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All of us human beings were made with a characteristic that is part of our essence: to be dreamers, seeking all the time to know what our ‘destiny’ is.
We live day after day travelling along paths we plan to get to and dreams we want to achieve, simply for our own pride and satisfaction.  

We see this even more in youths, with an enormous desire to know their place in the world and to do so, they dream and imagine their future being travelled through.
And all of this is normal, until the moment they forget the real reason why they have been empowered with this characteristic, when they get carried away by their dreams, exalting the ‘EGO’ and leaving aside, or even forgetting, God. 

JEREMIAH 29:11

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you the end that you hope for.

To be a true user of this gift is to use it to do God’s will, seeking His dreams. 

Just like Peter and so many other examples of men in the Bible (in Mark 1:17-20) ‘we leave our desires, even what costs us, to follow God’s dreams’, willing to be and do, wherever we are, what he needs you and me to do or be, to seek and wait for God’s guidance on every path he gives us to follow. 

So, Kuriakos Youth, wish more and more to let Christ live in you, to be used by Him and thus ACHIEVE GOD’S DREAMS. 

PHILIPPIANS 1:6

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ

Before we begin our study, it’s important to understand why this study has the name ‘5 Solas’.

As Christians know, there was a man by the name of Martin Luther who started something called the ‘Protestant Reformation’. The Protestant Reformation consisted of Martin Luther writing 95 theses that challenged the heretical teachings of the time, which taught a false Jesus and a false Gospel. This Reformation was successful and led to Jesus and the true Gospel being preached again, right up to the present day.

We can also summarise this Reformation in 5 Solas, which are Latin phrases in which the term ‘Sola’ means ‘Only’, so the 5 Solas are as follows:

– Sola Scriptura = Scripture alone

– Solus Christus = Christ alone

– Sola Gratia = Grace alone

– Sola Fide = Faith alone

– Soli Deo Gloria = Glory to God alone

The Bible tells us that we have a race ahead of us, a race that ends only when we arrive before the Throne of God. And the Bible also tells us that in order to run that race, we have to let go of all sin and embarrassment, we have to remain faithful and firm in God’s Word and know what God tells us through it.

Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so closely besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1

Nowadays, in top-level races, athletes use their own shoes to be able to run. Each shoe has a ‘sole’, which gives the athlete comfort and ease so that they can run as well as possible.

By way of comparison, we Christians also have ‘’Solas ‘’ that make it easier for us to run. These soles are essential foundations for a Christian, and they are not just 2 solas, but the 5 Solas of the Protestant Reformation.

So we should know that the Gospel and the Truth are presented by Scripture Alone, our Salvation is obtained Only through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, forgiveness for our sins is given only by God’s grace, justification of our sins by grace is given through faith alone, and finally, we know that if we have been saved by God then to God alone be all the Glory.

I hope this short study has helped you understand a little about these 5 Solas that help us run the race that God has for us.

May God’s peace be with you, amen. 

In the awakening and rush of the times, today’s world is turned towards technology, trapped in screens with the excuse of evolution from ancient times, focussed on attracting attention and showing themselves to be a BEING, which in turn is not true.

Youths in the 21st century, even believers, end up being influenced and want to become influencers on social media, gain fame, likes, want to be widely known by strangers and lose their true identity in Christ. 

COLOSSIANS 2:8

 “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ;”

Youth, you may think ‘it’s just a hobby’, but after a long time, in the distraction, you make it an embarrassment and you stop giving importance to your physical and social reality, but above all you disconnect from the most important thing, God.

You start to crave the recognition and approval of the world, in the form of likes, talk, thoughts and identifying with its ideologies, even if unconsciously, and you automatically abandon the one who gave the best they had for you, losing the only approval you can count on.

JAMES 4:4

‘… Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.’

2 PETER 2:18-19

18 “For by speaking very arrogant things of vanity, they deceive with the lusts of the flesh and with licentiousness those who were turning away from those who walk in error,

19 ‘promising them liberty, being themselves servants of corruption; for of whom one is overcome, of such he also becomes servant.’

So, Kuriakos Youth, if you feel you have faced this battle, free yourself from the pleasures of this world, you were not called to be known, but to make known the one who sent you, the one who gave you a greater purpose. 

The years of youth are a stage, or rather a phase, of discovery and, I believe, perhaps the first and most important changes in the lives of many young people. 

It’s a stage in which many focus on ‘living now and forgetting tomorrow’, having fun, breaking routines and habits, discovering and rediscovering, enjoying everything and anything, which at first glance may not seem bad, maybe it isn’t, but is it the most important thing? Is it in line with God’s purpose for you?

When the youth hear about ‘Christianity’, a walk with God, from a very early age, they assume that it is a life of restrictions and prohibitions, full of corrections, and soon reject it.

Youths who waste all their tender years on carnal pleasures and when they reach a mature age, they look back and realise that they haven’t enjoyed the greatest achievement of all, A LIFE OF EXPERIENCES WITH GOD.

ECCLESIASTES 12:1-2

‘1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, in which you will say, “I have no joy in them”;

2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened, and the clouds come again after the rain.’

Youth, already at this stage God is calling you, God wants to have a relationship with you, don’t think that you must wait until a certain age for Him to entrust you with things, He has entrusted you now, He just needs you to listen to Him and say, ‘Lord here I am’.

There’s nothing better than, as youths, dedicating our lives to serving God, because the greatest happiness is in Him, He guides every step we take and His will in our lives is perfect. Remember God every moment of this time and live close to him.

1 TIMOTHY 4:12

‘Let no-one despise your youth, but be an example of the faithful in word, in deed, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Today, in the busyness of the world in which we live, in the growth and eagerness to achieve dreams and desires that were once idealised, man seeks to achieve his goals through often questionable paths.

In the confusion and great desire to reach the destination, even Christian youths get lost along the way, being lured and deceived by the various offers that come their way, forgetting the greater purpose given to them by God.

The question that arises in the midst of all this is: WHAT DRIVES YOU? THE OFFERS OR THE PURPOSE?

But relax youth! This isn’t just happening to you today. In the Bible we can see examples of situations like these, where at certain times in their lives, men of God, during their calling, were presented with offers to stray from the purpose God had given them. One example was Jesus Christ.

LUKE 4:2, 6–8 e 13

2 And forty days he was tempted by the devil….

6 And the devil said to him, ‘I will give you all this power and its glory, for it has been given to me, and I give it to whom I will;

7 Therefore, if you worship me, all will be yours.

‘8 Jesus answered and said to him: Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’

‘13 When the devil had made an end of all temptation, he departed from him for a little while.’

 At the very beginning of his call, Jesus was tested and tempted by the enemy, the devil, to accept a proposal that apparently seemed beautiful and rewarding, ‘Power and glory’, which today could be ‘Money, fame, prestige, among others, and which ultimately had a single objective, to hinder the plan, the purpose of God that was in Him.

The enemy will always try to stop you from fulfilling the mission that God has given you, through suggestions for the temporary satisfaction of your flesh, saying: ‘It’s okay’; “It’ll only be once”; “God understands that you need it now”; “It’s much more important to feel good, you’re the one who matters”; “Leave the things of God for when you’re older, enjoy life now!”, to distance you from something greater. 

Kuriakos youth! Live under God’s guidance, shield your mind and heart from the things that the world praises and offers. Be moved by your God-given Purpose, for it is greater than any offer or illusion that may arise.

PROVERBS 19:21
‘There are many purposes in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand.’

‘Therefore, if you have been raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ lives, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on things on this earth.’ (Colossians 3:1-2)

What have we been thinking about? Are we stuck on what’s left behind? Are we still seeking satisfaction in things that don’t please God? Not everything that satisfies us is good for our lives. Sin may seem satisfying for a moment, but it takes us away from God and true joy.

And sometimes you must face the difficult truths.

How much time do you spend studying and meditating on the Bible?

And how much time do you spend watching series, films or other things?

God says: “You will have no other gods but me.” (Exodus 20:3)

The other gods are not necessarily statues, but everything that occupies the throne of your heart, what you spend more time thinking about, other distractions or a sense of searching for other things, all to fill the void that only God can fill.

The truth is that one day we will all stand before God and must give an account of our lives. There will be no excuses, because we have all had the opportunity to know the truth.

“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

(2 Corinthians 5:10)

And now imagine yourself in front of God: What are you going to say?

To the one who loved you, who gave himself up for you, to the one who wipes away your tears and comforts your heart, who doesn’t give up on you… what are you going to say?

Is it worth losing what is eternal in exchange for something fleeting?

Go back to the beginning, to your first love, go back to loving God as you did before. God is waiting for you!

It’s in our nature to judge others for the mistakes they make. We think that in their position, we would never do the same. In the world, it’s normal to look at others and judge their poor decisions, even if we don’t know the reasons behind them.

The act of judging others doesn’t only happen to unbelievers.

Our carnal nature is always looking to be satisfied, always looking for an opportunity to sin. So sin is inevitable, but it can be controlled if we base our lives on God’s word, feeding our spirit and starving the flesh.

For a believer, the starting point for judging others is when they think they are superior – after all, they have Christ within them. But the fact that we have Jesus in our lives doesn’t make us better than anyone else, we are still sinners, but redeemed sinners. Our actions are still evil and all that is good in us is God. So it’s like an old box that contains a treasure inside, the box itself is worthless, but the content makes it special and valuable.  

Jesus says in his word that on the day of judgement, we will all have to account for our attitudes and the way we have judged others, we will be judged too.

“For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged,

and with the measure with which you have measured they will measure you.”

Matthew 7:2

Sometimes in a Christian environment we find it harder not to judge or to let certain situations go, after all they know the Christ you know and they act worse than you do. But by speaking badly, you’re making your actions the same as theirs, you’re sinning too and you’ll have to give an account to God.

God’s love within us must be real. It must not just be a love of kisses and hugs, but a love that is reflected in prayer, in praying for those who hurt you and fail you.

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

Matthew 5:44

Es liegt in unserer Natur, andere für ihre Fehler zu verurteilen. Wir denken, dass wir an ihrer Stelle niemals dasselbe tun würden. In der Welt ist es normal, andere anzuschauen und über schlechte Entscheidungen zu urteilen, auch wenn wir die Gründe dafür nicht kennen.

Das Urteilen über andere ist nicht nur bei Ungläubigen zu beobachten. Unsere fleischliche Natur ist immer auf der Suche nach Befriedigung, immer auf der Suche nach einer Gelegenheit zur Sünde. Sünde ist also unvermeidlich, aber sie kann kontrolliert werden, wenn wir unser Leben auf Gottes Wort gründen, unseren Geist nähren und das Fleisch aushungern.

Der Grund, weshalb der Gläubige beginnt über andere zu urteilen, ist derjenige, weil er sich überlegen fühlt , denn er hat Christus in sich. Aber die Tatsache, dass wir Jesus in unserem Leben haben, macht uns nicht besser als alle anderen; wir sind immer noch Sünder, aber erlöste Sünder. Unsere Taten sind immer noch böse. Alles, was in uns gut ist, ist Gott. Es ist also wie bei einer alten Schachtel, die einen Schatz enthält; die Schachtel selbst ist wertlos, aber ihr Inhalt macht sie besonders und wertvoll. 

Jesus sagt in seinem Wort, dass wir alle am Tag des Jüngsten Gerichts Rechenschaft über unser Verhalten und die Art und Weise, wie wir andere beurteilt haben, ablegen müssen und dass auch wir verurteilt werden.

“Denn mit demselben Gericht, mit dem ihr richtet, werdet ihr gerichtet werden; und mit demselben Maß, mit dem ihr [anderen] zumesst, wird auch euch zugemessen werden”

Matthäus 7:2

Manchmal fällt es uns in einem christlichen Umfeld schwerer, nicht zu urteilen oder bestimmte Situationen zu ignorieren, schließlich kennen sie den Christus, den du kennst, und sie handeln schlimmer als du. Aber wenn du schlecht über sie sprichst, setzt du deine Handlungen mit denen der anderen gleich, du sündigst auch und wirst Gott Rechenschaft ablegen müssen.   

Die Liebe Gottes in uns muss echt sein. Es darf nicht nur eine Liebe von Küssen und Umarmungen sein, sondern eine Liebe, die sich im Gebet widerspiegelt, im Gebet für diejenigen, die dich verletzen und dich im Stich lassen.

“ Ich aber sage euch: Liebt eure Feinde, segnet, die euch fluchen, tut wohl denen, die euch hassen, und bittet für die, welche euch beleidigen und verfolgen”

Matthäus 5:44

Está en nuestra naturaleza juzgar a los otros por fallas que ellos cometen. Juzgamos que en la posición de ellos, nosotros nunca lo haríamos igual. En el mundo es normal mirar a los otros y opinar sobre desiciones mal tomadas, incluso desconociendo los motivos que habían por detrás.

El hecho de juzgar a los otros no acontece solo con los no creyentes.

Nuestra naturaleza carnal está siempre procurando ser satisfecha, está siempre buscando una oportunidad para pecar. Entonces el pecado es inevitable, pero puede ser controlado si basamos nuestra vida en la palabra de Dios, alimentando nuestro espíritu y dejando a la carne hambrienta.

Para un creyente, el punto de partida de juzgar a los otros es cuando éste se piensa superior, al final él tiene a Cristo dentro de sí. Pero el hecho de tener a Jesús en nuestra vida no nos hace mejor que nadie, continuamos siendo pecadores, aunque pecadores redimidos. Nuestras acciones siguen siendo malas y lo único bueno en nosotros, es Dios. Entonces, es como una caja vieja que dentro de sí contiene un tesoro, la caja por sí sola no tiene valor, pero el contenido de ella la vuelve especial y valiosa.  

Jesús dice en su palabra que en el día del juicio final, todos nosotros tendremos que dar cuentas sobre nuestras actitudes, y de la forma en como nosotros juzgamos a los otros, seremos juzgados también. 

“Porque con el juicio con que juzgáis seréis juzgados,

Y con la medida con que medís, se os volverá a medir.”

Mateo 7:2

A veces en un ambiente cristiano nosotros tenemos mayor dificultad en no juzgar o en dejar pasar ciertas situaciones, al final ellos conocen al Cristo que tú conoces y actúan de una forma peor que tú. Pero al hablar mal, estás igualando tus acciones a las de ellos, estás pecando también y tendrás que dar cuentas a Dios.

El amor de Dios dentro de nosotros debe ser real. No debe ser un amor solo de “besitos y abrazos”, sino un amor que se refleja en oración, en orar por aquellos que te lastiman y te fallan.. 

“Pero yo, os digo: Amad a vuestros enemigos, y orad por los que os persiguen”

Mateo 5:44