GRACE OVER MERIT-SOLA GRATIA BY PASTOR GREG ELKAN.

_“…Not of works, lest any man should boast.”_ – Eph 2:9

_Sola gratia_ – Latin for “(by) grace alone” – is the assertion that our salvation comes by divine grace or “unmerited favor” alone; not as something earned by the sinner through good deeds. As with the previous “solas,” _Sola gratia_ was the counter by the Reformers to an unbiblical doctrine taught by the Church of their day; which in this instance was the doctrine of “merits”. 

The Church taught that the Believer’s good deeds (“merits”) was additionally required for them to qualify for heaven; (and if at death they hadn’t accrued sufficient good deeds, they’ll atone for the deficit in “purgatory”).

The concept of “merit” is not unique to religious Christianity. It is fundamental to the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism where it goes by the Sanskrit term, _“punya.” Buddhism teaches that a person’s “good deeds” will determine the quality of their next life and contributes to their growth towards enlightenment while Hinduism teaches _punya_ as acquired and accumulated good ‘karma’ or virtue that contributes benefits in this and the next birth. Thus, what the Church was teaching as “merit” was effectively indistinguishable from the eastern religions’ concept of _karma_ – the practice of doing good deeds _in order_ to attain salvation. 

The scriptures, however, says otherwise. In Eph 2:8-9, Paul writes, _“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”_ 

The chant of _“Sola gratia” emphasizes grace as the _ONLY reason_ for our salvation. In other words, salvation comes from what God has done in Christ Jesus rather than what we do. _Sola gratia_ is important to us today because it is one of the distinguishing characteristics that separate the true biblical Gospel from false gospels and religions that encourage moral, pious living but offer no deliverance from eternal damnation in Hell.

AMEN

GREG ELKAN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

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