How are we saved? Is salvation earned? Or a gift?
HELPFUL AND IMPORTANT SCRIPTURES
What are the “Five Solas”
The “five solas” describe a summary of some of the major concerns and focuses of those who sought reform in the church in the 1500s during the “Protestant Reformation.” “Sola” means alone and was used to define the essential elements of the Christian faith. The “reformers” of the day saw many things being added to the pure teachings of the Bible. Their corrective focus was found in their theological convictions about - 1) Scripture 2) Faith 3) Grace 4) Christ 5) God’s Glory - when understanding God’s plans for salvation in the Gospel.
GRACE ALONE
Galatians 3:10–11 “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’ [11] Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” (ESV)
Ephesians 2:4–6 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (ESV)
Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (ESV)
NOTE FROM ESV Study Bible: The verb form for “have been saved” (Gk. sesōsmenoi, perfect tense) communicates that the Christian’s salvation is fully secured.
Romans 3:24–25 “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”
Romans 5:8 “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (ESV)
Romans 5:15–17 “But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. [16] And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. [17] For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” (ESV)
Romans 6:15 “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” (ESV)
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (ESV)
In response to claims for the Mosaic Law and Tradition to be kept by the Gentiles for salvation (specifically here is the ceremonial law of circumcision) - Peter in Acts 15:8–11 “And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, [9] and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. [10] Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? [11] But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (ESV)
See also:
www.catholic.blog/scripture-alone
www.catholic.blog/christ-alone
www.catholic.blog/gods-glory-alone
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