As a catalyst for expediting the material Christ Covenant Church’s study of justification and as a hermeneutical and theological control for future discussions and criticisms, we assume the following ten statements to be well supported in the biblical text:
- The Bible is the absolute and final authority to which Christians must submit their minds as well as their lives to in all things, including all theology. Therefore any tradition, historical figure, theologian, theology, doctrine, statement, thought, idea or assumption must be supported by the Bible. Furthermore, any and all can be questioned on the basis of Scripture and scriptural teaching. In other words, the Bible knows no “sacred cows” beyond itself (2 Corinthians 10:5).
- Only the Bible is inspired, not men or history (2 Timothy 3:16).
- The Bible’s teaching, especially on issues directly related to salvation is completely perspicuous and knowable, though it will require a range of understanding. This understanding encompasses more than just the doctrine of soteriology. It includes other disciplines within systematic theology and biblical theology (2 Peter 3:16).
- The Bible is completely inerrant and consistent in revealing but one plan of salvation. Though there are levels of discontinuity between the two major covenants, God’s redemptive dealings with man over time is characterized by great continuity (1 Corinthians 10:11).
- All theological error is heresy and wickedness. Therefore all error ultimately leads to the destruction of the Gospel (2 Timothy 2:19).
- The basis of justification is the finished, all-sufficient death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 4:25).
- Justification is a gift granted only by the grace of God to those exercising faith in Jesus Christ alone. It is therefore not something that can be earned or merited through a person’s efforts, actions or works in any form religious or otherwise (Romans 3:28).
- Faith is also a gift granted by the grace of God that precedes justification as its condition and the pre-requisite to eternal salvation (Ephesians 2:1-10).
- Salvation is never merit/works-based, though faith is never alone (James 2:14-26).
- God has ordained those who will be eternally saved, and therefore salvation cannot lost (Ephesians 1:1-11).