Evangelicals/Pentecostals claim to be children of the Reformation. The principles that were most important to the Reformation include these below. Notice they are power doctrines. They are not Fundamentalist, meaning the scripture works by dead letter. The work of God is done by His Spirit:
1. Sola Scriptua – Theology comes from the word of God alone, not from nature or philosophy. Only God’s word is truth.
2. Interpretation – Scripture is understood in its plain meaning, not rationalised or allegorized contrary to its intent.
3. Sola Fide – Salvation is by faith alone, not faith and works. Saving faith is shown by its works. Works cannot produce faith.
4. Christ Authors Faith – Saving faith is God’s gift. It is not man’s faith. It is the faith of Jesus Christ.
5. Authority – Authority is in the word of God alone, not in the Pope, experience, human reason, culture, church community or collective human opinion.
6. The Depravity of Man – The Fall and depravity of man is total. Any goodness is due to grace alone. Man in his natural state does not seek God and cannot come to God.
7. Christ the Mediator – The Father draws man through the Lord Jesus Christ, without a human priesthood. No human, angel, pastor or ancestor is a mediator between man and God. (1 Tim 2:5)
8. Sovereignty – God is Creator and Governor over all His creation. His power cannot be challenged. There is no dualism, meaning there is no other power than God’s.
9. Preaching – Church services must focus on the preaching of the word of God, not on ritualism such as statues, candles, relics, beads, superstitions and not on entertainment.
10. One Sacrifice – Christ died once for sin at Calvary and is not re-sacrificed every Mass by priests. This applies to charms, some uses of point of contact, seed sowing and the Holy Land.
11. Finished Work – Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient. Nothing can be added to it by man, religion or tradition. Salvation, sanctification and perfection are by the blood of Christ alone.
12. Regeneration – The blood of Christ dealt with both justification (forgiveness of sin) and sanctification (the power of sin). Regeneration makes us complete in Christ.
13. New Birth – Man is saved by an instantaneous experience of new birth, without which we cannot know the Father. The new birth is not in man’s power. It is a creative act of God.
14. Indulgences – Man cannot buy salvation or any other gift from God. Neither does giving money initiate the grace of God. We can give to support ministry, but not give for ministry. The ministry of the Spirit is free, gratis, by grace alone.
15. Ministry – Ministry is a calling by God. The minister’s duty is first and foremost the sound communication of the gospel through the scripture, by the power of the Spirit. He or she must also be well trained in the knowledge of the doctrines of Christ.
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