Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide

The “three solas,” namely: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, and Sola Fide are the three phrases used in connection with the Lutheran Reformation in the 16th Century. These are three Latin phrases that mean: “Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, and Faith Alone.” These three phrases are the benchmark of confessional Lutheranism today. 

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DR. MARTIN LUTHER’S COAT OF ARMS 

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This seal was designed by Dr. Martin Luther while teaching at Wittenberg, and it has become the primary emblem of the Lutheran Church. Comprising it are: the black cross, for faith in Christ crucified; the red heart, for faith in the Saviour; the white rose, to show that faith causes joy, consolation and peace; the blue sky, to denote that such joy of faith in the spirit is the beginning of heavenly joy to come; and the golden ring surrounding all, to signify that such bliss in heaven is endless. The last stanza of the Luther League Hymn (SBH 567) gives a poetic description of this same Luther Emblem.  It reads:

We proudly bear as banner 

A cross within the heart, 

To show that we have chosen 

Christ the better part. 

Then joy and peace and comfort 

Shall blossom as a rose, 

Until our earthly blessings 

The worth of heaven disclose. 

All hail, our glorious Saviour! 

We march where thou hast trod, 

To seek thy house of triumph, 

The city of our God! 

– – SBH 567, vs. 3 
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Printed below is a letter to Lazarus Spengler-–July 8, 1530 
From Dr. Martin Luther at Coburg Castle 
 

Grace and peace in Christ! 

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Honorable, kind, dear Sir and Friend! Since you ask whether my seal has come out correctly, I shall answer most amiably and tell you of those thoughts which now come to my mind about my seal as a symbol of my theology. 

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There is first to be a cross, black and placed in a heart, which should be of its natural color [red], so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. For if one believes from the heart he will be justified. Even though it is a black cross, which mortifies and which also should hurt us, yet it leaves the heart in its natural color and does not ruin nature; that is, the cross does not kill but keeps man alive. For the just man lives by faith, but by faith in the Crucified One.

 

Such a heart is to be in the midst of a white rose, to symbolize that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace; in a word it places the believer into a white joyful rose; for this faith does not give peace and joy as the world gives and, therefore, the rose is to be white and not red, for white is the color of the spirits and of all the angels.

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Such a rose is to be in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that such joy in the Spirit and in faith is a beginning of the future heavenly joy; it is already a part of faith, and is grasped through hope, even though not yet manifest.

 

And around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that in heaven such blessedness lasts forever and has no end, and in addition is precious beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable and precious metal. 

 

May Christ, our dear Lord, be with your spirit until the life to come. 

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Amen. 

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From the Wilderness Grubok, July 8, 1530. 
Luther’s Works, American Edition, Volume 49, pp. 356-359 

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