sola gratia

The phrase sola gratia (Latin: for by grace alone ) refers to a basic element of the Reformation doctrine of justification and is a theological principle of churches that have emerged from the Reformation. He expresses the belief that man alone by the grace of God, attains salvation or eternal life. He can not earn it by his actions. Are Biblical basis for this idea in Romans 11.6 LUT LUT Eph. 2:8, Acts 15:11 LUT among others to find.

Indulgences

The principle of sola gratia is particularly manifest in Luther's rejection of indulgences. The idea that people are judged by their good and evil deeds, perverted after Luther's view of indulgences, where every evil is outweighed by a subsequent good. Man does not know God " evaluation criteria " on the last day and therefore could not practice such trade.

Rescue idea

The theological idea of ​​sola gratia is to bring the higher position of God to bear and explicitly make the faithful aware that they can not collect "points" in order to secure a place in the afterlife. The grace of God is neither arbitrary nor writable. Luther leaves open the question about the procedure for a given by God rescue because he can not see through the Bible similar ideas ( sola scriptura ). It manifests itself only in the sense that God will look at the heart of the individual and that its faith is and represent the Ostensible for God ( sola fide ). For humans, Luther, it is illegitimate to ask God to expectations. Only God determines the salvation of the individual.

Revelation idea

However, the expression sola gratia also deals with the subject of the disclosure. Luther says that the people only given by God revelation is accessible and that these must not be influenced by religious doctrines ( sola scriptura ).

Relation to the other " Soli"

In addition to the sola gratia stand in the Reformation churches of the principles of sola scriptura, sola fide and the solus Christus. These principles relate to each other. It was not until the union of these " Solae " leading to Luther's view of God given through faith which is justified by the Scriptures themselves. The view of Luther is thus contrary to the Roman Catholic faith basis. While also coming to Catholic doctrine, the salvation of man solely from the grace of God for Jesus Christ's sake. The crucial difference, however, is that according to Catholic doctrine, man is enabled by the grace of God to participate in his salvation, and thereby earn more grace and eternal reward ( cf. Council of Trent, Decree on Justification, Canon 32 ).

Sola scriptura | sola fide | sola gratia | solus Christus

"Just by the magazine" | "Just by faith " | "Just by grace " | " Christ alone "

• Protestant Theology