The ‘Five Solas’ vs. Man’s Religion

Five Foundational Doctrines of the Christian Faith

as recovered by the 15-16^th Century’s Protestant Reformers

Part 1 – The “Five Solas”

In 2017 we observe the 500^th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Historians usually date the start of the Reformation to the 1517 publication of Martin Luther’s “95 Theses” that address the “Five Solas.” These “Five Solas” are the five Latin phrases that succinctly summarize the five core Biblical truths as the critical doctrines of “the faith” of the Protestant Reformers of the 15-16^th centuries. The “Five Solas” are truths necessary to the prospering faith of believers today as they were then. These five truths free the hearts of men and women making them securely held in God’s love and grace.

1.    Sola Scriptura – means “by the Bible ALONE” is the basis for Revelation of God’s Eternal TRUTH of God for mankind. In the Bible we find God’s inspired words and wording (context). (1Thes. 2:13)

2.    Sola Fide – means “by Faith ALONE”; Faith in Christ and His cross Alone is the basis of our receiving salvation (Eph.2:8-9).

3.    Sola Gratia – means “by Grace ALONE”; the “FREE GIFT” of Christ’s cross-work is the basis of salvation offered to all mankind, without works of any kind. (Romans 11:6, Titus 3:5).

4.    Solus Christus – means “through Christ ALONE” as Savior; Christ’s salvation is obtained by grace through faith ALONE. (Colossians 3:11b)

5.    Soli Deo Gloria – means “ALL Glory to God ALONE”; for He Alone is ALL and has done ALL. (Ephesians 3:21)

The “Five Solas are the key elements of what Paul calls “the faith,” them being mainly derived from.  the thirteen epistles (Romans - Philemon) that “Paul... the Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13) wrote to the members of the Gentile “church, which is His body” (Eph.1:22b-23a, cf., 3:1-5).The Apostle Paul laid “the foundation” (1Cor 3:10); preaching of “Christ” for “the body of Christ” as that the foundation of “the faith”;

“CHRIST ALONE,” is the core “SOLA,” referred to as “SOLUS CHRISTUS”

In the course of this study of “The Five Solas” we will examine the loss and recovery of core Biblical truths, which had been long lost and long opposed by man’s religion, much as they are today. We will define them and see their importance to the Apostle Paul’s “the gospel of the grace of God” for us today.

The “Five Solas” of the Protestant Reformers of the 16^th century helped to recover key elements of Paul’s pure “gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24) ... unto eternal salvation. The all-sufficient “grace of God” is set in contrast to any good works or performance-based requirements that many Christian church systems erroneously set forth in order for one to be saved, be kept saved and have the blessing of God. Paul makes it clear that we are forever saved and sealed securely on the sole basis of Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross Alone, not at all on the basis of our performance.

“For BY (God’s) GRACE Are Ye Saved Through Faith; and That NOT of Yourselves: It Is the Gift of God: ⁹ NOT of Works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Paul received this “gospel of the grace of God” directly from the resurrected, ascended, Lord (cf., Gal.  1:12) in His celestial ministry to “the body of Christ.” Paul’s grace gospel is most opposed by these two factions within the Christian church-at-large even today.

1.) ‘Religious Institutionalists’ impose a Mediatorial Hierarchical Clergy/Laity System that sets itself between the believer and God. They ignore Paul’s words here:

“... there is one God, and One Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Tim. 2:5)

2.) ‘Religious Legalist’ cling to some of Israel’s “Law,” plus manmade laws in place of God’s GRACE. They ignore the words of Paul: “...ye are NOT under the LAW, but Under GRACE.” (Rom. 6:14b)

These two factions within Christendom have always served to obstruct or discount the preaching of Paul’s “Gospel of The Grace of God” for salvation of the believer and/or for the believer’s Direct, Personal, Relationship with and by Christ’s “Spirit of life” WITHIN. Paul’s faced such opposition from his early ministry when the religious leaders of Israel (the Pharisees and Sanhedrin) and later Jesus’ own Messianic “little flock” the Twelve Apostles, who had been with Jesus in His earthly ministry. They largely opposed Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God,” demanding that Paul’s Gentile grace converts “keep the Law” (Act 15:5) and by being circumcised... thus denying Salvation by Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ - ALONE.

- The Usurpation of Christianity as ‘Religious Institutionalist’

In 311AD the Roman an Emperor Constantine decreed the Edict of Toleration; it made Christian practice lawful throughout the Empire. He later mandated Romans to become Christians (~317AD). Constantine usurped the formerly underground Christian church, which had met in homes, making it a branch of the Roman Empire. He added the grandeur, pomp, spectacle, ceremony, and pageantry of the Roman church, based upon the elements of the paganism of Rome. The Institutional church sects spring from Rome.

Rome claimed Israel’s Apostolic authority from Peter to Pope, having authority that exceeds the Bible. The “Five Solas” of the Protestant Reformers of the 1,500’s stood in stark contradistinction to the doctrines of Rome’s mediatorial hierarchical clergy/laity system that had come to power by force of the Roman Empire. We will cover this in more detail later.

Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God,” which the Reformers well understood, is still opposed today. Paul’s words are largely marginalized by most of the Christian religious institutions of men, by both the Roman and Protestant hierarchical churches. Constantine’s Roman church continues much the same today. And today’s Protestantism also has both its legalist and its hierarchist sects. Also, many of the so-called evangelicals have strayed to become neo-evangelicals, forsaking the pure Word of God and the Power of the Spirit, choosing rather to compromise, embracing the ways and techniques of the world, using emotion, spectacle, and entertainment. Most of Christianity today has largely forsaken Paul’s pure grace gospel message and therefore lacks the power that appears only when Christ and the pure word are preached (cf., 2Tim. 4:2, Col.  1:28). This has led to the weak, mostly irrelevant, and impotent Christian “church” that we see today. Even while some churches attract numbers of people, most of the believers have little knowledge of Christ as the Grace of God dwelling within them. Christ is the Christian within, desiring to live through every believer.

- The “Religious Legalist” typically hold to some semblance of Israel’s “Law,” plus mandating its own ‘laws’ and traditions to be followed, thus opposing the truth of ‘The Five Solas.’

1.   Sola Scriptura - “by the Bible ALONE” as our only basis for TRUTH.

2.   Sola Fide - “by Faith ALONE” is the sole footing for receiving salvation.

3.   Sola Gratia - “by Grace ALONE,” in Christ as God’s “FREE GIFT,” as basis for one’s salvation.

4.   Solus Christus - “through Christ ALONE,” as the only qualified Savior.

5.   Soli Deo gloria - “ALL Glory to God ALONE,” for He Alone has done ALL.

I place many so-call Bible believing sects among the ‘Religious Legalist’ as they add their traditions and denominational biases due to misinterpreted Scripture... claiming Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, and Solus Christus. I say this only because their practice often belies their claim.

Paul’s preaching of these truths of “the faith” was vehemently opposed by both the unbelieving Apostate (fallen away) ‘Institutional Religionist of Israel’ in his day. They often attacked and tried to kill Paul.

Then also, the “Religious Legalist” of Paul’s day, led by James the brother of the Lord and Peter, as the leaders of the Jesus believing Messianic “little flock” Church at Jerusalem, opposed Paul for a time, until that notable meeting and decision of Acts 15. This meeting was prompted as Paul wrote of it in His epistle to the Galatians referring to “Certain (men who) came from James” (Gal. 2:12) to the fledgling Gentile grace churches in Galatia, trying “spy out their liberty” and subvert Paul’s message of “the gospel of the grace of God” that he preached “among the Gentiles” (Gal. 2:2). These were the Judaizers of Jesus’ believing “little flock” from Jerusalem, who were clinging to “the Law,” with its the ceremonial rituals (circumcision) and rites of the Old Testament Law that God gave Moses for the Nation of Israel ONLY!

These Judaizers didn’t accept what Paul spoke by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, when he said “the Law is NOT of faith” (Gal. 3:12a) and not for the Gentiles who “are NOT under the Law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 14:37) These Judaizers tried to undermine Paul’s Galatian Gentile converts, to rob them of the liberty of Paul’s pure grace message. They required men to be under Israel’s “Law” of works and traditions; e.g., requiring them to be “circumcised” (Act 15:1, 24). In the course of this conflict, Paul “withstood Peter to the face” for his “dissimulation” (hypocrisy)” at that time (Gal.2:11-14).

In contrast to today’s emotionally manipulative and philosophical church preaching, Paul preached that the “...Gospel of Christ IS the POWER of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). Christ must be preached and revealed to us “according to (Paul’s) the Revelation of the ‘Mystery’ (God’s long-held secret plan)” that Paul received directly from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ, which is for us today in this age of the pure “grace of God.”

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY (Gk. musterion, God’s secret plan) among the GENTILES; Which Is ‘CHRIST IN YOU,’ The Hope of (eternal) Glory: (Colossians 1:27).

Most churches organizations that we see today, both the unbelieving Institutional and legalist fundamental Bible believing, still hold to many traditions, myths, unscriptural, undispensational teachings, rites, liturgies, etc., that do not apply to the members of “the church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a). These things muddy and distort and hide the truth of Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God.” Paul here warned Timothy of this apostasy or “falling away” in the “latter times,” such as we see today. He indicates that the real source of their delusion is Satan’s “Seducing Spirits…  Doctrines That Demons Teach.”

“The Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that In Latter Times Some Will Turn Away From The Faith (Apostasy), Giving Attention To Deluding and Seducing Spirits and Doctrines That Demons Teach, (1Tim. 4:1 (AMP)     “As I (Paul) besought thee (Timothy) …that thou mightest charge some that they Teach No Other Doctrine (than Paul’s), ⁴neither Give Heed To Fables..., rather than godly edifying (building up of the body) which is in faith: so do.” (1 Tim. 1:3)     ²⁰ ... why... are ye subject to ordinances (laws), ²¹ (Touch not; taste not; handle not; ... the commandments and doctrines of men? (Col.  2:20-21)

In the course of our study of the “Five Solas” we will of necessity explore some history of religion’s opposition to and hindrance of the clear proclamation of Paul’s pure “gospel of the grace of God” that he received directly from the Lord Jesus Christ for us today. It’s only by Paul’s God-ordained “gospel of the grace of God” ... that men may be eternally ‘Saved By grace ALONE, through faith ALONE, in Christ ALONE’ ... without the trapping of institutionalized religion with its laws, ceremonies, rites, liturgies, and hierarchical mediators. Every believer should Know They Are Saved and that they are God’s child because it is... known inwardly to them by the witness of His Spirit within them (cf., Rom. 8:16).

Don’t think the hindering religious institutions of men that I write of here are only the large ones. They can also be small churches and home groups, having their own near cultic heresies and heavy handed ruling leaders. These all can block the blessings of the liberty that springs from the grace gospel for believers. Bible truth sets the simplest believer free from “the Law” and the onerous demands of lifeless “religion.”

Note that “Religion,” according to the original Latin is “religio,” from “re” meaning “again” and ligio means “to bind,” thus meaning to bring into bondage again. This is an apt description of ‘religion’ in its negative sense. Sadly, many believers today have gone from the bondage of the world... to become free in Christ, for a time... before going back again, into the bondage of legalist religion. Hence, they never really enjoy the pure love and grace of God that is only enjoyed under this a new relationship of “the gospel of the grace of God” that is built upon ‘pure grace.’

The Lord wants us to enjoy a living, loving relationship with Him, in Freedom, Rest, and Peace. He is “the head” of “His body” on earth today, which Paul called the “the Church, which is His body” (Eph.1:22b-23a).

“For By One Spirit are We All Baptized (Without Water) Into One Body (of Christ), whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to Drink Into One Spirit” (1Cor 12:13).

We as believers are then “in Christ” while having “Christ is in you (in us).” Note above that we “drank” of His Spirit. The “Spirit of life in Christ” entered our spirit we now abide in a living in union with Christ within our Spirit (cf. 1Cor. 6:17). We then learn to lean upon and trust Him in all our living situations. In this new way of living, we grow in His grace and the experiential knowledge of Christ as our all-sufficient life and Lord.

Part 2 – The “Five Solas”

Here we will further define the “Five Solas” of the Reformers that still today are the foundational elements of “the faith” that the Apostle Paul delivered to “the church, which is the body of Christ” (Eph.1:22b-23a). The “Five Solas” are the absolute truths (doctrines) of “the faith” that not only freely provide salvation to believers, but also we will be “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine (1Tim. 4:6-7). knowledge of the truth sustains the believer. Martin Luther and the Reformers labored to “re-form” the church back to Paul’s Biblically and dispensationally based elements of “the faith”; contrary to the heresies of Rome.

The Apostle Paul warned his son in the faith, Timothy, of the deceptions of the “... Deluding and Seducing Spirits and Doctrines That Demons Teach...” such as would come “latter times” (1Tim. 4:1b), much as we actually see at work in the church still today. These demonically inspired ‘errors’ aren’t taught in taverns or at baseball parks, but from the pulpits of so-called ‘church buildings,’ under the guise of a system that calls itself “Christianity” but is not in accord with Biblical dispensational truth. These teachings usually stand on out of context Scripture to make it seemingly Biblical, while serving to deceive and rob unlearned naive believers of “the riches” of their inheritance “in Christ.” The best defense for these lies and omissions of the truth is for believers to actually KNOW “the truth” of Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God” (Act 20:24).

Paul knew that the Christian life does not operate on the basis of ignorance of the truth. Thus, Paul uses the words “know” and “understand” ninety-three (93) times in his thirteen (13) epistles to “the body of Christ.” This is why we first study the Reformer’s Five Solas that proclaim five core elements of the truth of the grace gospel for this age that are based upon Pauline truth. The word “evangelical” originated in the 16^th century to identify those who embraced the “message” of the Protestant Reformation. The word “message” is from a related Greek word, “epangelia.” The word “evangelical” is taken from the Greek word “evangelion,” which is translated “gospel” in the Bible. It literally means a “message of good news.”

The word “sola” is Latin for “alone,” or “only,” which indicates that such truths are total and singular Biblical absolutes, which are not to be adulterated with any caveat or other stipulated requirement for relationship with God. These truths stand complete on their own to form the basis of our salvation from God’s judgment and “wrath.” Thus, I’ve sometimes highlight or emphasize the words ONLY and ALONE.

I repeat, the “Five Solas” below to summarize the first elements of the grace gospel message of the Reformation as the absolute Biblical Truths of the Christian faith for today.

1. Sola Scriptura - “by the Bible ALONE” is our basis for TRUTH.
2. Sola Fide - “by Faith ALONE” is the sole basis of our receiving salvation under the terms of Paul’s “the Gospel of the Grace of God” (Act 20:24).
3. Sola Gratia - “by Grace ALONE,” the “FREE GIFT” as the basis of our salvation.
4. Solus Christus - “through Christ ALONE,” as Savior, we can obtain salvation.
5. Soli Deo Gloria - “ALL Glory to God ALONE” for He Alone has done ALL.

“Sola Fide” is Latin for “by Faith ALONE,” referring to the central doctrine known as “Justification by FAITH.” Any person who by FAITH ALONE trusts in the shed blood, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as “the Son of God” (cf., Rom. 10:9-10) is justified, fully satisfies the righteous requirement of the Law by Christ cross-work Alone. When we extended our Faith toward Christ ALONE as Savior, we were washed in the blood of Christ, our sins were totally “forgiven” (Col.  2:13), but that only made us clean. We needed something added to us. God also declared us to be “justified” in Christ (Rom. 3:28), we “stand Holy and blameless before Him” (Eph.1:3-4). Believers have “Christ’s righteousness imputed to them” (Rom.  4:22-24).

“... being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9). Believers are immediately declared fully “saved” from perdition (judgment); being fully justified (acceptable to God) by their FAITH ALONE in CHRIST ALONE. Thus, Paul wrote of us that we are not “appointed to (God’s) wrath” ... because Jesus took upon His self “the wrath of God” ... that would have applied to us had we not believed “into Christ.” “God hath NOT appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by ... Christ,” (1Thes. 5:9). We believers can be confident that we will be “caught up with (Christ)” to heaven (1Thes 4:13-18) before the wrath of God is poured out on rebellions mankind. We will never see God’s face turned toward us in wrath!

Paul wrote “NOT BY WORKS of righteousness that we have done... He Saved Us” (Titus 3:5). So, our ‘Faith CHRIST...  PLUS, NOTHING’ is the SOLE basis for our salvation, being reconciled, justified, forgiven, and redeemed. Being “IN Christ,” we now stand “righteous” and thus free to approach God as our Father.

“Being JUSTIFIED FREELY By His GRACE through the REDEMPTION that is In Christ Jesus… ²⁸A Man Is Justified By Faith Without The Deeds of THE LAW. (Rom. 3:24, 28)

The truth concerning our “justification” is that it’s available to us ONLY by placing our Faith in Jesus’ sacrifice at the Cross on our behalf. No amount of good works, sacraments, or rites accomplished by us for us to gain eternal salvation. This doctrine of “Justification by faith” ALONE is what most distinguished Luther and the Protestant Reformers from the doctrines of the Roman church. It was the heart the Reformers message, as taken from the writings of “Paul, THE Apostle to the Gentiles,” (Rom. 11:13).

Martin Luther wrote this of Paul’s letter to the Romans:

“This letter (Romans) is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian’s while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes. Therefore, I want to carry out my service and, with this preface, provide an introduction to the letter, insofar as God gives me the ability, so that every one can gain the fullest possible understanding of it. Up to now it has been darkened by glosses [explanatory notes and comments which accompany a text] and by many a useless comment, but it is in itself a bright light, almost bright enough to illumine the entire Scripture.

To begin with, we have to become familiar with the vocabulary of the letter and know what St. Paul means by the words Law, Sin, Grace, Faith, Justice, Flesh, Spirit, etc. Otherwise there is no use in reading it.” This below was also a writing by Martin Luther:

“No doctrine is of greater importance throughout the history of mankind than the doctrine of justification. Since the opening pages of human history, man has had an insatiable hunger to know how to have his sins atoned for and how to propitiate (satisfy) the demands of a holy God” (Job 9:2; 25:4).

“Furthermore, in the evangelical world, no doctrine has been of greater import and significance than ‘JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE’ — the Reformation principle of SOLA FIDE (Faith Alone).” Martin Luther rightly says “if the doctrine of justification is lost, the whole of Christian doctrine is lost.”  (“Lectures on Galatians, in Luther’s Works,” ed. Jaroslav Pelikan (St. Louis: Concordia, 1963)

As I’ve already written, the “Five Solas” emerged during the Protestant Reformation in direct contradistinction with the teachings of the Roman church. Rome had muted and/or actually “twisted” the truth of Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God.” They ignored the warning from Peter in his second epistle, who in his last years, warns of ignoring Paul’s “wisdom” as seen “in all his epistles.” Even today, Paul’s words are mostly “twisted.” Peter said... ignoring Paul’s truth leads men to “destruction (perdition, eternal loss).”

2 Peter 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord (the delay of His 2^nd coming) is (extended opportunity for) salvation; even as our beloved brother PAUL also according to the WISDOM GIVEN UNTO HIM hath WRITTEN UNTO YOU; ¹⁶ As also IN ALL HIS (Paul’s) EPISTLES, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which They That Are Unlearned and Unstable Wrest (Twist), as They Do Also The Other Scriptures, Unto Their Own Destruction.

“Grace” means “unearned favor” - a Free Gift! The Roman church’s twisting and forsaking of Paul’s far-reaching “gospel of the GRACE (unearned, FREE favor) of God” is what led to the Reformation. Thanks to God’s grace, the Reformers recovered many of the truths of Paul’s “gospel of the grace (free gift) of God” (Acts 20:24). Though Paul never was personally with Jesus of Nazareth on earth, Paul received his “gospel of the grace of God” for the Gentiles directly from the resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus. As seen in the book of Acts, Paul traveled widely to proclaim his grace message that he had “received… by Revelation of (from) Jesus Christ” (Gal.  1:12). Paul clearly preached salvation by GRACE ALONE, through faith ALONE, in Christ.

The Bible says Jesus was opposed and then killed by Israel’s religious leaders (Act 3:15). Likewise, the “gospel of the grace (free gift) of God” that Paul preached was opposed by Israel’s religious leaders. Israel’s religious leaders had demanded Jesus’ crucifixion, then they vehemently went on to oppose Paul’s grace gospel. They sought to kill Paul. Some of the Messianic Pentecostal believers became Judaizers, trying to subvert Paul’s grace gospel message and bring the grace believers back under “the LAW.” Paul wrote; “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The Just Shall Live By Faith. (Gal.  3:11). Paul says, “We have… the forgiveness of sins, according to ... His GRACE” (Eph. 1:7). These Judaizers followed Paul wherever had traveled, preached, and established grace believing churches. Man-controlled Religion in every age has attacked the essence and simplicity of the Paul’s “gospel of the Grace of God.”

Paul’s first recorded sermon is here in Acts 13:38-39, declaring: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man (Jesus) is preached unto you (for) the Forgiveness of Sins: And by Him all that Believe are Justified from (absolutely) ALL things, from which Ye Could NOT Be Justified by The LAW of Moses.”

When God forgives a believer He no longer sees us according to our pathetic selves. He sees us clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Jesus Christ took our place, dying for our sins on Calvary’s cross. There He hung naked, in our place that we might now stand before God — “complete in Him (Christ)” (Col. . 2:10).

“For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; (so) that we might be made the righteousness of God ‘IN HIM.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

God has long-endured in His love for mankind, while man has long rebelled against God in every age. God has desired to come to an intimate union with each believer. Through simple FAITH Alone in Christ ALONE, God offers to freely cleanse us of our sins by the shed blood of His dear Son... but there’s much more... because simultaneously with our believing, God also FREELY DISPENSED the “Spirit Of Life In Christ Jesus” Into Our Human Spirit... To Be Our ALL Sufficient and Eternal Life.

“because ye are sons, God Hath Sent Forth The Spirit Of His Son INTO Your Hearts ...” (Galatians 4:6)

Thankfully, religion’s efforts that would subvert God’s message of pure grace fails whenever any person is willing to humble himself and open his heart to simply believe, trusting in the truth of Paul’s “the gospel of the grace (free gift) of God.” Today, the good news is exactly as it was two thousand years ago; simply “…Believe On (Trust In) The Lord Jesus Christ And Thou Shalt Be Saved…” (Acts 16:31). Paul’s message of God’s “grace (free gift)” is still the most profoundly relevant life-changing message ever spoken to men.

Man-controlled religion has long hindered the message of God’s love and pure 100% grace toward fallen mankind, then extending toward believers after salvation. Jesus warned Israel’s religious leaders of their “tradition” and manmade religious precepts or laws.

“Thus have ye made the commandment of God of None Effect by YOUR TRADITION. ⁷ Ye Hypocrites… in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the COMMANDMENTS OF MEN,” (Matt. 15:6-9)

Paul wrote and foretold of a time when men would not tolerate proper “sound doctrine”; rather, favoring the hearing of religion’s offerings of philosophy, myths, traditions, manmade laws, and falsehoods.

“PREACH THE WORD…and DOCTRINE (instruction). ³ For the TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE (stand for) SOUND DOCTRINE; but after their own lusts (desire) shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ THEY SHALL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, and SHALL BE TURNED UNTO FABLES.” (2Tim. 4:2-4)

“Beware lest any man spoil you through PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT, AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Col.  2:8).

Sadly, the vast majority of Christian’s today sit under the preaching of legalistic law preachers, under hierarchical, mediatorial religious systems of Christendom. They’re fed a diet of false doctrine, fables, traditions, manmade laws, pomp and spectacle, mixed with “out of context” parts of the Bible.

Many believers today are left without the sound doctrinal teachings of “the faith,” robbing them of knowing and experiencing the riches of God’s love, grace and the blessings that are found only in an intimate union... with Christ ... “Spirit to spirit” (cf., Jn 3:6). They miss out on the blessings of knowing Jesus Christ personally and in the simplicity of the relationship afforded them by the truths of the “Five Solas.”