Pillars of the Reformation - 3. Sola Christo

This third pillar of the Protestant Reformation emphasies the meritorious basis upon which God’s grace flows toward an undeserving sinner. The favour of God has to be purchased. The Reformers in holding this position sought to remove the claim of anything and anyone other than Christ as being the meritorious cause of salvation.

I. It is through Christ alone that salvation is purchased for the sinner. 

There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5. As John Calvin said in the Institutes of the Christian Religion said: Christ stepped in, took the punishment upon himself and bore the judgment due to sinners. With his own blood he expiated the sins which made them enemies of God and thereby satisfied him...we look to Christ alone for divine favour and fatherly love!