Solas to Remember .... Mid Month Moment by Connie Inglis

Mid-Month Moments - from the archives of former spiritual advisor, Connie Inglis.

The older I get and the more I interact with other believers, the more I've come to realize that I'm one of the fortunate ones. No, I'm not talking about being a writer (though that IS a goldmine of joy!), but about being a believer who has a Christian heritage - a faith shared with me through my parents, my grandparents, my great-grandparents... Growing up with that kind of heritage is a wonderful gift from God.

More than 500 years ago, Martin Luther nailed his "95 Theses" to the Wittenburg door, and thus began the Reformation. Even though this is history, it still affects our lives today.

Today I want to share with you Five Solas that came out of the Reformation - Five Latin phrases that we now know to be true, but back in Luther's day they were considered heretical. As you read these, think about how these five truths play out in your writing, your speaking, and your relationships, whether it's with other believers or with the world:

Sola Scriptura--by Scripture Alone. 2 Tim. 3:16,17. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Sola Christus--in Christ Alone. Acts 4:10-12. " then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ ¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Sola Gratia--by Grace Alone. Eph. 2:4,5. "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

Sola Fide--through Faith Alone. Rom. 3:25,26. "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

Sola Deo Gloria--Glory to God Alone. 1 Peter 4:11. "Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

My prayer for us this week is that we take time to be thankful - thankful for how God has moved down through history, for how God moves in our lives and in the lives of our families right now, and for how God still moves and continues to move in this world. And may we give Him ALL the glory due His name for who He is and for what He has done IN CHRIST ALONE.

In celebration,

Connie

Oct 31, 2017