Sometimes life seems full of “if’s” and “if only’s”—”If only I had studied harder when I was young!”,”If only I had finished my degree!”, “If only I had married her while I had the chance!”; “If only I had taken that job opportunity”, “If only I had (or hadn’t) taken that risk!”, or “If only I hadn’t messed up!”
There are really only 5 “Only’s” in the Christian life (sometimes we call them the 5 Solas, from the Latin word for “only”):
Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura): The Bible is the sole (only) written divine revelation and alone can bind the conscience of the believer absolutely
Faith Alone (Sola Fide): Justification is by faith alone. The merit of Christ, imputed to us by faith, is the sole (or only) ground of our acceptance by God, by which our sins are remitted, and imputed to Christ.
Christ Alone (Solus Christus): Christ is the only mediator through whose work we are redeemed.
Grace Alone (Sola Gratia): Our salvation rests solely (only) on the work of God’s grace for us.
To God Alone Be the Glory (Soli Deo Gloria): All glory belongs to God alone!
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