faith, doctrine & christian living
TRUTH FOR TODAY
Salvation Is By Christ Alone
Rev. Fred Moore

Most of us are familiar these days with the word evangelical, perhaps without really knowing the source of the word or what it means. The term originated in the sixteenth century as an identifier for those who embraced the message of the Protestant Reformation. It is taken from the Greek word euangélion that is translated Gospel, and it literally means “a message of good news.” The evangel of the Reformation was summarized in four “Solas”: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gracia, Sola Fide, and lastly, Solus Christus.
In the sixteenth century, when the established church said that priests, masses, good works, and sacraments were all necessary for salvation, Martin Luther and the other reformers responded that they were convinced that salvation was known by Scripture alone – not by traditions, councils, or Popes – Sola Scriptura. They were convinced that salvation was by grace alone, by the undeserved, unmerited love of God for sinners – Sola Gracia; and that this grace was received by faith alone, never on the basis of human works or merit – Sola Fide; that faith had to be based in Christ alone, for He accomplished everything that had to be done to redeem us from sin – Solus Christus.
The late Dr. James Boice wrote:
Solus Christus means that Jesus Christ has done it all, so that no merit on the part of seeking mankind, nor merit of the saints, nor work of ours performed here or in purgatory can add to the completed saving work of Christ. In fact, any attempt to add to that work is a perversion of the Gospel, and is no Gospel at all.
Jesus is the only Prophet we need to reveal God’s Word or God’s will. Jesus is the only Priest we need to mediate God’s salvation to us. Jesus is the only King Israel needs. We need neither Pope nor Pastor to patrol our sinking or our living. Jesus Christ alone is the Lord of His Church.
But now, in the twenty-first century, that Gospel is opposed, not only by official Roman Catholic theology, but even more by the religious pluralism of our day. We live in an age that sociologists, social scientists, and philosophers have labeled Post Modernism. Its primary characteristic is the abandonment of the meaning of absolute truth.
A hundred years ago most Americans believed and shared a common moral code that was based primarily upon the Word of God. Even unbelievers made their decisions based upon the Judeo-Christian ethic. And there was a consensus; certain things were right, and certain things were wrong. Certain things were permitted, and others were not. That shared consensus gave stability to American culture, allowing anyone to make decisions that were very similar to others, even though they often shared a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures.
Americans lived together in peace because they shared that set of moral values. Such consensus is almost entirely lost today. Our fellow citizens find it difficult to evaluate how to live, and what they believe about troubling issues – among them, abortion, pornography, adultery, divorce, homosexuality, and euthanasia.
There was little debate a decade ago because the shared value system declared such sinning as sin. Killing the unborn, divorcing the love of your life, men and women demanding approval to marry their own kind, these are considered by many as acceptable today in your neighborhood and mine.
So we must face the fact that we are a pluralistic society. Diversity of culture and religion is growing, and this is not necessarily a change for the better. We are told that we must recognize, tolerate, and even celebrate it. It is right that in America everyone should have the freedom to believe as they determine. Every American has political freedom and the right to shout their bias from their housetop. But somehow, in the minds of many citizens, this freedom we treasure has come to mean that very divergent religious beliefs are to be accepted by everyone as equally valid. Therefore, there is no absolute truth, they assert, by which every claim must be evaluated, and anyone who says otherwise is a rabid fundamentalist fanatic.
According to a recent poll, 66 percent of American citizens agree with the following statement: “There is no such thing as absolute truth.” Chuck Colson, for one, said that believers are in the fight of their lives because that belief invites anarchy. Among young adults the percentage is even higher, 72 percent. Disbelief in absolute truth is really self-contradictory. To believe something is to be convinced that it is true, and to say “I believe that nothing is absolutely true” is contradictory and nonsense. How can you make that statement absolutely if nothing is absolutely true? But the polls show that over half of those who call themselves Evangelical Christians also believe that there are no absolutes. To suggest that the only way to God the Father is through Jesus’ sacrifi ce on Calvary’s cross is considered by some as bigotry and hatred in the disguise of religion. In the physical realm, those who sincerely believe that arsenic is not poison, and ingest enough of it, are going to die a painful death. The same fate is certain concerning spiritual truth. God’s truth is always absolute, and those who reject it, even sincerely, shall suffer eternal consequences.
In contrast to the religious relativism of our day, believers need to grasp the unequivocal truth to be found in the Word of God concerning Jesus the Christ, our Savior and Lord.
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 Bible also teaches definitely that Jesus is the only One who can save sinners.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
The Bible also teaches dogmatically that Jesus is the only way to God.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).
The Bible also teaches explicitly that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).
The Bible also teaches unmistakably that Jesus is the only sacrifice for sin.
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12).
These Scriptures from the New Testament concerning the person and the work of Christ are undeniable, and the basis for believing that salvation is by Him alone – Solus Christus.
Josh McDowell wrote that what Jesus claimed for Himself, and what His followers and the writers of Scripture declared by inspiration, raise a compelling trilema. “There are only three possibilities concerning whom the Lord Jesus Christ is. He is either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord of all. There aren’t any other options.”
In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “I’m trying to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that too often is being said: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great world teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.’” That, however, is the one thing that cannot logically be said. Either Jesus Christ is the Son of God or a madman. He can be shut out of unbelieving minds as being a fool, or we may believe the Word of God, worship at His feet, and call Him Lord and Savior.
Those of us who truly comprehend Solus Christus have an urgent global mission to share this Good News. The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, His life, and resurrection are still the best attested facts of history. Four hundred years ago Martin Luther died sharing them. We who are living in these last days before the Lord’s second coming can still find no greater truth to share.