The 5 Solas

~Sola Gratia

                           We affirm that in salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by his grace alone.  It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin and releasing us from spiritual death to spiritual life.  We deny that salvation is in any sense a human work.  Human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves cannot accomplish this transformation.  Faith is not produced by our unregenerate human nature.   

~Sola Fide

                        We affirm that justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone.   In justification, Christ's righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God’s perfect justice.  We deny that justification rests on any merit to be found in us, or upon the grounds of an infusion of Christ's righteousness in us, or that an institution claiming to be a church that denies or condemns sola fide can be recognized as a legitimate church.

 ~Sola Scriptura

We affirm the inerrant Scriptures to be the sole source of written divine revelation, which alone can bind the conscience. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured. We deny that any creed, council or individual may bind a Christian’s conscience, that the Holy Spirit speaks independently of or contrary to what is set forth in the Bible, or that personal spiritual experience can ever be a vehicle of revelation.

~Solus Christus

We affirm that our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone.  His sinless life and Substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father.  We deny that the gospel is preached if the Law and Christ’s Substitutionary work are not declared and the gift of faith in Christ and his work are not solicited.

~Soli Deo Gloria

We affirm that because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God’s glory and that we must glorify him always.  We must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God and for his glory alone.  We deny that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment, if we neglect either Law or Gospel in our preaching, or if self-improvement, self esteem or self-fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the gospel.