Sola Scriptura

We continue with our series on the 5 solas.

The other posts are linked:

Sola Christos

Sola Gracia

Sola Fidei

Sola Scriptura

In reaction to deep seated traditionalism in the Roman Church the reformers said 'Sola Scriptura' - by Scripture alone.

In some traditions like Romans Catholic and Orthodox, scripture has to be interpreted through sacred tradition and in reality tradition holds equal weight to scripture. Out of this one finds abuses such as the veneration of Mary, indulgences, purgatory, the papacy, penance and many other heresies that make it very difficult (if not impossible) for people to understand the grace of Christ.

Whilst tradition has its place, the resultant belief of the Roman Catholics and others is that the Bible has no inherent authority outside of it's interpretation by the Church. That means the authority lies with fallible people and not some external source of clear truth, like the Bible.

The Reformers held that the final rule of faith and life was the scriptures as contained in the Old and New Testaments. Their claim was that there was nothing outside of the Scriptures themselves, read by the insight of the Holy Spirit, that was necessary to interpret and understand them. The Bible is a self revealing book and we don't need anything like tradition to help us understand it. They did not throw out the role of the church, but instead of believing the church to be an infallible interpreter of scripture, rather they believed the church to only be an authoritative interpreter.

There is a big difference.

Strictly speaking this series should have started with this principal as it is the foundation that all the others are built upon. The Bible is all that is needed for the Christian to understand God's revelation, it is the word of God, perfect and unalterable and in it we see God's grace, the need of faith, the supremacy of Jesus and the focus on God's glory alone.

In a wonderful moment in history the reformer Martin Luther, so convinced of this truth, said under threat of death: "Unless I am overcome with testimonies from Scripture or with evident reasons -- for I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils, since they have often erred and contradicted one another -- I am overcome by the Scripture texts which I have adduced, and my conscience is bound by God's Word."

As God's people we need to live by the scriptures alone. It's great to read other books, to hear other information and to sit under good faithful teaching by gifted teachers. But it is the Word of God itself that is our teacher. We have a great privilege since the printing press and even more so now with technology as every one of us has access to God's word and also to a good number of tools that can assist us in unpacking the truths in the scriptures. (see eSword and Logos for two great tools)

So may you learn to love God's word as the truth of God revealed to his people. May you wrestle with it, devour it and, as James reminds us, be doers of the Word and not just hearers. May the Bible become part of you as you seek to know it's author.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. It is God's word that will lead us to Jesus and He is all we need and the Bible is the only path to find him.