10 Marks of a Grace-Alone Church
Carl Trueman | October 25, 2017
Also in TGC’s series on the Reformation’s five solas:
- Sola Scriptura Demands Inerrancy (Matthew Barrett)
- Justification = Faith + Nothing (Thomas Schreiner)
- Lose Christ Alone, Lose Christianity (Stephen Wellum)
- The Tie That Binds the ‘Solas’ Together (David VanDrunen)
As we look back to the sola gratia cry of the Reformation, it is helpful to ask ourselves: What would a “grace alone” church look like today? What would characterize its life as a church? How might we recognize such a church when we see it?
The answer to these questions falls into two parts: doctrinal and practical. But these parts are closely connected. Here, I offer 10 points that show the interconnection and give hints as to the identity of a sola gratia church. A grace-alone church . . .
1. Takes sin seriously.
Grace is not simply a sentiment or attitude in God. It is God’s concrete response to human sin. This means a proper understanding of grace depends on a prior, proper understanding of sin and the human predicament.
No grace-filled church will be unclear about the problem grace is meant to address.
If we attend church to feel good about ourselves or to learn some tips…
To read the rest of this article, visit https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/10-marks-of-grace-alone-church.