Have you ever noticed how Westerners like to complicate things? I think sometimes, we feel smarter when we make something complicated. For example, coffee shops used to serve coffee two ways, black or with cream and sugar. They now offer us endless choices of syrups, types of milk, or country of origin for our beans. It feels like every aspect of life becomes more elaborate, including our religion. So how do we get back to a simple faith?
A Simple Faith
But, we are not the only ones who struggle with keeping our faith simple. The Apostle Paul wrote many letters to various churches to remind them to stop complicating the faith. In some New Testament churches, they demanded that Gentiles get circumcised to join the congregation or observe other Jewish dietary laws. These early Christians wanted to show themselves as superior in their knowledge of the faith. But, they were not. The Galatians took this simple faith and added rules and regulations to the mix to lord it over the new converts.
The Main Thing
When I was younger, I remember someone once telling me that we need to keep the main thing the main thing when it comes to our faith. But how do we do that? Let’s look at 5 ways to keep our faith simple by looking at 5 statements, called the 5 Solas, to help us find an answer.
Solus Christus
Solus Christus – Christ alone. The best place to start is that we believe there is only one God. Granted, our God is a triune God with three parts. However, He is still only one God. Several Bible verses support this statement:
- 1 Timothy 2:5; “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
- Ephesians 4:6; “one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”
- Isaiah 46:9; “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.”
Soli Deo Gloria
Soli Deo Gloria – To the glory of God alone. The purpose of our Christian life is to give all the glory to God. God alone provides for everything we need, and we must use those things to glorify Him. Without God, we are nothing. Here are some Bible verses to demonstrate:
- 1 Peter 4:11; “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:31; “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:20; “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Sola Gratia
Sola Gratia – by Grace alone. Our faith comes through the Grace of God only. We do not deserve anything that the Lord provides, and we can never do enough to earn His love. Grace sent Jesus to die on a cross for our sins. Grace gives us eternal life with our Heavenly Father. Scriptures that teach us about Grace:
- Ephesians 2:8-9; “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
- Romans 3:23-24; “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
- Ephesians 4:7; “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
Sola Fide
Sola Fide – through faith alone. The only way to God is through faith. Without faith, believing in Him, we will not be known by Him. We can find this referenced in these verses:
- Galatians 3:11; “Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”
- Hebrews 11:6; “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
- Romans 5:1; “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Sola Scriptura
Sola Scriptura – through scripture alone. The Bible is the word of God. Within its pages is everything we need to live a life of faith that is pleasing to God. The Bible is the divine revelation of God. We see these scriptures to support this idea:
- 2 Timothy 3:16; “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.”
- Hebrew 4:12; “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
- Matthew 24:35; “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Final Thoughts
God intended our faith to be simple. And, there is a beauty to its simplicity. All God requires of us is faith in Him. It really is that simple. Believe in one true God. Do everything for His glory. Understand that His Grace is a gift we don’t deserve. The only way to God is through our faith in Him. And He gives us the Bible as a manual for living out our faith.
Prayer
Dearest Father, open my eyes, not to see the world more clearly, but to see You. Open my eyes to see you working around me and in me. Nothing happens by accident. You direct every day of my life. Allow me to see your hand in the ordinary events. Help me to trust in what I cannot see, and believe in Your unseen presence.
Blessings,
Yvonne M. Morgan, author, blogger, and speaker.
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
100% of the proceeds from sales of my book, Turning Mountains Into Molehills, help the orphans at Orphan Relief Effort, Inc.
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Amen. In Christ alone. Yes.
Thanks Melissa. Christ is everything
Yvonne, wonderful teaching! I have always loved these 5 truths… In Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, according to scripture alone. But I never thought of framing the simplicity and purity of our faith through this lens. Brilliant! May we hold tight to our Abba Father’s hands through the childlike heart of faith in Christ.
May we always remember the simplicity of a true faith in God. Amen and thanks.
I love this! I have a tendency to overthink everything; thanks for the call back to basics.
You are welcome. Thanks Candice
I think we often make things terribly complicated! You are right: SIMPLE faith is beautiful and peaceful. Here’s to resting in the Lord.
Thanks Jessica. Resting in the Lord provides us with incredible peace.
Thank you so much for sharing the five solas. I haven’t looked at them for such a long time, since we don’t attend a liturgical church and I’m not currently in a theology class. What a blessing to review these five essentials of onlies needed for a simple faith. This is a great post, Yvonne!
Thanks so much Melinda. I really appreciate your encouragement. Have a blessed day
Love this, Yvonne. I had to smile, even chuckle, in the intro about how we complicate everything. Coffee is a perfect example. When it comes to faith, it is meant to be simple which makes it so powerful.
Thanks Karen. Happy 4th of July. Be safe and a God bless.
What a great post Yvonne. As you write, we can tend to complicate our faith by adding expectations and guidelines. Yet, faith really does boil down to some simple (yet complex) truths – Christ alone, all to the glory of God, and by grace, faith and Scripture.
I like that, it is simple but complex in so many ways. Christ alone makes all the difference in the world. Thanks Anne.
I have ponder this thought myself. People do make life complicated and certainly they have also made our faith the same. As a church leader, I see this as well. The purpose of the church is not to meet the many demands of the people, but to give them simply Christ! Your 5 Solas keep our faith simple and pure! Thank you for this post!
Thanks Marcie. We have attended other churches that do try to meet needs instead of providing the path to the One who can really meet all our needs. God bless you in your ministry
Oh, it is so easy to complicate our relationship with God. So many try to add to or change Scripture for their own purposes. And we also like to thread our own emotions and experiences into His truth. This is evident with all that is happening today. We need to clear the clutter and live the simple message. Thank you for this, Yvonne.
And, it seems more clutter gets added daily. The scriptures are timeless but yet we try to force them to fit our narrative. We really need to focus on the simplicity of faith. Thanks Stephen
The world would have us believe that simple equates to unimportant…and you clearly refuted that false thinking with your keys to a simple faith!
Thanks Ava. A simple faith is so important. God bless