What is our faith based upon? This is such a seemingly simple question, but with profound depth and implications. In our current, post-modern (and increasingly post-Christian) world, there are many competitors for the basis of our faith, including:
- Feelings
- Experiences
- Philosophy
- Tradition
- Teachings of the Fathers
The question of the basis of our faith has been the subject of much study and debate and scholarship for centuries. Beginning in the late 15th century, theologians began to articulate a set of core principles upon which we can safely base our Christian faith. Over time, those principles have been reduced to five. Here are those five principles with brief descriptions of each:
- Scripture alone. The Holy Scriptures are our supreme and only rule of faith and life; they, not human tradition and reasoning determine our faith. We must test our beliefs and practices by the Holy Scriptures. This principle neither rejects Christian tradition nor does it set tradition alongside the Bible as another source of divine revelation. Rather this principle requires that tradition be tested and sifted by the written Word of God. This principle also means that we reject anyone who claims to be an infallible prophet of God today, as though God had not spoken His final word in Christ as attested by Scripture. (See Hebrews, chapter 1.)
- Grace alone. God’s grace alone, not human goodness and effort, saves sinners. We cannot look for salvation in sacraments, good works, or “decisions for Christ”. Grace alone stands opposed to notions of human freedom, willpower or merit. “Salvation is of The Lord.” (John 3:7) Sovereign grace exalts God in blessing us and humbles us in receiving His blessing. Sovereign grace crushes our pride.
- Christ alone. Christ alone is our Mediator, Redeemer, and Savior, not the saints, the angels, the ministry, the rites of the church, or our good works. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men; the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 2:5) Christ is not merely the door into the kingdom; He is also the only way we must travel to glory.
- Faith alone. Faith alone, not our works or faith combined with works, is the instrument by which we are justified from the guilt of all sin and counted righteous by God. (Gal. 2:16) There is no amount of sincere intention, love, good deeds, or acts of devotion that can atone for our sins and make us righteous before God. We are justified by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone, for justifying faith unites us to Christ in a living, loving, lasting relationship.
- For the glory of God alone. Glory is to be given and is due to God alone for both our creation and our salvation. In eternity past, God planned the work of Christ “to the praise of the glory of His grace”. (Eph. 1:6) While we should rightly honor the faithful ministers and witnesses who preach the gospel to us, lead us to Christ, instruct us in the faith and watch over us as guides and guardians, we should glory only in the Lord who uses such human instruments to accomplish His will in our lives. We must credit our salvation to the work of God alone and glorify Him for it. We must personally reject any credit for our salvation and recognize that all the glory for any good in us must be given to God through Christ Jesus. (Gal. 6:14)
As Christians, have we ever taken the time to consider these key principles to our faith? If not, upon what principles is our faith based? Our challenge, our call is to return to the core principles of our faith and reject what passes for Christianity in much of the visible church. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . . . “ (Rom. 12:2)
(Much of the material provided here is excerpted from Reformed Systematic Theology, by Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley, pgs. 95 – 98.)