Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew

The Five Pillars – Broken or Battered?

The five pillars of the 16th Century Reformation are: -- Sola Scriptura (By Scripture Alone); Sola Fide (By Faith Alone); Sola Gratia (By Grace Alone); Solo Christo (By Christ Alone); and Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone). After more than one thousand years of darkness when the Word of God was trapped within a religious system of “the Bible is not permitted to be translated to the vernacular languages of the ordinary people”, God in His infinite wisdom and timing broke the chain of darkness and lit the flame of light and truth throughout the world. This happened five hundred years ago when Martin Luther, an ex-Roman Catholic monk, nailed his ninety-five theses on the church gate of Wittenberg in 1517. His theses was taken down and printed with the printing press (invented in the 15th century), distributed free of charge to all who would read and learn the truth. The flame of the truth of God's love in Christ will not be snuffed out, by God's grace and mercies! This re-establishment of Orthodox Christianity in the 16th Century was indeed God-sent. But the foundation was the Five Pillars of the Christian Faith.

Sola Scriptura – Christianity stands on the perfect Bible alone. The authority that determines the believer’s salvation is NOT the Bible and the traditions of the church. The Bible teaches this doctrine very clearly. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Sola Gratia – It is grace alone that saves the believer and not works, even when the works are Christian works like attending church or taking the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” This doctrine of grace is that Jesus Christ, who was born of the virgin Mary, came from heaven to die on the cross of Calvary for our sins. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, for our justification.

Sola Fide – The appropriation of the grace of God through Christ that saves is by faith and not by works. No sinner can work for this grace. It is given freely to all who believe. Romans 3:24-28 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Solo Christo – The only Mediator between God and sinful man is the man Christ Jesus. There is no other person who can save sinners but Christ alone. 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” And Romans 10:9-13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Soli Deo Gloria – Since salvation is all of God’s work and by His grace, man has nothing to glory of but to glorify God in all that he does. God alone must receive man’s praise and worship. The glory belongs to God alone! 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

These Five Pillars have been every believer’s foundation since the beginning of the fall of man in Adam’s time. There is only one salvation for all humanity. This salvation is in Jesus Christ alone founded on these five pillars based upon God's inerrant and infallible truth! This is the only way man’s salvation is true and secure for eternity! Man receives God's grace to be saved. Salvation is not dependent upon man's contribution, not even in the slightest! Spurgeon so aptly puts it, that if one stitch of man’s garment of salvation is inserted by man, man’s salvation is lost. Thank God that this is not the case. Our garment of salvation is all of God’s perfect work!

Attacks Never Stop -- However, it does not mean that the Devil did not continue to stop God's work by attacking God’s Word. Below is a sample of some of the attacks throughout the ages since the birth of the local church witness in Acts 2, taken from https://en.wiki pedia .org/wiki/List_of_Christian_heresies

144 AD Marcionism – “An Early Christian dualist belief system. Marcion affirmed Jesus Christ as the savior sent by God and Paul as his chief apostle, but he rejected the Hebrew Bible and the Hebrew God. Marcionists believed that the wrathful Hebrew God was a separate and lower entity than the all-forgiving God of the New Testament. This belief was in some ways similar to Gnostic Christian theology, but in other ways different.”

190 AD Adoptionism – the belief that Christ was not divine but a mere mortal. He became the Son of God later by the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Him.

250-336 AD Arianism – “Denial of the true divinity of Jesus Christ taking various specific forms, but all agreed that Jesus Christ was created by the Father, that he had a beginning in time, and that the title "Son of God" was a courtesy one.”

Began 1st C Docetism – “Belief that Jesus' physical body was an illusion, as was his crucifixion; that is, Jesus only seemed to have a physical body and to physically die, but in reality he was incorporeal, a pure spirit, and hence could not physically die.” – Believed by the Gnostics in later years.

386-450 AD Nestorianism – “Belief that Jesus Christ was a natural union between the Flesh and the Word, thus not identical, to the divine Son of God.”

Around 3rd C Patripassianism – “Belief that the Father and Son are not two distinct persons, and thus God the Father suffered on the cross as Jesus.” – It is also known as Sabellianism or Modalism.

Very early Antinominism – “Any view which holds that Christians are freed by grace from obligations of any moral law. St Paul had to refute a charge of this type made by opponents because of his attitude to the Mosaic Law (Romans 3:8).” – promoted by the Gnostics. Today it is propagated by many Charismatic churches.

Around 4th C Pelagianism – “Belief that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without Divine aid.”

Since the 16th Century Reformation, the attacks have continued into the Protestant Movement. By the turn of the 19th Century, the attacks gained momentum. Evolution, French Naturalism, English Deism and German Rationalism were born during this period to change the world forever. The 20th and 21st centuries are the evil children of these evils of the 19th century. They may not be direct attacks on the Bible but their impact has spawned the apostate Christianity of today.

Twentieth Century Onslaught – The Charismatic Movement, also known as the Signs and Wonders Movement, was born in 1906. The neo-evangelical movement was born in 1948 when Harold Ockenga openly declared that he was no longer a fundamentalist but a neo-evangelical. In that same year of 1948, the World Council of Churches had their inaugural meeting in Amsterdam. These are not accidents but attacks on the five pillars of the Christian Faith! The Charismatic movement is based upon experiences and emotions rather than the Bible. The Bible is used by the movement to Christianize their experiences. This has resulted in the fulfilment of one of the signs that Jesus Christ spoke of that will come to pass before His return. Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” [Emphasis added]

The World Council of Churches was the brain child of the Anglican and Methodist churches. They call themselves the founding members of this movement. Their goals are:- to unite all protestant churches; unite the Protestant churches with the Roman Catholic Church; and ultimately to unite all religions. They have succeeded very well since it began nearly seventy years ago.

The neo-evangelical movement is the deadliest of them all. It is a movement without borders. It is a movement whereby seeking the approval of man is more important than seeking the approval of God. The Word of God will be used to further this agenda of compromise. One of the doctrines spawned by this movement includes theistic evolution where they have tried to Christianize an atheistic theory. Other compromises include teaching that the Flood of Genesis 6 to 8 was a local flood when in fact the Bible teaches very clearly that it was a global flood; that there are no miracles in the Bible; and that the Bible has mistakes either at inspiration or preservation.
The “success” of this end time onslaught has battered the Five Pillars to breaking point as demonstrated by the testimony below, which is an excerpt of the writing called “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” published in 1994. {https://www.first things.com/article/1994/05/evangelicals-catholics-together-the-christian-mission-in-the-third-millennium]

“The love of Christ compels us and we are therefore resolved to avoid such conflict between our communities and, where such conflict exists, to do what we can to reduce and eliminate it. Beyond that, we are called and we are therefore resolved to explore patterns of working and witnessing together in order to advance the one mission of Christ. Our common resolve is not based merely on a desire for harmony. We reject any appearance of harmony that is purchased at the price of truth. Our common resolve is made imperative by obedience to the truth of God revealed in the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, and by trust in the promise of the Holy Spirit’s guidance until Our Lord returns in glory to judge the living and the dead.” . . .

“All who accept Christ as Lord and Savior are brothers and sisters in Christ. Evangelicals and Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ.” . . . .

“We note some of the differences and disagreements that must be addressed more fully and candidly in order to strengthen between us a relationship of trust in obedience to truth. Among points of difference in doctrine, worship, practice, and piety that are frequently thought to divide us are these:

• The church as an integral part of the Gospel or the church as a communal consequence of the Gospel.
• The church as visible communion or invisible fellowship of true believers.
• The sole authority of Scripture (sola scriptura) or Scripture as authoritatively interpreted in the church.
• The “soul freedom” of the individual Christian or the Magisterium (teaching authority) of the community.
• The church as local congregation or universal communion.
• Ministry ordered in apostolic succession or the priesthood of all believers.
• Sacraments and ordinances as symbols of grace or means of grace.
• The Lord’s Supper as eucharistic sacrifice or memorial meal.
• Remembrance of Mary and the saints or devotion to Mary and the saints.
• Baptism as sacrament of regeneration or testimony to regeneration.

This account of differences is by no means complete.”

In the ten points above (in bold) that the evangelicals and Catholics do not agree upon, we see that all of them are major doctrines that attack the Five Pillars of Truth. For example, the last doctrinal difference of “Baptism as sacrament of regeneration or testimony to regeneration” is basically a difference of belief that is equivalent to the difference between heaven and hell. Anyone who believes in “Baptism as a sacrament of regeneration” basically believes that salvation is not by grace or faith alone but by water baptism which is salvation by works! How can these “evangelicals” call those who hold to these doctrines brothers and sisters in Christ? A sinner is either saved by grace alone or he is not saved at all – this is the teaching based upon the Five Pillars of biblical Truth!

Conclusion – The Christian Faith belongs to God alone. He is the Author and Finisher of every believer’s faith. No matter how strong, incessant and powerful the forces of the Devil are in their attack on the historic fundamental Christian Faith, they will not prevail against it. It will never be broken. The assault on the Christian Faith started since the time of the fall of man when God gave to mankind the first gospel in Genesis 3:15. The Christian Faith has been battered. There were times in the past it appeared as if it was going to be broken (like in the days of Noah before the flood—Genesis 6-8); but God has always been there for His people to preserve and protect them so that the gates of heaven will always remain open for all sinners to enter in through Christ. This is the grace of God. Matthew 16:16-19 “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” [Emphasis added] The Rock that God built His church upon is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Nothing can prevail against it. It cannot be defeated.

The Christ Faith will always stand for all eternity. Satan will keep on attacking and battering it. But all God's faithful servants must take heart and take heed, for your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Be steadfast and remain unmoveable by holding on to the Truth of God’s holy and perfect Word of Life. The battle will rage on but the Five Pillars of the Christian Faith will stand for eternity, by the grace and mercies of the most High God! Amen.