Doctrines of the Reformers

Bible Only (Sola Scriptura): 

The Reformers declared the Bible to be the only rule of faith and practice.  They believed that God had made a revelation in written form to men in the Bible. They taught that the Bible was inspired by God and authoritative, and that it took precedence over the declarations of popes, church tradition and church councils. They asserted that men, under the illumination of the Holy Spirit, are to study the Bible to learn about God, Christ, salvation, and church government and practices. They encouraged Christians to read and study their Bibles in a scholarly way so as to form a biblical theology based on the authority of the Scriptures alone. The Bible, hitherto written in Latin and read only by the clergy, was translated anew into the vernacular tongues of Europe and made a book of the people.

Christ Only (Solo Christo): 

Salvation is located not in the church, an organization, but in the person Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ actually secured and procured the salvation of all who are saved by grace through faith in Christ.

Grace Only (Sola Gratia): 

The Reformers believed that salvation was caused totally by God’s grace. Man is not saved by works but by God’s grace in Christ. No man deserves salvation, and if he is saved, it is because of God’s unconditional grace.

Faith Only (Sola Fide): 

Faith alone is consistent with God’s grace in calling to salvation. Thus, the Reformers taught that salvation was appropriated by faith alone. Good works could not save but only Christ can save those who believe in Him. Every and any person who trusts the Savior will be saved, but even a person’s faith is a gift from God.

God’s Glory Only (Soli Deo Gloria): 

The underlying, foundational doctrine of the Reformers was that God’s glory was the ultimate purpose of all things. They held tenaciously to the doctrines of God’s sovereignty in election, predestination and the efficacious call of God in Salvation, and saw how these contributed ultimately to God’s glory rather than to man’s or to the churches. The Reformers taught supernaturalism and the necessity of a new birth from God.