Scripture teaches justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and this is revealed to us in Scripture alone. But what does that mean? Has it become a misunderstood, empty phrase? 

Let us unpack the phrase, “in Christ alone.” May God help us. 

No one comes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6). Jesus alone is man’s salvation for He alone bore man’s sin, died in the place of all and so made full and complete payment for the sins of the world (John 1:29). All that God promised in Eden is fulfilled in Jesus. Now He sits at God’s right hand to be our Mediator interceding for us and giving to us His eternal blessings. In short, Jesus won salvation and now gives salvation. 

But man easily confuses faith and works, justification and sanctification, law and gospel. When that happens, man teaches that salvation comes by Christ and by something else (good works, indulgences, pilgrimages, fasting, tithes, etc.); and if man doesn’t have that something else, he can’t be saved. Scripture says that Christians do good works; however, those good works do not make up for sin or satisfy God’s wrath (Romans 3:21-26). Christ’s Blood alone did that on Calvary. Man adds nothing to Christ’s work. Jesus alone won full and complete salvation. Nothing more needs to be done. Nothing more can be done. 

Thanks be to God that many Christians teach this. Christ’s work of winning salvation is complete. But His work of giving salvation continues today in His Word and Sacraments. So preaching is the work of God. Baptism is the work of God and the Supper is work God. In these Means of Grace, Christ is truly present to give what He won on Calvary. There forgiveness, life, and salvation are truly present and offered to every nation. All Christians stand before God as equals because all receive the same blessings of Christ (Galatians 3:26-28). 

Some confuse this work of Christ with man’s works. They teach that man is the actor not Christ. If that were true, no longer would Christ make the dead alive, find the lost, comfort the despairing, or give eternity, but man would accept Jesus, prove his love to God in the font, and show his obedience at the altar. Instead of receiving the gifts of Christ, man would be doing something for Christ. 

To turn these Means of Grace into the work of man yet again undermines salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Grace alone and faith alone cover Christ’s work on Calvary and Christ’s work in Word and Sacraments. All authority belongs to Him and He rules all things for the good of His church to lead sinners back to His Word and altar where He gives them Calvary’s blessings. All glory and honor is His, not ours. He alone saves and redeems. We are the saved and the redeemed. By grace alone God sent Jesus into this world. By grace alone He died in our place. By grace alone He gives us His Word and Sacraments as vehicles of His salvation. Through faith alone we receive His gifts. There is a place for good works, but not in salvation. Christ alone saves. 

So we must maintain the distinction between law and gospel, works and faith, justification and sanctification. The Scriptures are clear. “One is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28). They preach Him alone as our salvation. Faith clings to His work not our own for in Him the grace of God is manifest. Everything hinges on Jesus. Without Him we have nothing no matter how good, kind, and loving we are. With Him we have all things. 

What was recovered in the Reformation is still proclaimed throughout the world: we are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and this is revealed in Scripture alone.