Scripture
Romans 5:12-21 (ESV)
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned-- 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Devotional #58: Solus Christus - "Christ Central"
Reformation theology can be summarized by the Five Solas. Sola Scriptura dictates the source of our theologizing, while Soli Deo Gloria ends with exalting God’s salvific plan. The other three solas serve to expound the nature of salvation. Amongst the three, Solus Christus stands at the center. Christ’s person and work are both necessary and sufficient to accomplish salvation for His people. By being fully human and fully divine (hypostatic union), Christ is both qualified and able to fulfill the law (Romans 5:12-21). Our Savior was under the same law that required perfect obedience but was not rendered helpless by Adam’s sin. In his perfect obedience, Christ attained the perfect righteousness which he then imputed to His people. All the work of salvation and its gifts have been accomplished by Christ alone. If someone ever asks, “How did God save us?” We can truly answer, “Solus Christus.”
Question
How did Jesus save us? How does he still minister to us? Take time to be in awe!
Scripture
Hebrews 7:26-28 (ESV)
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Devotional #59: Solus Christus - "Sufficiency of Christ’s Sacrifice"
Did Jesus die more than once? This may seem like a silly question, but this question was at the center of the Reformation. The Catholic Church teaches that baptism cleanses only the sins from the moment of baptism and before. Afterwards, we still need to be cleansed for the sins we commit onwards. Now, you may think that Jesus’ blood at Calvary is enough. But the answer is no. For the Catholic Church, the words of communion turn the bread and wine into the actual body and blood of Christ. In this act, Jesus is being sacrificed all over again and the power of that sacrifice is applied to the believer. In truth, Jesus is being sacrificed over and over again every time the priests perform this eucharistic sacrifice. The Reformers believed that Jesus one death at the cross was sufficient “once for all!” The blood spilled on calvary is more than enough to cover the sins of everyone who believes.
In protestant churches today, we may not sacrifice Jesus over and over again, but we do question whether Jesus’ sacrifice is enough for us. We often ask God for signs and miracles to prove that His love is sufficient. But we must know, whatever is happening in our hearts or our lives, Jesus sacrificial love is “more than enough.”
In protestant churches today, we may not sacrifice Jesus over and over again, but we do question whether Jesus’ sacrifice is enough for us. We often ask God for signs and miracles to prove that His love is sufficient. But we must know, whatever is happening in our hearts or our lives, Jesus sacrificial love is “more than enough.”
Question
Pray to the Lord that we may see the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrificial love to all areas of our lives.
Scripture
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Devotional #60: Solus Christus - "Only One Mediator"
In our last devotional, we saw that Christ needed to be sacrifice constantly for our sins to be forgiven. The Catholic church not only distorted the nature of Christ’s unique sacrifice but had usurped how Christ’s finished work was dispensed. The only source for Christ’s forgiveness was through the Catholic priests and the powers they possessed in the sacraments of penance and communion. You could not cry out to God alone! The Reformers saw the unbiblical nature of the teaching and returned the work and dispensation of salvation to where it belonged—the Holy Spirit. The church does not have the power to mediate and dispense forgiveness. Only God and His mysterious work can convict the sinner and bring forgiveness.
Questions
- Who else does the Catholic Church consider as mediators? In other words, who else do they pray to?
- Why is it important to pray “In Jesus’ Name?”