Difference between revisions of "Sermon for October 21st, 2018"

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Hebrews 7:22-28

22Accordingly, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Solus Christus

Today we're talking about the 16th century reformed doctrine or teaching known as "Solus Christus" or "Christ alone."

I'm reminded of the story about the Sunday school teacher who asked her children what they knew about Jesus Christ. One little boy raised his hand right away and said, "Jesus Christ lives with God in heaven." "Very good," said the teacher. She then called on a little girl, who said "Jesus Christ lives in my heart." "Yes," replied the teacher, "That's true as well." And then the pastor's kid raised his hand. With just the slightest hesitation, the teacher called on him, and he said, "I think Jesus Christ lives in my bathroom." "Really?" said the teacher. "What do you mean by that?" And the pastor's kid explained, "Well, every morning my dad gets up, bangs on the bathroom door and yells, 'Jesus Christ, are you still in there?'"

Solus Christus. Christ alone. By now, I hope you are beginning to see a pattern to these "Five Solas" of the Reformation. When the 16th century Reformers said "only this" or "only that" they didn't mean, "we only believe these five things and no others." The pattern--what they generally meant--was that when faced with a choice between X and Y, or even X, Y, and Z... ONLY (sola) one of those things (let's say X) is a valid or athoritative choice.

So while it's certainly helpful to learn and know the "Five Solas" -- it's also helpful to know (in each of those five cases) what the rejected alternatives were. It's helpful to know the context.

So just to review the past few weeks:

1. When the Reformers said "Sola Scriptura" they meant that Scripture alone (not church tradition, and not church leaders) has the final, authoritative word in matters of theology and doctrine.

2. When the Reformers said "Sola Fide" they meant only our faith (not our deeds, our words, or our beliefs) could save us, and...

3. When the Reformers said "Sola Gratia," they meant that we can only come to faith through God's Grace or God's gift (not because we earn it, choose it, deserve it, or acquire it in any other way).

4. That brings us to today, and Solus Christus, or Christ alone. At the heart of this "Sola" is a question about who's in charge?

-Jesus is our only priest, high priest.

-approach God through him.