The name of our church is rooted in the affirmation of the five “sola” statements of the Protestant Reformation. The Latin word “sola” simply means “only” or “alone.” These five “solas” represent the heart of biblical theology and the Christian faith.
1. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone: Our only Foundation)
The Bible is the inerrant, infallible and sole source of written divine revelation. As such, 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. Scripture alone is absolutely authoritative in doctrine and practice and following Scripture alone is sufficient to please God in all things. (Psalm 138:2; 2 Timothy 3:14-17)
2. Solus Christus (Christ Alone: Our only Mediator)
Salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of Jesus Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation with God the Father. By Christ’s work alone we are saved and there is no other mediator between God and man. (1 Timothy 2:5, 6; Colossians 1:13-18)
3. Sola Gratia (Salvation by Grace Alone: Our only Method)
In salvation, we are rescued from God’s wrath by His grace alone. The supernatural work of the Holy Spirit brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life. We do not assist God in saving us by adding to His grace our good works, morality or any other human strategy. Only the grace of God can accomplish the transformation in the human heart from sinner to saint. (Ephesians 1:3-8; Romans 3:24)
4. Sola Fide (Justification by Faith Alone: Our only Means)
We are justified by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which He views our sins as forgiven, imputes Christ’s righteousness to us and declares us righteous in His sight. We are not justified on the basis of any human merit to be found in us. (Galatians 3:6-11; Romans 5:1)
5. Soli Deo Gloria (The Glory of God Alone: Our only Ambition)
Because salvation is of God and accomplished from God, it is ultimately for God’s glory. We live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God and for His glory alone. Every moment of our lives is to reflect the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 4:11)
These five “sola” statements are at the heart of who we are (our identity as the people of God), what we believe (the gospel of Jesus Christ) and how we will then live (sanctified lives led by the Holy Spirit). At Sola Hope Fellowship, we believe with the writer of Hebrews (6:19) that “we have this hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.”
Statement of Faith
Scripture
We believe the Bible is the revealed Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and as such is our supreme and final authority in all matters or doctrine and practice. The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments contain perfect instructions as to how to think, act and live according to the holy standards of God. Being wholly and verbally God-given, Scripture is without error or fault in all its teachings and is completely trustworthy (Psalm 19:7-11).
God
We believe in one God existing in three co-equal and co-eternal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is sovereign in His rule, all powerful in His reign and is everywhere present in every realm. God knows all things (Psalm 139) and is worthy of all honor, glory, confidence and love (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man (John 1:1, 2; Luke 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious and substitutionary sacrifice and that our justification is made certain by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 1:3-5). Furthermore, we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where as our High Priest He is our Advocate and Intercessor (Acts 1:9; Hebrews 7:25). We believe that Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5; Romans 14:9).
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is fully divine (Acts 5:3) and possesses the names and titles of God. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit who convicts mankind of sin (John 16:7-11), regenerates, seals, sanctifies and gives assurance of salvation. The Holy Spirit cultivates Christian character, comforts believers and bestows upon all believers spiritual gifts through which they serve God through His church (Romans 12:6-8).
Humanity
We believe that men and women are created by God in His image (Genesis1:27) and as such are the crowning work of His creation. Our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Psalm 16:11; 36:8). We believe that sin entered the human race through Adam and Eve’s free choice of disobedience to God. By nature, sin is unbelief in the promises of God, evidenced by active rebellion or passive indifference to His will. As a result of human sin, fellowship with God is estranged and communion with Him is broken. Yet, sin has not destroyed the image of God in man but has instead distorted it (Romans 3:9-18; 1 Corinthians 2:14). As a consequence of Adam’s sin, all mankind has inherited a sinful nature so that we totally lack any spiritual good before God (John 15:5). The ultimate consequence of sin is death with the end result being eternal separation from God’s presence (Matthew 7:23).
Salvation
We believe that every person is dead in their sin apart from Christ and is in need of a Savior. We affirm that Jesus Christ died as a full and sufficient payment for the sins of the entire world and as a substitute for all people. The shed blood of Christ is the only provision by which an individual may be delivered from the wrath of God. We believe that salvation is a gift of God’s grace and is received by man only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. As such, true saving faith is more than mental assent. It involves trust and is evidenced by a regenerated life, repentance and in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We believe that man is justified by grace through faith alone, apart from human merit, works or ceremonies (John 1:12; Acts 4:12). All those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives (John 3:36; Ephesians 1:13-18).
Church
We believe the church is the people of God in whom there is the fulfillment of the covenant promise: “I will be your God and you shall be my people” (Jeremiah 7:23). We affirm that Jesus Christ is the head of the church and that the local, visible church is an assembly of professing believers in Jesus Christ who gather together for the purposes of worship, study of God’s Word, observance of the ordinances, fellowship and prayer in order that we may be equipped for Christian service and evangelism. We believe the NT instruction that requires a plurality of biblically qualified leaders (elders) within the local church to shepherd the flock and exercise oversight in matters of teaching, discipleship and church discipline (Acts 14:23; 2 Timothy 2:2). We believe the Lord Jesus commanded His church to perform two ordinances: baptism and communion.
Return of Christ
We believe that Christ is coming to bring an end to the present age and to judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1). The wicked will be judged according to their own works, the result being eternal separation from God in hell (Matthew 25:41). The redeemed, whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, will also be judged, but their judgment will be according to the works of Christ on their behalf, resulting in resurrection life in a new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3:13). We affirm that the believer is already in the kingdom of Christ yet awaits the coming kingdom in all its fullness (1 Corinthians 15:50). No one knows when Jesus is coming again but everyone must be ready at all times (Mark 13:32-37).