Sola Gratia ("Grace Alone")
Meaning: Sola Gratia emphasizes that salvation is wholly an unmerited gift from God, not earned through human works or righteousness. It underscores the truth that grace is the root of salvation, not our own efforts, achievements, or religious acts.
Key Text: Titus 3:5–7 (KJV)
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
1. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done”
- Greek: οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων τῶν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ἃ ἐποιήσαμεν ἡμεῖς
- Meaning: Paul eliminates all forms of human merit from the equation of salvation.
- Theological Insight:
- Even “righteous” acts—good deeds, moral living, religious rituals—cannot contribute to salvation.
- This directly refutes any doctrine of salvation by works or co-operation with grace (synergism).
- See also Isaiah 64:6 — “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”
2. “But according to his mercy he saved us”
- Greek: κατὰ τὸ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος ἔσωσεν ἡμᾶς
- Key Term – Mercy (ἔλεος): This emphasizes God's compassionate response to our helpless condition.
- Theological Insight:
- Mercy is the undeserved withholding of punishment; grace is the undeserved giving of favor.
- Salvation begins and ends with God’s initiative, not man's worthiness.
- See Romans 9:15–16 — “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy…”
3. “By the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”
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Greek: διὰ λουτροῦ παλινγενεσίας καὶ ἀνακαινώσεως Πνεύματος Ἁγίου
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Key Terms:
- Washing of regeneration (loutrou palingenesias): Symbolizes spiritual cleansing and new birth.
- Renewing of the Holy Ghost (anakainōseōs Pneumatos): A continual, transforming work by the Holy Spirit.
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Theological Insight:
- Salvation involves both justification (declared righteous) and regeneration (made new).
- The Holy Spirit is the active agent of this transformation (cf. John 3:5–6, Ezekiel 36:25–27).
- It is a divine work, not a human achievement.
4. “Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour”
- Greek: οὗ ἐξέχεεν ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς πλουσίως
- Key Term – Abundantly (πλουσίως): Points to the overflowing and generous nature of God's grace.
- Christ-Centered Mediation:
- The grace and renewal from the Holy Spirit are mediated through Jesus Christ.
- Salvation is Trinitarian: the Father saves by the Son through the Spirit.
5. “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
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Justified by His Grace:
- Justification is a legal declaration of righteousness (cf. Romans 3:24: "Being justified freely by his grace…”).
- Grace (charis) means favor unearned, unmerited, and freely given.
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Made heirs:
- Heirs of God’s kingdom and eternal life, not by status or effort, but by adoption through grace (cf. Romans 8:17).
- Eternal life is a gift, not a wage (Romans 6:23).
Theological Foundations of Sola Gratia
- Total Depravity: Humanity is unable to seek or please God apart from His grace (Romans 3:10–12).
- Monergism: Salvation is God’s work alone—He initiates, sustains, and completes it (Philippians 1:6).
- Unmerited Favor: Grace excludes boasting (Ephesians 2:8–9); we contribute nothing to our justification.
- Regeneration Precedes Faith: The new birth is a sovereign act of the Holy Spirit that enables belief (John 1:12–13; John 3:5–8).
Supporting Scriptures
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Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV):
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.” -
Romans 11:6 (KJV):
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.” -
2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV):
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace…”
Conclusion: Why Sola Gratia Matters
Sola Gratia humbles the sinner and glorifies God. It eliminates human pride and magnifies divine mercy. Salvation by grace alone preserves the truth that God alone saves, and He alone deserves all the praise. As Ephesians 1:6 says, it is “to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
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