Theological Term of the Week: Solus Christus

solus Christus

Literally, “Christ alone.” The reformation slogan which emphasises the truth that salvation is based entirely in the mediatorial work of Christ, and no other work or merit contributes to human salvation. It highlights Christ’s sinless life and substitutionary death as the sufficient and sole grounds on which those who are being saved receive every benefit of salvation.

• From scripture:

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time (1 Timothy 1:5-6 ESV).

• From The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 8:

Of Christ the Mediator

I. It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Head and Savior of His Church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom He did from all eternity give a people, to be His seed,and to be by Him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.

V. The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience, and sacrifice of Himself, which He through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, has fully satisfied the justice of His Father; and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for those whom the Father has given unto Him.

VIII. To all those for whom Christ has purchased redemption, He does certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same; making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the word, the mysteries of salvation; effectually persuading them by His Spirit to believe and obey, and governing their hearts by His word and Spirit; overcoming all their enemies by His almighty power and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most consonant to His wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.

• From The Institues of the Christian Religion by John Calvin, Book 2, Chapter 16, Section 2:

But again, let him be told, as Scripture teaches, that he was estranged from God by sin, an heir of wrath, exposed to the curse of eternal death, excluded from all hope of salvation, a complete alien from the blessing of God, the slave of Satan, captive under the yoke of sin; in fine, doomed to horrible destruction, and already involved in it; that then Christ interposed, took the punishment upon himself and bore what by the just judgment of God was impending over sinners; with his own blood expiated the sins which rendered them hateful to God, by this expiation satisfied and duly propitiated God the Father, by this intercession appeased his anger, on this basis founded peace between God and men, and by this tie secured the Divine benevolence toward them … [W]e are so instructed by divine truth, as to perceive that without Christ God is in a manner hostile to us, and has his arm raised for our destruction. Thus taught, we look to Christ alone for divine favour and paternal love.

Learn more:

1. Blair Smith: What Does “Solus Christus” Mean?
2. Sinclair Ferguson: Here We Stand in Christ Alone
3. Michael Horton:  Solus Christus: Christ Our Only Mediator
4. Derek Thomas: Knowing Our Only Mediator
5. J. C. Ryle: Beware of Mingling Anything of Your Own With Christ
6. Stephen J. Wellum: Solus Christus: What the Reformers Taught and Why It Still Matters

Related terms:

• active obedience of Christ
• five solas
• passive obedience of Christ
• sola fide
• sola gratia
• sola scriptura
• soli Deo gloria
• threefold office of Christ

Filed under Reformed Theology

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.