*Adapted from Desiring God*

If anyone is saved, it is on the basis of Christ alone. There is salvation in no one else. God gives no other name under heaven by which men can be saved (Acts 4:12). Muhammed will not save you. Buddha will not save you. Mary will not save you. The Pope will not save you. Parents, president, and yoga pose will not save you. This truth separates Christianity from all falsehood: Sinners are saved in Christ alone.

Jesus alone. His cross alone. To his glory alone.

It is this glorious truth of solo Christo that is the primary impetus for the “Reformation Artist.” As Christians, followers and servants of Christ Jesus, we have been convinced by the Holy Spirit of God that there is no other name of salvation, no other name of praise, no other name of worth! And thus, we write, paint, sculpt, and act[icize?] for the sake of Jesus, and His message of salvation.

We may write of our beautiful beloveds, we may paint the ocean waves, we may sing about growing up on a farm, but ultimately, the song of our hearts is unto the Lord Jesus, our Messiah. We know that only He saves, only He has created us, and only He can make us new. We don’t put our hopes in men or chariots, but in the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of David.

Because of these truths, we, as Christians, as artists for the Lord, cry out with old Edward Mote, “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. We dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, we stand! All other ground is sinking sand!”

Hallelujah! Hosanna to the Son of David! All other ground is sinking sand!

Key Texts

Romans 8:1–3: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.”

Second Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Galatians 2:21: “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

Galatians 5:2–4: “Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”

References:

Piper, John. “What are the five solas? (pt3)”. Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/in-christ-alone