A Catholic response to Five Sola’s of Reformation: Solus Christus

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The five sola’s (Latin word that means alone or only) are the battle cries of 16^th century Reformers against the Catholic Church.  Those five may be expressed in one sentence as: We are saved by grace alone [sola gratia], through faith alone [sola fide], in Christ alone [solus Christus or solo Christo], as revealed in Scripture alone [sola scriptura], to the glory of God alone [soli Deo gloria][i].  We now examine solus Christus (nominative case), that means Christ alone, or solo Christos (ablative case), that means by Christ alone.

As usual we begin with how they define solus Christus:

Solus Christus expresses the biblical conviction that there is “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5 ESV), and that therefore “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 ESV). Christ’s identity is absolutely exclusive and his work entirely sufficient. We have no need, then, for any other prophet to provide us with a new revelation, any other priest to mediate between us and God, or any other king to rule Christ’s church. Christ alone stands at the center of God’s eternal purposes, Christ alone is the object of our saving faith, and therefore Christ alone must stand at the very center of our theology.

Reeves, M.[ii]: Foreword, in Wellum S.[iii]: Christ Alone, page 13 (underlined emphasis added)

In solus Christus, what they reject is Catholic teaching of inherent or infused righteousness in our salvation, which they claim to undermine sufficiency of Christ’ work on the cross. 

The end result is that Rome undercuts the sufficiency of Christ’s work and our justification before God by faith alone in Christ alone. In Rome’s view, Christ saves us in tandem with the intervening role of the church in infusing divine grace in us via the sacraments.

Wellum, S.: Christ Alone, page 262 (underlined emphasis added)

Catholics do not believe that Christ and the Church work in tandem or Christ plus Church in our salvation.  In 1 Corinthians 3:9 Paul used Greek adjective sunergoV (sunergos) that means fellow or co-worker, to denote that the apostles are God’s co-worker.  This does not mean that they work in tandem with God, as if without them God cannot accomplish His works.   God does not need any help from us as He can do it everything by Himself, but He does graciously involve us in His works.  A good example is those who work as missionaries, they do not work in tandem with Christ to bring good news to others.  Christ Himself alone can bring good news to anybody on earth, wherever he lives and whatever language he understands.  God has freely chosen to associate man with the work of his grace, said the Catechism of the Catholic Church[iv].  While the Catholic Church does not adopt solus Christus slogan of the Reformers, she neither teaches Christ plus the Church (through which grace is infused in us) works together in our salvation.  Christ and the Church are not exclusively two independent agents working together to dispense grace.  Colossians 1:18 says: He [Christ] is the head of the body, the Church.   Christ and the Church are inseparable and the Church, being His Body, cannot exist without Him.  

According to the Catholic Church, our justification, meaning being made righteous by God, is a process that starts with faith[v] and includes sanctification as well as remission or forgiveness of sins[vi].   Catholics do believe that justification has been merited by Christ through His Passion on the cross, but Christ (and God) did not stop there – God through Christ will transform us from our unrighteous state to righteous one, as Scripture says through Him we are made righteous (Romans 5:19).  Being made righteous implies infusing grace from God through Christ and this grace does reach us through the Church, which is Christ’ Body, inseparable from Him, the Head.  By rejecting the role of Church through solus Christus slogan, the Reformers reduced the Church into just an exclusive club of fellow believers where they can have fellowship with one another who share the same belief.  

The Reformers taught that through instantaneous justification, we are counted as righteous based on alien/external righteousness of Christ, accepted by faith alone, imputed on us, covering our sins or we are justified and sinners at the same time (in Latin simul iustus et peccator).   While other Reformers like John Calvin[vii] and Philipp Melanchthon[viii] wrote that justification also includes remission/forgiveness of sins, what they meant is our entire sins, including future sins (that we commit after having faith), will not be counted on us – they will be counted on Christ.  Luther wrote: he who is in grace cannot sin, no matter what he does, but remains in grace, so he who is in sin, cannot do good, no matter what he does, but remains in sins[ix].  Wellum expressed what they believe, in contrast to Catholic teaching, in his statement:

the Reformers also rejected the idea that Christ’s work only pays for our past/original sin, but in terms of our present and future sin, we are saved by a combination of Christ’s merit and our sacramental incorporation into Christ via the church. By receiving the sacraments, Christ’s work is applied to us and our natures are infused with divine grace, thus transforming our natures and enabling us to cooperate with God to merit eternal life.

ibid., page 262 (underlined emphasis added)

Their belief that we will remain sinner and righteous (externally) after having faith in Christ is also stated in the Westminster Handbook to Reformed Theology:

Christians are righteous and sinners at the same time – righteous because our sin is covered by the perfect righteousness of Christ and sinful because in and of ourselves we are still prone to follow the cravings of the flesh.

Donald K McKim (editor): The Westminster Handbook to Reformed Theology, page 202

However, Scripture says in Ezekiel 33:12: the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins.   In other words, scripturally, we cannot be both righteous, be it externally (imputed) or internally (infused), and sinner at the same time.  Ezekiel 18:20 says: The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.   This verse denies that we can be counted as righteous based on righteousness of Christ, as well as denying that our sins can be counted on Christ.  

The Greek verb translated as “to justify” in Romans 4:5 is dikaiow (dikaioo). To Catholics it means to make righteous (Greek adjective dikaioV, dikaios), while according to the Reformers it means to declare or to count as righteous.   Thus, Catholics believe that we are made righteous by faith because faith is counted as righteousness (Greek noun dikaiosune, dikaiosune).  Having faith is certainly one of the acts that makes us righteous as defined in 1 John 3:7: he who does what is right (Greek noun dikaiosune). is righteous (Greek adjective dikaioV). 

Why is being righteous crucial in our salvation?  Scripture says that the righteous (Greek adjective dikaioV) shall go to eternal life.   They are not counted as righteous by faith, but they are (made) righteous as they do acts (Matthew 25:25-36) that make them righteous, again, as defined in 1 John 3:7.   This is the scriptural reason why according to the Catholic Church we are made righteous through our justification (Greek noun dikaiwsiV, dikaiosis).   We need to emphasize that we do not and cannot become righteous by ourselves, but only by God through Christ, as Scripture says through Him we are made righteous (Romans 5:19).  Our ability to do, and even to will, what is right comes from and is only possible by grace through Christ; as apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

As Scripture says in Ezekiel 33:12 that we lose our righteousness through sinning, then our sins, committed after having faith, do affect our salvation. The Reformers on the other hand, taught that those sins will not affect us because as believers, we have righteousness of Christ counted on us.  James 1:15 says that full-grown sin brings forth death and this statement is addressed to believers.  Scripture also says in 1 John 5:16-17 there are deadly (or mortal) and non-deadly (or venial) sins.   To reconcile these verses with his teaching Luther wrote that mortal sins are committed by non-believers, while believers commit venial ones, and even those venial sins are not counted on them:

A believer’s sin is the same sin and sin just as great as that of the unbeliever. To the believer, however, it is forgiven and not imputed, while to the unbeliever it is retained and imputed. To the former it is venial; to the latter it is mortal. This is not because of a difference between the sins, as though the believer’s sin were smaller and the unbeliever’s larger, but because of a difference between the persons. For the believer knows that his sin is forgiven him on account of Christ, who has expiated it by His death. Even though he has sin and commits sin, he remains godly. On the other hand, when the unbeliever commits sin, he remains ungodly. This is the wisdom and the comfort of those who are truly godly, that even if they have sins and commit sins, they know that because of their faith in Christ these are not imputed to them.

Luther, M.: Lectures on Galatians, Chapter 5-6 (underlined emphasis added)

English translation from Luther’s Works, Vol. 27, page 76

Expressing in different words, Calvin also wrote that God will not give over to death those whom He has restored (regenerated) to life (or the believers).

The Apostle [John], however, does not here distinguish between venial and mortal sin, as it was afterwards commonly done. For altogether foolish is that distinction which prevails under the Papacy.

What, then, is the meaning of the Apostle? He denies that sins are mortal, which, though worthy of death, are yet not thus punished by God. He therefore does not estimate sins in themselves, but forms a judgment of them according to the paternal kindness of God, which pardons the guilt, where yet the fault is. In short, God does not give over to death those whom he has restored to life, though it depends not on them that they are not alienated from life.

Calvin, J.: Commentary on 1 John (underlined emphasis added)

available online at www.ccel.org

Reformed scholar Sproul wrote that mortal and venial sins are teachings of the Catholic Church[x].  For sure Sproul was aware of 1 John 5:16-17, but for reason best known to himself (and he took it with him to his grave), he preferred to label mortal and venial sins as Catholic teaching.

At this point we need to mention Catholic teaching of actual grace and sanctifying grace.  There is a number classification of grace in the Catholic Church but these two are relevant here.  Actual grace refers to grace that enables us to freely believe in Christ, as well as to freely obey His Commandments, including repenting, in our sanctification.  Sanctifying grace, on the other hand, is grace that makes us righteous.  Sanctifying grace is given through Sacraments, and this is the reason why Sacraments are necessary for our salvation[xi].   They are not competitors of Christ as sanctifying grace given through Sacraments also comes from Him.

Before coming to Christ as adults, we are sinner and sins make us lose our righteousness (Ezekiel 33:12).   Through Sacrament of Baptism, we are freed from sins.    While by faith we are made righteous and marks the beginning of our justification, justification is conferred at Baptism[xii].  Therefore, Baptism is necessary for salvation (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21) of those who hear the Gospel and have the chance to take it[xiii].  Baptism is sacrament of regeneration (Titus 3:5), that is through Baptism we are born again (John 3:3,5) as sons of God[xiv].  Romans 6:3-4 says (underlined emphasis added): We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  The most common argument against necessity of Baptism is taken from Luke 23:42-43, when Jesus said to one criminal crucified with Him, that he will be with Him in paradise, without Baptism, after he expressed his faith in Him.   However, he had no chance for Baptism as he was hanged on the cross, and because he died shortly after, had no chance to sin as well.  In this case he went to heaven by his faith.

Luther still believed in Baptism of Regeneration and through Baptism we are born again. He also taught that Baptism is necessary for salvation and that Baptism erases past sins. 

The significance of baptism is a blessed dying unto sin and a resurrection in the grace of God, so that the old man, conceived and born in sin, is there drowned, and a new man, born in grace, comes forth and rises. Thus St. Paul, in Titus 3[:5], calls baptism a “washing of regeneration,” since in this washing a person is born again and made new. As Christ also says, in John 3[:3, 5], “Unless you are born again of water and the Spirit (of grace), you may not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” For just as a child is drawn out of his mother’s womb and is born, and through this fleshly birth is a sinful person and a child of wrath [Eph. 2:3], so one is drawn out of baptism and is born spiritually. Through this spiritual birth he is a child of grace and a justified person. Therefore sins are drowned in baptism, and in place of sin, righteousness comes forth.

Luther: The Holy and Blesses Sacrament of Baptism

English translation from Luther’s Works, Vol. 35, page 30

These every person must know. In the first place, note the command of God, which is very stern when he says: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). This is a strict command; if a person wants to be saved, let him be baptized; otherwise he is in God’s disfavor.

Luther: Sermons I (underlined emphasis added)

English translation from Luther’s Works Vol. 51, page 182-183

From this it follows, to be sure, that when someone comes forth out of baptism, he is truly pure, without sin, and wholly guiltless.

Luther, M.: Word and Sacrament I (underlined emphasis added)

English translation from Luther’s Works, Vol. 35, page 32

Calvin also related Titus 3:5 to Baptism of Regeneration and wrote that through Baptism both our past and future sins are forgiven.

By the washing of regeneration I have no doubt that he alludes, at least, to baptism, and even I will not object to have this passage expounded as relating to baptism; not that salvation is contained in the outward symbol of water, but because baptism tells to us the salvation obtained by Christ.

Now the Apostles are wont to draw an argument from the Sacraments, to prove that which us there exhibited under a figure, because it ought to be held by believers as a settled principle, that God does not sport with us by unmeaning figures, but inwardly accomplishes by his power what he exhibits by the outward sign; and therefore, baptism is fitly and truly said to be “the washing of regeneration”.

But here Paul addresses believers, in whom baptism is always efficacious, and in whom, therefore, it is properly connected with its truth and efficacy. But this mode of expression we are reminded that, if we do not wish to annihilate holy baptism, we must prove its efficacy by “newness of life” [Romans 6:4].

Calvin: Commentary on Timothy, Titus, Philemon (underlined emphasis added)

available online at www.ccel.org

Nor is it to be supposed that baptism is bestowed only with reference to the past, so that, in regard to new lapses into which we fall after baptism, we must seek new remedies of expiation in other so-called sacraments, just as if the power of baptism had become obsolete. We ought to consider that at whatever time we are baptised, we are washed and purified once for the whole of life. Wherefore, as often as we fall, we must recall the remembrance of our baptism, and thus fortify our minds, so as to feel certain and secure of the remission of sins. For though, when once administered, it seems to have passed, it is not abolished by subsequent sins.

Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion 4.15.3 (underlined emphasis added)

available online at www.ccel.org

However, both Luther[xv] and Calvin[xvi]. denied that Baptism erases Original Sin. 

Every one of us commits sins from time to time, both deadly (mortal) and non-deadly ones (1 John 5:16-17), after becoming believers in Christ and after being baptized.  We lose sanctifying grace (our righteous state) we receive at our Baptism through mortal sin.  Moved by actual grace from God we freely repent to obtain God’s forgiveness.  That is the reason why Christ gave the authority to forgive sins to the Church (John 20:21-23) in the form of Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance, through which we regain our sanctifying grace and put us back in righteous state.  This process is repeated through-out our sanctification. 

In 1519 Luther still accepted three sacraments when he wrote The Sacrament of Penance, the Holy and Blessed Sacrament of Baptism and the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy and True Body of Christ and the Brotherhoods.   One year later, he wrote The Babylonian Captivity of the Church where he accepted only Baptism and Eucharist.   Following Luther, some Protestant churches recognize only those two sacraments.  The others believe that Baptism is only public declaration of one’s faith in Christ (nowhere stated in Scripture) while the Eucharist, or mostly known to them as Lord’s Supper, if they still practise it, is only memorial meal.  Both have nothing to do with grace or they are no longer sacraments but ordinances.

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[i]       https://www.ligonier.org/blog/five-solas/

[ii]       Michael Reeves is President and Professor of Theology at Union School of Theology (ust.ac.uk)

[iii]      Stephen J. Wellum is Professor of Christian Theology of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (sbts.edu), and editor of the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology

[iv]      Catechism of the Catholic Church # 2008

[v]       we are therefore said to be justified by faith, because faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation, and the root of all Justification; without which it is impossible to please God

Council of Trent: Decrees on Justification, Chapter VIII

[vi]      Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man.

Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1989

[vii]    we say that this justification consists in the forgiveness of sins and the imputation of the righteousness of Christ.

 Calvin, J.: Institutes of Christian Religion 3.11.2

[viii]    When we say that we are justified by faith, we are saying nothing else than that for the sake of the Son of God we receive remission of sins and are accounted as righteous.

Melanchthon, P.: The Chief Theological Topics (Loci Praecipui Theologici), page 157

cited in Wellum, S.: Faith Alone, page 257

Philip Melanchthon (1497 –1560) or Philipp Schwartzerd, was a German Reformer who worked together with Martin Luther.  He was the first Protestant systematic theologian.

[ix]      Luther, M.: Lectures on Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews.  English translation from Luther’s Works, Vol. 29, page 228

[x]      Roman Catholic theology distinguishes venial sins and mortal sins, with mortal sins being more egregious.

Sproul, R.C.: Are We Together, page 32

      Robert Charles Sproul (1939 – 2017) was respected Reformed theologian and pastor.  He was the founder of Ligonier Ministry (www.ligonier.org) and served as executive editor of Tabletalk magazine published by Ligonier Ministry.

[xi]      Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1129

[xii]      Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1992

[xiii]     The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation [John 3:5] He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them [Matthew 28:19-20]. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament {Mark 16:16]. The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are ‘reborn of water and the Spirit’. God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.

Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1257

[xiv]     Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God.

Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1213

        Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte ‘a new creature’, an adopted son of God, who has become a ‘partaker of the divine nature, [2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Peter 1:4] member of Christ and co-heir with him [Romans 8:17, 1 Corinthians 6:15, 12:17] and the temple of the Holy Spirit [1 Corinthians 6:19].

Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1265

[xv]      All the universities have taught in this manner and the books of these universities are full of this idea that baptism removes original sin. Therefore, no sin at all remains in the baptized. But sins which men do after baptism do not extend to the blood of Christ, but actual sins are characteristic of human nature and we ought to remove them and we ought to make satisfaction for them. Original sin has been destroyed in baptism. Therefore, it is necessary that we make satisfaction for actual sins. This is a popish doctrine and an invention of those who share his opinion that many ways of reconciling God have been discovered. We see that this argument is the fountain and source of all monasteries, masses, pilgrimages, invocation of the saints, and similar devices by which men try to make satisfaction for sins. We, however, declare with Augustine, who alone preserved this teaching for us, that original sin is removed not so that it does not exist, but so that it is not imputed.

English translation from Luther: The Disputation Concerning Justification

English translation from Luther’s Works, Vol. 34, page 180

[xvi]     It is now clear how false the doctrine is which some long ago taught, and others still persist in, that by baptism we are exempted and set free from original sin, and from the corruption which was propagated by Adam to all his posterity, and that we are restored to the same righteousness and purity of nature which Adam would have had if he had maintained the integrity in which he was created.

Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion 4.15.10

available at www.ccel.org