The 5 Solae of the protestant reformation

What are the 5 Solae (also called 'Solas') of the Protestant Reformation? These are five doctrinal principles which guided the development of Protestant theology and responses to the Western Latin Church in the 16th Century. The Protestant Reformation developed as a reaction toward the administrative corruption and scholastic theology of Late Medieval Era (1300-1500 AD)—especially dealing with the matter of salvation. 


The early Protestant Reformers—such as Martin Luther, Martin Bucer, Philip Melanchthon, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer, and Peter Martyr Vermigli—did not originally seek to break with the Latin Church, but rather reform it from within. Sadly, this endeavor was significantly frustrated and delayed by the geo-political circumstances of the time. Ultimately, the Roman Faction forced a separation with the Protestants at the General Council of Trent (1545 - 1563 AD) where the Protestants were excommunicated for affirming their understanding of salvation according to Scripture and the testimony of the Early Church Fathers. This led to the formal Schism of the Latin Church into the Roman Church and the Protestant Churches thereafter. 


As New Life Church is a Protestant & Evangelical Church, we remember and affirm these principles today as our forebears did then.

  • sola scriptura — Salvation Revealed in scripture alone

    Sola Scriptura is the affirmation that Scripture—the divinely inspired and infallible Word of God—is the ultimate rule and authority in matters of faith and morals. Specifically, what is necessary for salvation, righteous living, and the true worship of God must be proved from Scripture Alone. We affirm that Holy Scripture is Truth & Life, and contains all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man to be believed as an article of the Faith or necessary to salvation.

  • sola gratia — salvation granted by grace alone

    Sola Gratia is the affirmation that Salvation is granted freely by the Grace of God Alone. It is not according to any merit, good works, or righteousness of our own but strictly according to God's good will. The Grace of God the Father is offered as a gift freely unto us, but at unfathomable cost to Himself (His Son upon the Cross). There is thus nothing we may do to earn God's gracious offer of salvation, nor anything we may do to void that gracious offer. God promises salvation to all those who turn unto Him, even those who once turned away.

  • sola fide — salvation received through faith alone

    Sola Fide is the affirmation that Salvation is received through faith alone—not by any works of Law OR some combination of faith and works. As Paul the Apostle says: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”" (Romans 1:16-17)

  • Solus Christus — salvation provided in christ alone

    Solus Christus is the affirmation that there is no other name under heaven by which man may be saved, but that of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Scripture teaches us that we are incapable of perfectly following God's Law as His justice demands. Thus Jesus came to fulfill all righteousness on our behalf and become the atonement for our sins. Through faith in His incarnation, perfect life, death, resurrection, and ascension, we receive salvation by the means of His broken body and shed blood.

  • Soli deo gloria — salvation wrought to the Glory of god alone

    Soli Deo Gloria is the affirmation that the ultimate purpose of our salvation is to glorify God Almighty, and He alone receives all glory, laud, and honor for the work of salvation that He has accomplished for our supreme benefit.