elect’s coming. All that the Father gives to the Son will come to the Son.

Christ was the Lamb slain BEFORE the foundation of the world (as the Scripture says in Revelation 13:8) yet this did not mean that Christ did not need to be slain in the realm of time. Christ was marked as the slain Lamb in eternity past, and yet Christ came into the space/time dimension with the purpose of dieing for the sins of His people. Likewise, it is also true to say that all the elect were purchased/redeemed at the cross, even though these elect would still need to come to the Son in time also.

It is not unregenerate man who authors the faith that saves. Jesus is the author and perfector of faith (Heb 12:3). Repentance and faith are GIFTS from God (2 Tim 2:25; Phil 1:29), given to the elect (in time). Jesus secured everything necessary for the salvation of the elect at the cross, including these precious gifts. Not all have faith. The elect will come to Christ in faith (John 6:37, Acts 13:48).

Was Christ the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world? Yes.

Were the elect saved in eternity past? Certainly, the Father's choice to save them took place in eternity past, yes.

Does this negate the need for events to be carried out in time? By no means. The choice in eternity past DETERMINED events that would undoubtedly take place in time.

Therefore the answer to the question is a resounding "No." No one is born justified. Since the Fall of Adam, all of us are born spiritually dead in need of regeneration and justification. Justification is by faith (Romans 5:1) not by election. Election merely explains who will come to Christ in faith (Acts 13:48). Christ redeemed His people by His blood, and secured their salvation there, even though the effects of His death would be carried out in time (past, present and future), as His people come to Him in saving faith – this being the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest no one should boast.

My own observation is that when people have an issue with Particular or definite atonement, when questions are asked and the issue is pressed, it is almost always due to the fact that they really have an issue with unconditonal election.

- JS

AMERICA, THE CHURCH AND THE WAR FOR THEIR EXISTENCE

 ^"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places". Ephesians 6:12

In a democratic culture such as ours, we believe that our vote counts, and that by exercising our right to choose, we can actually and significantly change the world around us. We are all taught from our youth that we have it within ourselves to accomplish anything, if we simply put our minds to it and give it our best efforts. And when we become Christians we carry that optimism over into our theology. If God tells us to do something, it must be because we have the ability to do what he commands! Choice becomes everything. And thus we fall headlong into one of the greatest heresies in church history, the heresy of Pelagianism. It is really quite simple; grace alone doesn't make much sense to an American who doesn't think that much is wrong with the human condition in the first place. For if people are basically good, why then, do we need grace in order to be saved, live...?

As goes our beliefs, politics, theology, our concept of God...  "free will" "free people"  free choice... We should be left to ourselves to choose, people are basically good and could determine for themselves what is right and wrong... "land of the free"...  and so on and so on... Meanwhile we are becoming more and more enslaved as a people and have completely lost the perfect freedom, that God has to offer for His very elect. 

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31). 

But unfortunately we have become disciples of an ideology, concept... with words, such as, "Freedom," "Patriotism," "Strength", Power, Choice, Rights, "Free Will"... not the freedom that God provides, but the freedom that man has to offer. A freedom that is builded upon man's point of view of what life has to offer. A freedom that has always been build on the sand. A freedom that would never survive under the tests of time, "because we have exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Romans 1:25). 

Yes, we at times give God some credit as to our little battles won here and there. We interject a prayer when it's convenient, to make us feel a little better about ourselves. But if we carefully read the inscription underneath the belly of that creature that we have nurtured over our short  period in history, it would read, "Made in the USA, by the People, for the People" who have lost their way, roots and their creator. In the midst of our struggle, battle... for freedom, our political, spiritual leaders, as a people, have replaced the providence and the Sovereignty of God with patriotism, freedom and whichever political affiliations we align ourselves with. We have put our hands on the plow, and have looked back to see...

Please do not misunderstand. I'm not saying that we should not exercise our authority in speaking out against injustice, atrocities... We shouldn't be as robots and just stand by idly, as a sinful world run-amuck. We should pick our battles, in order to win the war. Parents, should truly understand as to what I mean by that statement. We should be in constant prayer as to, when, where and how, we are to take that stand, without loosing focus. Satan loves to distract us from that battlefield, in making sure that we loose focus, as we take off our full armor, rest and see what's going on, in matters that pertain to absolutely nothing in our walk and struggles.

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62).

We have taking our eyes of the prize, duty and off the real war that's being waged in the heavenly places and have fixed our eyes on a target, that we have no business meddling into. A war that is being fought at every front imaginable against unbelievers and their ideals that have absolutely nothing to do with the Saints, elect of God or His purpose. Reason as to why such confusion, chaos... within our country (political system) and Christendom (churches). Absolutely no direction as to our goal and purpose. We have fixed our eyes and our undivided attention as to what the unbelievers say, think and do, (insurmountable amount of issues) instead of intensely looking unto our Commanding officer's leadership, orders or direction, as He has set forth for us (soldiers of Christ) to follow. We have decided to march in front of our God of Hosts in battle, thinking that we are in control, in handling everything pertaining to this war that is being waged against us all. After all we are Americans and nothing can stand in our way, when we put our minds to it. This has been our heritage, ideology... that has existed through our veins since our conception, throughout the history of this great country of ours. 

May we come to the end of ourselves and realize that it is God that is in total control of His plan for our existence. That, it is Him, that goes forward in battle, as our LORD of HOSTS, and in giving us a clear understanding as to our objectives in the final victory. The choice is ours. We can reject, rebel... go our way and do our thing. But with or without us, victory will be, without a single doubt, His. It is up to us, how we get there. Exhausting ourselves from things that we have never been giving the authority to do, as this is solely the work of the Holy Spirit. Our commission has never changed and has always been; 

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

Let us not be, the "some that doubted". Let us continue the commission with confidence in Him and not of ourselves, and finish the work that he has commissioned us to do. Let us keep those hands on the plow, without worrying as to what's behind us. Time waits for no man and our Creator will not wait for us as we keep playing in the sandbox.

"To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him". Ephesians 3:8

Twilight of the Idols

The nineteenth-century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is famous for his declaration that “God is dead.” That brief dictum does not give the whole story. According to Nietzsche, the cause of the Deity’s demise was compassion. He said, “God is dead; He died of pity.” But before the God who was the God of Judeo-Christianity perished, Nietzsche said that there were a multitude of deities who existed, such as those who resided on Mount Olympus. That is, at one time there was a plurality of gods. All of the rest of the gods perished when one day the Jewish God, Yahweh, stood up in their assembly and said, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Hearing this, according to Nietzsche’s satirical summary, all of the rest of the gods and goddesses died. They died of laughter.

In our day, where pluralism reigns in the culture, there is as much satirical hostility to the idea of one God as there was in Nietzsche’s satire. But today, that repugnance to monotheism is not a laughing matter. In the culture of pluralism, the chief virtue is toleration, which is the notion that all religious views are to be tolerated, all political views are to be tolerated. The only thing that cannot be tolerated is a claim to exclusivity. There is a built-in, inherent antipathy towards all claims of exclusivity. To say that there is one God is repulsive to the pluralists. To say that one God has not revealed Himself by a plurality of avatars in history is also repugnant. A single God with an only begotten Son is a deity who adds insult to injury by claiming an exclusive Son. There cannot be only one Mediator between man and God. There must be many according to pluralists today. It is equally a truism among pluralists that if there is one way to God, there must be many ways to God, and certainly it cannot be accepted that there is only one way. The exclusive claims of Christianity in terms of God, in terms of Christ, in terms of salvation, cannot live in peaceful coexistence with pluralists. 

Beyond the question of the existence of God and of His Son, and of a singular way of salvation, there is also a rejection of any claim to having or possessing an exclusive source of divine revelation. At the time of the Reformation, the so-called solas of the Reformation were asserted. It was said that justification is by faith alone (sola fide), that it is through Christ alone (solus Christus), that it is through grace alone (sola gratia), and that it is for God’s glory alone (soli Deo gloria). But perhaps most repugnant to the modern pluralist is the exclusive claim of sola Scriptura. The idea of sola Scriptura is that there is only one written source of divine revelation, which can never be placed on a parallel status with confessional statements, creeds, or the traditions of the church. Scripture alone has the authority to bind the conscience precisely because only Scripture is the written revelation of almighty God. The implications of sola Scriptura for pluralism are many. Not the least of them is this: It carries a fundamental denial of the revelatory character of all other religious books. An advocate of sola Scriptura does not believe that God’s revealed Word is found in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon, the Bible and in the Koran, the Bible and in the Upanishads, the Bible and in the Bhagavad Gita; rather, the Christian faith stands on the singular and exclusive claim that the Bible and the Bible alone is God’s written word.

The motto of the United States is e pluribus unum. However, since the rise of the ideology of pluralism, the real Unum of that motto has been ripped from its foundation. What drives pluralism is the philosophical antecedent of relativism. All truth is relative; therefore, no one idea or source can be seen as having any kind of supremacy. Built into our law system is the idea of the equal toleration under the law of all religions. It is a short step in people’s thinking from equal toleration under the law to equal validity. The principle that all religions should be treated equally under the law and have equal rights does not carry with it the necessary inference that therefore all religions are valid. Even a cursory, comparative examination of the world’s religions reveals points of radical contradiction among them, and unless one is prepared to affirm the equal truth of contradictories, one must not be able to embrace this fallacious assumption. 

Sadly, with a philosophy of relativism and a philosophy of pluralism, the science of logic doesn’t matter. Logic is escorted to the door and is firmly booted out of the house onto the street. There is no room for logic in any system of pluralism and relativism. Indeed, it’s a misnomer to call either a system, because it is the idea of a consistent, coherent view of truth that is unacceptable to the pluralist. The fact that people reject exclusive claims to truth does not invalidate those claims. It is the Christian’s duty to hold firm to the uniqueness of God and of His Christ and not compromise with the advocates of pluralism.

R.C. Sproul