The Reformation can be considered as one of the greatest spiritual revivals in Church History. It was a call to the Catholic Church to return to true Biblical Christianity as taught by the Holy Scriptures. Reformation is usually considered to have started with the publication of the Ninety-five Theses by Martin Luther in 1517. Initiated by Luther, it was joined in by Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, John Knox and the other early Reformers of the 16th century. Reformation that started in Germany, soon spread throughout Europe and it led to a schism (division) from the Catholic Church.

 

The Catholic Church responded with a Counter-Reformation (or Catholic Reformation) that was directed both toward internal renewal and against the 'contentious issues' of the Protestant Reformation. Pope Paul III convoked the Council of Trent (1545-1563) to defend the important Church doctrines such as, the necessity of Sacraments for salvation, Mass (transubstantiation), Catholic Tradition as equally authoritative as the Holy Scriptures, Veneration of Mary and Saints, etc. The Church pronounced 'Anathemas' (to be cursed under the penalty of excommunication) on those 'heretics' who did not comply to the cardinal doctrines of the Catholic faith.

 

The Fundamental Issues of the Reformation

There were five main issues that were raised by the Reformers that were fundamental to the doctrine of salvation. These are called the 'Five Solas'. Sola is a Latin phrase for 'Only' or 'Alone'.

 

The five solas were the five main foundational issues of Reformation that marked the distinctions between the Catholic Church and Biblical Christianity. Each sola represented a key belief that rejected the teaching of the Catholic Church.

 

The Five Solas that formed the heart of the Reformation are:

1. Sola Scriptura: “Scripture alone”

2. Sola Fide: “Faith alone”

3. Sola Gratia: “Grace alone”

4. Solo Christo: “Christ alone”

5. Soli Deo Gloria: “Glory to God alone”

 

1. Sola Scriptura means 'Scripture alone'.

'Scripture alone', rejected the 'Tradition' of the Catholic Church. The Reformers held on to the view that the Scripture alone was “inspired by God” or “God breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). They believed in the 'All Sufficiency of Scriptures' – which deals with the source of our Authority. This means that the Christian authority is Christ and His word alone, not the Pope and the Catholic Church. Anything found in the 'Tradition' of the Catholic Church or taught by the 'Magisterium' that contradicted the Scripture was to be rejected.

 

The Catholic Church teaches that both Scriptures and Tradition are God’s word, bound closely together and flowing out from the same divine wellspring. They must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence (CCC 80-82). The Magisterium is the authentic interpreter of the word of God whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition (CCC 85).

 

2. Sola Fide means 'Faith alone'.

'Faith alone', rejected that a person is saved by 'Faith plus Works'. The Reformers emphasized salvation as a 'Free Gift' to all who accept it by faith alone, because of God's grace alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2: 8-9). Salvation is not based on human effort or merit. The sinner has absolutely no part in his justification. There is nothing that we can add to what Christ has already accomplished.

 

According to the Catholic Church, salvation is by ‘Faith plus Works'. One has to continue in a life-long process of meritorious workstoward increasing of graces to attain eternal life (CCC 2010). These meritorious works include receiving sacraments, performing good deeds, gaining indulgences, etc., as means to accumulate merits in order to attain salvation.

 

3. Sola Gratia means 'Grace alone'.

'Grace alone', rejected that a person is saved by 'Grace plus Merits'. It emphasized the fact that we are saved because of God's grace aloneand not by our merits attained through works (Romans 11: 6). In other words, salvation comes from what God has done, through Christ, rather than what we do.

 

The Catholic Church believes that a person has to merit graces, in order to attain eternal life (CCC 2027). If this righteousness is not achieved here on earth, the person goes to purgatory where final purification takes place to attain holiness to enter heaven (CCC 1030-31). If a person dies in mortal sin, he goes to hell (CCC 1861).

 

4. Solo Christo means 'Christ alone'.

'Christ alone' rejected that a person needs 'Christ plus Church' (or the mediation of the Catholic priesthood), in order to approach God for salvation. It emphasized that salvation is through the atoning work of Christ alone, and He alone is the mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2: 5). The Reformers believed in the 'All Sufficiency of Christ' – which deals with the source of our 'Justification' (Salvation). This means that we are justified through Christ alone. The Church has no role in our salvation.

 

According to the Catholic Church, both Christ and Church are necessary for salvation. The Church is Christ’s instrument for the salvation of all (CCC 776), and is needed to minister the Sacraments, which are the means of salvation, right from the time of Baptism (CCC 1213) until the time of Extreme Unction (CCC 1499). The Church is also needed to help souls get out of purgatory through the offering of Indulgences (CCC 1471).

 

5. Soli Deo Gloria means 'Glory to God alone'.

'Glory to God alone' rejected that a person needs any other mediator except Christ, to be saved. Christ paid the full price for our salvation by His blood (Romans 3: 24-25). Soli Deo Gloria is the teaching that all glory is to be due to God alone, since salvation is of God and is accomplished solely by God, for the glory of God alone. No one gets the glory except God.

 

The Catholic Church teaches that the mediation of the Church (CCC 780), Mary (CCC 969) and the Saints (CCC 956), is necessary to attain salvation.

 

Conclusion

Are the issues of Reformation resolved? In reality, these issues have never been resolved, and they continue to be a cause of division.