Distinct Characteristics of Hope Bible Church (Pt. 7)

The seventh distinctive of Hope Bible Church is an emphasis on our teaching of The Solas of the Reformation. Not only do we preach expositional sermons and counsel trusting in the full sufficiency of Scripture, but we resoundingly make plain the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. That gospel is best defined by the Solas of the Reformation.

We are by no means the only church to teach these crucial biblical truths. Thankfully, God has preserved the teaching of these truths through many churches. But given their extreme importance, we believe these teachings are much harder to find in churches these days than they should be. A lot was sacrificed in times past to bring us these life-giving truths, so we should emphasize them in our churches today.

Historically, the five solas of the Reformation in Europe gave the Protestant church its distinction in contrast to Roman Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Hope Bible Church unapologetically stands in the long line of faithful biblical Protestants that returned to the church the true gospel and the correct foundational authority of the church. Written in Latin, the 5 solas are these: Sola Scriptura (By Scripture Alone, Sola Fide, (By Faith Alone) Sola Gratia, (By Grace Alone), Solus Christus (Through Christ Alone), Sola Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone).

The Formal Principle of the Reformation was Sola Scriptura, which simply meant that the church’s authority is solely Scripture. Scripture alone is God’s very word, therefore Scripture alone forms our beliefs and practices. We do not want men, no matter how well educated or how godly, to form our beliefs or dictate our practices. We derive our required beliefs and practices only from the Bible not from church tradition, church councils, or other church writings. Everything necessary for faith and practice is found in the Bible. If it is not found in the Bible, it is not necessary for belief and practice. One passage that shows that Scripture is to be honored above man’s traditions is Mark 7:1-14. See also 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

The Material Principle of the Reformation was Sola Fide, which expresses the content of what we believe. Scripture forms our beliefs but the gospel is the material or content we believe. Sola Fide defines the true gospel of Jesus. It means salvation is by faith alone apart from good works of any degree or kind. We are not saved by faith plus works but by faith alone. God does not add up our good works to save us, but our faith in Christ is enough to save us from God’s wrath and forgive all our sins. Good works merely demonstrate or show our faith; they do not help to save us, Romans 3:28; 4:1-8.

Because salvation is by faith alone it is also accomplished only by the grace of God. God’s grace is an underserved and unearned gift. Sola Gratia goes hand-in-hand with Sola Fide.Only God’s grace saves us, not human works, Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8, 9; 2 Timothy 1:9. Men cannot boast about achieving a right relationship with God because it is unearned and undeserved.

Because God reconciled us to Himself by faith and grace alone, that ensures salvation is only through Christ. Solus Christus is the belief that only Christ saves us. We do not save ourselves. The church does not save us. No other name in the universe is the name that delivers from the wrath of God, Acts 4:12. Jesus is the only way to God the Father and to Heaven, John 14:6. Only Christ died on the cross to remove our sins. Only Christ rose from the dead to conquer man’s greatest enemy - death. Christ is the only mediator between God and humanity, 1 Timothy 2:5.
Lastly, the result or consequence of the first four solas is that God alone gets the glory. Deo is Latin for the Divine Being. Sola Deo Gloria rounds out the other solas by showing that only God gets the credit for saving men. He does not share that glory with anyone. God through Christ did all the work of salvation. Therefore, all the praise, glory and honor for the work of salvation belongs to God, Revelation 5:6-14.

At our church we emphasize these five teachings so that everyone who attends HBC will understand the difference between the true gospel and counterfeits. Because Satan works overtime to deceive men, the church needs to be razor sharp concerning what gospel is truly from God and which so-called gospels are not from God and have no power to save. In a day and age when churches and para-church organizations do not define the gospel as clearly as they should, you will find a strong emphasis on the solas at HBC.

We do not want to leave the next generation of believers an eroded gospel. We don’t want Satan to confuse the church. We believe these teachings are essential for the true church, and that without them, the church descends into falsehood. Martin Luther declared five hundred years ago that on the truth of justification by faith alone the church stands; without it, the church falls.