The Five ‘Alone’s of the Reformation: Sermon Series

Here's the text and audio for the five sola sermons.  Then a final thought:

Christ Alone
Audio

Grace Alone
Audio

Faith Alone
Audio

Scripture Alone
Audio

God's Glory Alone
Audio

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We refocus on these fundamentals not simply as an exercise in doctrinal purity.  The point is to rediscover the true God.  Because God is the God of the Gospel.  To drift from the gospel is to drift from God Himself.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.  (Gal 1:6)

When a person ditches the gracious gospel in favour of a different gospel, they ditch God.  Because God is the God of the Gospel.  Conversely when a person trusts the gracious gospel they aren't just converted to a different way of approaching God, they are converted to a different God.

Therefore the experience of hearing the pure gospel should not just be, "Ohh, so that's how the God-I-always-believed-in saves people, now I'll adjust my methods of attaining salvation."

No.  When we hear the gospel, the overwhelming response should be:  "Ohh, so that's what God is like.  I had Him all wrong."

In the gospel we don't just give people a different way to God.  We give them a different God.  The God of the Gospel.  And that's liberation.  It's not the surprise of seeing the-God-we-always-believed-in relating to us via some lovely principles - grace alone and faith alone.  It's the earth-shattering shock of looking to the throne and, utterly unexpectedly, seeing that there sits the gracious, trustworthy Gospel-God.

For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of Living Water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  (Rev 7:17)

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