Reformation Month / Study / The Five Solas / Sola Gratia
Gratia
Salvation is a gift from God.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.
¶ What does it mean?
Grace is commonly considered as unmerited favor. When it comes to God justifying sinners, he does so purely from his gracious heart. None of the good works we do will earn our pardon from sin, and there is nothing about us that causes God to want to save us. Salvation begins when God first loved us "while we were yet sinners" (Romans 5:8).
¶ What does it deny?
It denies that our religious effort or spiritual performance can purchase standing with God. Good works are the fruit, not the root of our justification.
- Titus 3:5He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy.
- Romans 11:6If it is by grace, it is no longer of works. Otherwise grace is no longer grace.
- Romans 5:8God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
¶ Why does it matter?
The Bible declares God's gracious attitude towards sinners in Romans 5: "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly... but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us... For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." Christ died for the weak, not the strong. Christ died for the ungodly, not the pious. Christ died for sinners, not the righteous. Christ died for His enemies, not His allies. How gracious indeed is our Savior!