The Five Principles in Christianity that embodies
the work of God in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit in the Plan of
Salvation for humanity and its cosmos.
SOLA SCRIPTURA
Upholds Sacred Scripture as divinely inspired and infallible,
which alone contains all necessary things for salvation, and as a consequence, the
ultimate authority above anything else on matters of faith, moral and customs.
Sola Scriptura does not imply that Scripture holds
everything Jesus and the Apostles taught and did, but it does contain all
things Jesus and the Apostles taught and did that are required for salvation in
full.
Sola Scriptura does not exclude theological theories
or practices born outside scripture scope, as long as they do not contradict
the clear teaching of Scripture or are enforced as necessary for salvation.
Sola Scriptura does not exclude Patristics and
Tradition. They are good and necessary to understand the context of Scripture,
but they are not to be taken as doctrinally normative or source of revelation.
(John 20:30-31; 2Timothy 3:16-17)
SOLA FIDE
Upholds that Justification and forgiveness of sins,
Original, Personal, and their consequences, are achieved only through faith in
Jesus Christ as Son of God, Messiah and His Vicarious Atonement. Justification
by Faith Alone asserts that there is no action a human being can do to earn God’s
favour, forgiveness and salvation, except the wilful surrendering to God’s
will, through Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Justification by Faith Alone does not deny the necessity
of a believing Christian to obey God’s will in righteousness, since true faith
implies submission to God’s will, and it is not independent from it. But this
obedience comes from having faith, and it is not the cause of justification.
Justification by Faith Alone also denies that a
Christian can do anything to “pay back” for the forgiveness of his/her own sins
through acts of charity, mortifications or personal suffering.
(John 3:16; Romans 3:22; 4:2-3; 5:1-2; 10:9)
SOLA GRATIA
Upholds that the Plan of Salvation was initiated by
God alone, out of love to rescue a humanity that was lost and without hope.
Through Grace alone, the fallen human being is assisted to accept the Call of
the Gospel and he/she is moved to Faith, Repentance and Submission to God, through
Jesus Christ.
Without this Grace, humans would not be able to
accept the Gospel and receive forgiveness. Only by Grace alone, the believer
receives the Holy Spirit and the Sanctifying Grace to realize his/her full
redemption at the Resurrection and Glorification.
Grace Alone does not exclude human cooperation with
God’s Grace. In fact, humans, assisted by an initial Grace, must respond freely
and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit. The merit of Grace Alone resides
in that Salvation was not initiated by humans, and neither would be possible to
be attained by human effort without that freely given divine Grace. All human
response and cooperation is a direct consequence of that Grace.
(Ephesians 2:8-9; 2Timothy 1:2)
SOLUS CHRISTUS
Upholds that Salvation is achieved based entirely
through Jesus Christ. His Atoning Sacrifice, Resurrection and Glorification,
and that without Christ, salvation is impossible for anyone.
Solus Christus holds that Jesus Christ is the only mediator
between God and humanity, and the source of all divine Grace and Revelation,
fully sufficient and complete.
(1Timothy 2:5; Acts 4:12; 1John 2:1)
SOLI DEO GLORIA
Upholds that all Glory for the salvation of humanity
must be given only to the Trinity, as sole origin, executioner and consummator of
Redemption, Sanctification and Glorification.
Soli Deo Gloria does not exclude paying respect and
recognition to St Mary, the Apostles and Martyrs, but holds that Glory, Praise
and Credit for our Salvation can only be given to God alone, who brings it into
effect and full completion only through His own power.
(Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8; 1Timothy 1:17; 6:15)
Omar Flores
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