FIVE SOLAE

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