As revealed in Scripture, we hold to the 5 Sola’s of the Reformation:
The 5 Sola’s
- Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)
- Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
- Sola Christus (Christ Alone)
- Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
- Sola Deo Gloria (Glory of God Alone)
Men are saved by GRACE ALONE through FAITH ALONE in CHRIST ALONE as revealed in SCRIPTURE ALONE for the GLORY OF GOD ALONE.
Grace Alone – That which alone can save is God’s sovereign grace (Eph. 2:4-10). All men are conceived in sin, live in sin, and dead in sin (Ps. 51:5, Rom. 3:9-20, Eph. 2:1-3). Sin is so very sinful, a greater affront to our Holy God than we can begin to imagine. Thankfully, grace is so very gracious. “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20). Though mankind is dead and destined for eternal wrath, the grace of God can save any sinner and transform any life (Luke 18:13-14, I Tim. 1:15). Grace alone can do this. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). Not just initial salvation, but every moment of the Christian life is owed to amazing grace. As the Apostle wrote, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (I Cor. 15:10).
Faith Alone – The only conduit of saving grace is individual faith (John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Rom. 4:1-8, 5:1, Gal. 2:16, 3:24). Men can do nothing to merit God’s favor. All our supposed righteousness is utter filth in His sight (Isa. 64:6, Phil. 3:7-9). All we can do is believe God (John 11:25-26, Heb. 11:6). While each must choose to believe (Josh. 24:15), even this faith is a gift of sovereign grace (Eph. 2:8, Jam. 1:17-18). “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28).
Christ Alone – The only object of saving faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). He alone is the eternal Son of God (Matt. 3:17, John 1:1), perfect Godman (John 1:14, Heb. 2:14-16, 4:15), “and one mediator between God and men” (I Tim. 2:5). He alone humbly left Heaven to do what we could not (Phil. 2:6-8, Heb. 10:5-7); that is satisfy the righteousness of God by His death on the Cross (Isa. 53:10-11, Rom. 3:24-26). All who trust in Him alone are washed in His blood (I John 1:7), their sins forgiven (Eph. 1:7), and fellowship with God restored (2 Cor. 5:18, I John 1:3). As He said the night before His death, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Scripture Alone – The Scriptures alone perfectly teach of Christ and His grace (SEE Our Foundation). Nothing but God’s Word, in conjunction with His Spirit, has the power to save. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). From it flows the saving knowledge of the Gospel (I Pet. 1:23-25), the only hope for mankind. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
Glory of God Alone – The only correct response to all that God is and does is humble adoration. God, “Who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Eph. 1:11), does so, “According to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph. 1:5-6). This includes the salvation of sinful man, once a depraved rebel, but now a beloved child (Rom. 8:14-17, Gal. 4:6-7, I John 3:1). God alone could think of and perform all this. “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jon. 2:9). He alone deserves all credit (I Cor. 1:26-31, Rev. 7:9-12). Rightly did the psalmist conclude, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord” (Ps. 150:6). For, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:11).