Joy and Solemnity
Menu
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Articles and Media
The Website of Cameron Shaffer
Browse: Home » Ordo Salutis

The Logical Chain of the Protestant Solas

December 10, 2025 · by Cameron Shaffer · in Uncategorized

Brad East argues that historical Protestant theological claims often overreach, giving as an example the assertion that the traditional five solas logically imply each other. “Any of them might be true—all of them might be true—but irrespective of that question, each principle requires independent demonstration; the solas are not necessarily a package deal.” I think Brad overstates things, and that the solas mostly imply each other as a package deal. A couple of thoughts on the outset before I make my friendly case. First, no magisterial Reformer or Reformed church ever distilled Protestant theology into the five solas or expressed them as a foundational unit. The arrangement of the five solas came centuries later in order to categorize a simplified essence of Protestant thought. Second, the definitions embedded in the terms matter. The solas are slogans, not dogmatic categories, and depending on the definitions used different conclusions are going to be reached about their logical necessitation.

Alright, so the foundational sola is Solus Christus, namely that Christ in his person and work alone sufficiently accomplished all that is necessary for salvation. This sola is not just that Christ is the single savior, but that who he is and what he did alone saves. The Reformers argued that we are justified by the person and work of Christ alone. That logically requires that no other person or activity justifies, saves, or contributes to that salvation in any way

Christ in his person and work alone are what saves/justifies
Any other ground for salvation/justification is in addition to Christ’s work
∴ Salvation/justification is by Christ’s work (grace) alone…

On Faith and Being Grafted Into Christ

November 19, 2018 · by Cameron Shaffer · in Uncategorized

Heidelberg Catechism 20

Q. Are all people then saved through Christ
just as they were lost through Adam?

A. No.
Only those are saved
who through true faith
   are grafted into Christ
   and receive all his benefits.

One of the interesting subtleties of the catechism is how it describes salvation. It is not actually faith that saves; faith is the mechanism by which salvation comes, but does not save in itself. Salvation comes from being grafted into Christ. Union with Christ is the essence of salvation and the fundamental distinguishing feature of the Christian.

To be lost in Adam is to be separated from God. To be saved in Jesus is greater than being found my him – it is to be joined to him…

A Brief Guide to the Redemption Creed

April 9, 2018 · by Cameron Shaffer · in Uncategorized

A common pastoral struggle is the work of reminding Christians that they rest upon Christ and his finished work alone for their assurance of salvation. The necessity of regularly preaching the gospel partially flows from a sin-induced, immature forgetfulness. The child of God forgets, or doubts, why the Father has adopted them into his family. A nagging pride can leave some convinced that they merited their salvation. Or fear can convince the Christian that Jesus’ work was not enough, and that there needs to be more: more faithfulness, less sin, on the Christian’s part, in order to be accepted. Sometimes sheer ignorance, or confusion, is the source of the error…

On the Reformed and the JDDJ

December 15, 2017 · by Cameron Shaffer · in Uncategorized

On July 5th the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) joined the JDDJ. The WCRC’s statement of association, like the World Methodist Council, adds areas of distinct Reformed emphasis on justification. These additions are both far superior to anything produced in the original JDDJ or its subsequent additions, while simultaneously being the most disappointing additions…

On the Methodist Addition to the JDDJ

December 4, 2017 · by Cameron Shaffer · in Uncategorized

Christianity Today published a review on Protestant-Catholic relations that focused upon two books, the first written by Protestant-turned Catholic Peter Kreeft, the other co-authored by Protestants Kenneth J. Collins (Catholic converted to Wesleyanism) and Jerry L. Walls, a Baptist. Both books address the JDDJ, with Kreeft calling it, “the greatest ecumenical achievement in the five hundred years since the Reformation.” Collins and Walls dedicate an entire chapter to the JDDJ, in which they echo the concerns of the LCMS and hit the same points that I addressed in my previous post.

The World Methodist Council adopted the JDDJ in August, 2006, with some additions to reflect distinctly Wesleyan understandings of justification. It is interesting that the Methodists constantly cite John Wesley to express their theological points and scriptural interpretation; the Catholics, Lutherans, and Reformed all cite their exegetical tradition or confessional statements, not individual theologians.

The Methodist additions to the JDDJ, like the Lutheran comments, functionally defer to the Catholic structure of understanding justification. Any notable doctrinal difference between the Methodists and the initial JDDJ undercuts the common consensus on the foundational nature of justification that the Lutherans and Catholics are attempting to achieve….

1 2 Next →
Loading

RSS Feed Copyright © 2025 Joy and Solemnity