「五个唯独」原文以简洁的拉丁文写成，是宗教改革者留给后人的五个信仰宣告。它们是：
- Sola Scriptura, 唯独圣经
- Sola Gratia, 唯独恩典
- Sola Fide, 唯独信心
- Solus Christus (或 Solo Christo) 唯独基督
- Soli Deo Gloria, 荣耀唯独归神
唯独恩典 vs. 功德 Sola Gratia vs. Human Merits
「唯独恩典」和「唯独信心」都与救恩有关：我们得救唯独是「本乎恩，也因着信」。
你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信；这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。 （弗 2:8-9）
唯独恩典！救恩完全出自于神的恩典，与功德无关。我们的好行为、属灵的操练、悔罪、领受「圣礼」都对救恩毫无贡献。神爱我们，救恩之中只有神的恩典，没有其他的成分。基督为了我们的罪被钉死在十字架上，唯有他才是救主。救恩是建立在基督已经完成的救赎之上，而非我所累积的功德之上，从始至终都是神的恩典。
马丁路德因内心的「不配感」而饱受折磨。他感到自己不配作神的儿女，更不配作神的仆人。他用尽一切的努力来使自己配得上：他经常认罪。有时刚认完罪，在路上想起忘记认某一个罪，又折回头去重新认罪。他祈祷，禁食，遵守修道院一切的规条。可是无论他怎么做，心灵仍然没有平安。直到有一天他发现了「唯独恩典」的真理：原来，救恩完全是神的恩典，我所做的一切都与救恩无关！我的功德不但是微不足道的，更是完全不必要的。神爱我，我已经配得上了。恩典只需要领受，不需要表现。这项真理如同一道亮光，照亮了马丁路德的灵魂。他的锁链脱落了，他自由了。
唯独恩典 vs. 自由意志 Sola Gratia vs. Free Will
人的自由意志在得救的过程中扮演了甚么角色？如果救恩完全是神的恩典，是否表示「救恩的完成」和「救恩的领受」都是出自于神？神是否拣选了某些人，赋予他们接受救恩的能力，使他们得救？因为神若不赋予他们接受的能力，他们自己是无力接受救恩的？或是「唯独恩典」仅牵涉到「救恩的完成」，不牵涉到「救恩的领受」？其实每个人都必须自己决定，并且有能力决定，他是否要接受救恩？
这是加尔文神学（Calvinism）与亚米念神学（Arminianism），长老会（Presbyterians）与卫理会（Methodists）的差异之处，也是作者不去涉足之处。这仅是一篇灵修的短文，不涉及神学的争论。我想在这里，只要说圣经的话就够了：你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信；这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。
唯独恩典 vs. 自夸 Sola Gratia vs. Boasting
「唯独恩典」除去了我们的自夸。我们都喜欢「自我感觉良好」，喜欢有一点点的自夸。不知不觉地，自夸变成骄傲，骄傲变成狂傲（arrogance），狂傲变成了常态的优越感。优越感引起幻觉，使我们的眼光扭曲，再也无法以平等的心看待别人。我们看不起某些种族，看不起某些国家或地区的人。看不起穷人，看不起地位或学位不如我们的人。我们觉得自己与众不同，比别人更加优秀：
使你与人不同的是谁呢？你有什么不是领受的呢；若是领受的，为何自夸，仿佛不是领受的呢？ （林前4:7）
「唯独恩典」使我们谦卑下来，深知自己对救恩毫无贡献。不但如此，对于所拥有的一切，我们也只是领受者的身分。我们的生命气息，我们的工作，赚钱的能力（得货财的力量，申8:18），家庭和朋友，都是神所赐的。「唯独恩典」将人人放在平等的地位：我们受造平等，得救平等，蒙恩平等。这样的认知对于折腾的灵魂来说是一剂良药，使人从骄傲的牢笼中走出来，以轻松的心情重新过日子。不再需要借着鄙视他人来肯定自己，我们看人的眼光不同了。现在我们可以用欣喜的眼光来看那些与自己不同的人，拥抱他们，称他们为弟兄姊妹。于是，自夸哪里去了？不知道。反正我们这里只有恩典，没有自夸！
唯独恩典 vs. 自怜 Sola Gratia vs. Self-pity
「自怜」与「自夸」是一个铜板的两面，「唯独恩典」没收了我的自夸，同时也没收了我的自怜。一旦知道自己得救完全是神的恩典，我的心中同时产生了两种知觉：谦卑与自尊。谦卑，因为我对救恩毫无贡献，一切都是神的恩典。自尊，因为神看我为宝贵，让他的独生子为我死在十字架上。如果基督都为我而死，我的价值乃是肯定的。
比起自夸，我们更常陷入自怜之中。我们极易受伤，感到自己不被看重。有时甚至会像路德一样，感到自己很不配。我们怀疑自己的价值，需要别人经常的点赞和肯定。我们总是感到孤独，在孤独中变得软弱，软弱中开始自怜，自怜转为沮丧，沮丧成为牢笼，于是我们陷在其中。这不是神要我们涉足的地方，不是他要我们停留的地方。
然而，我今日成了何等人，是蒙神的恩才成的，并且他所赐我的恩不是徒然的。（林前 15:10）
唯独恩典！神的恩典绝非徒然，乃是大有功效的。这恩典赋予我自信和目的，领我走出自怜的幽谷，生活于阳光之下，结出美好的果子。就像保罗一样。就像路德一样。
唯独恩典与永生的保障 Sola Gratia and Eternal Security
既然「唯独恩典」，与我的功德无关，我的永生就有了保障。救恩是神的恩典，是我无法取消的。神救了我，他救我救到底！若非「唯独恩典」，我将一直处于疑虑之中。我如何知道我死的那一瞬间是得救的？我若将来犯罪了呢？我若忘记认罪呢？我还得救吗？可是有了「唯独恩典」，我就不再疑虑：一切都是神的恩典，不是靠我，而是靠他。赞美他的圣名！
唯独恩典与基督徒生活 Sola Gratia and Christian Living
神的恩典使我得以过一个结果子的人生。不是任意妄为（都是神的恩典？无论怎样都不会失去救恩？很好，那我就放纵自己，一直 party 到死。），而是被神的爱所激励，为基督而活。
原来基督的爱激励我们；因我们想，一人既替众人死，众人就都死了；并且他替众人死，是叫那些活着的人不再为自己活，乃为替他们死而复活的主活。 （林后 5:14-15）
神的恩典是我坚固的根基，我在其上建造喜乐并结果子的人生。我是神所爱的，有价值的，我的永生是有保障的。我是一个自由人，我选择一生为救我的主而活。Sola Gratia and Soli Deo Gloria! 唯独恩典，荣耀唯独归神！Here I Stand，我靠神的恩典得救，为他的荣耀而活。
Five Solas of Reformation (2/5): Sola Gratia
The five “sloas,” expressed in concise Latin, are theological convictions of the Reformers. They are:
- Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone
- Sola Gratia, by Grace alone
- Sola Fide, by Faith alone
- Solus Christus, Christ alone (or Solo Christo, through Christ alone)
- Soli Deo Gloria, Glory to God alone
Sola Gratia vs. Human Merits
Both Sola Gratia and Sola Fide are theological convictions pertaining to salvation: We are saved by God’s grace alone, by faith alone.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph. 2:8-9
The word “sola” means “alone.” Salvation is achieved by nothing else but God’s grace. Christ’s redemptive act on the Cross sealed our salvation, he alone is our Savior. Not our good works, nor spiritual disciplines, nor penitence, nor the receiving of “sacraments” contribute anything to our salvation. Salvation is by God’s grace, through Christ, from beginning to the end.
Luther was tormented by his feeling of unworthiness: unworthy to be called God’s child, unworthy to be his servant. He did everything he could to make himself worthy: He confessed his sins. Often after a confession he realized he forgot to mention a certain sin so he returned to make another confession. He prayed. He fasted. He obeyed all the rules of his Order (Augustinian.) But no matter how hard he tried he was still a tormented soul. Then one day he discovered the truth of Sola Gratia, that salvation has nothing to do with him. It is wholly by God’s grace. His merits are not only irrelevant but also unrequired. Like a light this discovery shone into his soul. His bondages were gone. He was free.
Sola Gratia! Salvation is a free gift. It’s not earned, it’s received.
Sola Gratia vs. Free Will
Does human will play a part in salvation? If salvation is by God’s grace alone, does it mean not only the achieving of salvation, but also the receiving of salvation is by God’s grace? Does it mean he enables some people, chosen by him, to make a decision to receive salvation, a decision they otherwise are unable to make? Or does Sola Gratia pertain only to the achieving of salvation but not the receiving of it? Yes, salvation is free, but each person needs, and is able, to make his/her own decision on receiving it or not.
This is the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism, Presbyterians and Methodists, and that’s the place I don’t want to go to. No, I don’t want get into a theological debate. For all the purpose of this short devotional, suffice it to say what the Bible has said: It is by grace you have been saved. It is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Sola Gratia vs. Boasting
Sola Gratia takes away our bosting. We like to feel good about ourselves. It all starts with a little boasting. Then pride. Then arrogance. Before we know it, we’re soaked in a feeling of superiority: victims of our own illusion that we lose the ability to see or treat other people equally.
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Cor. 4:7
The knowledge that we contribute absolutely nothing towards our salvation, and everything that define us, keeps us humble. Everything I have, I receive from God. My life, my works, my intelligence, my ability
to earn money, to raise a family, to make friends, all are from God. Sola Gratia makes all of us equal, equally created and equally saved. It is good medicine to a troubled soul, releasing me from the prison of pride so I can live a happy life. Happy to see people who are different, to embrace them, to call them brothers and sisters. So where is boasting? Sola Gratia! There is only grace. No boasting.
Sola Gratia vs. Self-pity
Self-pity and bosting are flip sides of the same coin. When Sola Gratia takes away my boasting it takes away my self-pity also. The knowledge that I’m saved by God’s grace alone creates in me a sense of humility as well as a sense of dignity. If God deem me so valuable to have his Son died in my place, whom am I to feel sorry about myself? Christ has died for me, in God’s eyes I must worth something.
More than boasting we are oftentimes victims of self-pity. We’re easily hurt. Feeling unappreciated. Or like Luther, unworthy. We doubt our own value. We need constant affirmation and confirmation. And we feel lonely. Yes, it is in loneness we’re most vulnerable. Self-pity sets in and we’re trapped in depression. No, it is not the place God wants us to stay.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. 1 Cor. 15:10
Sola Gratia! God’s grace is effective. It gives me confidence and purpose. It leads me out of self-pity to live a productive life. Like Paul. Like Luther.
Sola Gratia and Eternal Security
If salvation is by God’s grace alone, not by my own merits, then I’m eternally secured. I cannot undo God’s grace. God alone saves me and he saves me to the end. Without Sola Gratia I don’t have the assurance of salvation. How can I be certain I’m a saved person the moment I die? What if I do something wrong in the future? What if I forget to confess my sins? With Sola Gratia I am free from these worries. It’s all by God’s grace. Not me, but Him. Praise his holy name!
Sola Gratia and Christian Living
God’s grace enables me to live a fruitful life. Instead of giving me a license to live a life anyway I want to (So, it’s all by God’s grace? I won’t lose my salvation no matter what? Good. I’ll party till I die.), it compels me to live a life that pleases God.
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Cor. 5:14-15
God’s grace gives me a firm foundation upon which a happy and fruitful life is to be built. I’m loved. My value is affirmed. My eternity is secured. I’m free to live a life for the one who saved me. Sola Gratia and Soli Deo Gloria! By his grace I’m saved and to his glory I shall live.
