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What Is Sola Gratia?
Sermon notes
Introduction:
Today I want to speak to speak to you about one of the Solas of the New Testament, Sola Gratia, which simply means “by grace alone.” One of the thoughts that crossed my mind as I began to think and study this topic was,
“Do I really need to preach on this?”
“It’s such a basic theological concept, certainly everyone understands it.”
Certainly it is a foundational theological concept that is vital to our salvation and the health of our churches. It can also be simply stated and understood. However, we should not let the simplicity of this truth allow us to drop our guard and become lackadaisical about it.
As it is with all the basic truths of the gospel we must guard them, study them, deepen in them, and learn to love them and live them. Apathy to Biblical truth and theology is one of the greatest passion killers and spiritual drains in the church. Our churches don’t need a different music style, more professional musicians, or more cleverly designed stages. What they need is to go deeper and longer and farther in the study of God’s Word. This is what brings life change, this is what creates passion, this is what helps us grow in our faith!
So as we look at this basic yet vital truth let us not think that we already know it but rather let us look deeply into God’s Word to view the rich colors of God’s grace and the intricate patterns of his kindness towards us.
Let me give you 4 reasons why we need to seriously study and guard the doctrine of grace today:
People are confused about grace
Grace is a common word and it’s rare in our society that someone actually understands its theological significance. The first definition in the dictionary of grace is:
“Elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action”
This kind of grace is nice but please don't confuse God's grace with polite manners and niceties!
God's grace is mightier than a roaring lion
It breaks down walls of traditions
It's sews up wounded hearts
It reaches to the depths of hell
Where it finds you and me.
God's grace is marvelous and scandalous all at once!
Many people falsely believe that God freely gives his grace to all
Thus millions believe they are recipients of God’s grace when in fact they are very far from his grace and they will receive God’s judgement and wrath instead of his grace.
This ought to be reason enough for us all to feverishly study our Bibles first to make sure we in God’s grace and secondly to understand how we can effectively communicate the true message of grace to those who do not know it or do not understand it.
Millions labor under the deception that God’s grace must somehow be earned.
Thus, they toil and sweat under the load of their own sin hoping that someday, somehow they will do enough to earn God’s favor. The canons from the Council of Trent show us how far removed the Catholic Churches teaching is from Biblical truth.
Canon 9.
“If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone,[114] meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, and that it is not in any way necessary that he be prepared and disposed by the action of his own will, let him be anathema.”
Canon 12.
If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy,[117] which remits sins for Christ's sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, let him be anathema.
Canon 13.
If anyone says that in order to obtain the remission of sins it is necessary for every man to believe with certainty and without any hesitation arising from his...
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By Caleb Suko
5
1414 ratings
Sermon notes
Introduction:
Today I want to speak to speak to you about one of the Solas of the New Testament, Sola Gratia, which simply means “by grace alone.” One of the thoughts that crossed my mind as I began to think and study this topic was,
“Do I really need to preach on this?”
“It’s such a basic theological concept, certainly everyone understands it.”
Certainly it is a foundational theological concept that is vital to our salvation and the health of our churches. It can also be simply stated and understood. However, we should not let the simplicity of this truth allow us to drop our guard and become lackadaisical about it.
As it is with all the basic truths of the gospel we must guard them, study them, deepen in them, and learn to love them and live them. Apathy to Biblical truth and theology is one of the greatest passion killers and spiritual drains in the church. Our churches don’t need a different music style, more professional musicians, or more cleverly designed stages. What they need is to go deeper and longer and farther in the study of God’s Word. This is what brings life change, this is what creates passion, this is what helps us grow in our faith!
So as we look at this basic yet vital truth let us not think that we already know it but rather let us look deeply into God’s Word to view the rich colors of God’s grace and the intricate patterns of his kindness towards us.
Let me give you 4 reasons why we need to seriously study and guard the doctrine of grace today:
People are confused about grace
Grace is a common word and it’s rare in our society that someone actually understands its theological significance. The first definition in the dictionary of grace is:
“Elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action”
This kind of grace is nice but please don't confuse God's grace with polite manners and niceties!
God's grace is mightier than a roaring lion
It breaks down walls of traditions
It's sews up wounded hearts
It reaches to the depths of hell
Where it finds you and me.
God's grace is marvelous and scandalous all at once!
Many people falsely believe that God freely gives his grace to all
Thus millions believe they are recipients of God’s grace when in fact they are very far from his grace and they will receive God’s judgement and wrath instead of his grace.
This ought to be reason enough for us all to feverishly study our Bibles first to make sure we in God’s grace and secondly to understand how we can effectively communicate the true message of grace to those who do not know it or do not understand it.
Millions labor under the deception that God’s grace must somehow be earned.
Thus, they toil and sweat under the load of their own sin hoping that someday, somehow they will do enough to earn God’s favor. The canons from the Council of Trent show us how far removed the Catholic Churches teaching is from Biblical truth.
Canon 9.
“If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone,[114] meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, and that it is not in any way necessary that he be prepared and disposed by the action of his own will, let him be anathema.”
Canon 12.
If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy,[117] which remits sins for Christ's sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, let him be anathema.
Canon 13.
If anyone says that in order to obtain the remission of sins it is necessary for every man to believe with certainty and without any hesitation arising from his...