Some things can be left open. Others can’t.

What follows is a set of paired affirmations and denials — the parts of the gospel where clarity matters enough to say not just what is true, but what is thereby ruled out.

We are justified while we are still sinners.

Truly Human

We deny that anyone who rejects the humanity of Christ, his incarnation, or his sinlessness — or who maintains that these truths are not essential to the gospel — will be saved (1 John 4:2-3).

What Happened at the Cross

We affirm that the atonement of Christ, by which in his obedience he offered a perfect sacrifice, propitiating the Father by paying for our sins and satisfying divine justice on our behalf according to God’s eternal plan, is an essential element of the gospel.

We deny that any view of the Atonement which rejects the substitutionary satisfaction of divine justice, accomplished vicariously for believers, is compatible with the teaching of the gospel.

His Life, Not Only His Death

We affirm that Christ’s saving work included both his life and his death on our behalf (Gal 3:13). Faith in his perfect obedience, by which he fulfilled all the demands of God’s Law for us, is essential to the gospel.

We deny that our salvation was achieved merely or exclusively by the death of Christ without reference to his life of perfect righteousness.

A distinction easily lost. Christ didn’t only die for us — he lived for us, keeping the law we couldn’t.

The Body That Came Out of the Tomb

We affirm that the bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead is essential to the biblical gospel (1 Cor 15:14).

We deny the validity of any so-called gospel that denies the historical reality of the bodily resurrection of Christ.

Faith Alone, Christ Alone

We affirm that the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone is essential to the gospel (Rom 3:28; 4:5; Gal 2:16).

We deny that any person can believe the biblical gospel and at the same time reject the apostolic teaching of justification by faith alone in Christ alone. We also deny that there is more than one true gospel (Gal 1:6-9).

The Great Exchange

We affirm that the doctrine of imputation — the reckoning or counting both of our sins to Christ and of his righteousness to us, whereby our sins are fully forgiven and we are fully accepted — is essential to the biblical gospel (2 Cor 5:19-21).

We deny that we are justified by the righteousness of Christ infused into us, or by any righteousness thought to inhere within us.

We affirm that the righteousness by which we are justified is properly his own, achieved apart from us in his perfect obedience — counted, reckoned or imputed to us by the forensic (legal) declaration of God, as the sole ground of our justification.

We deny that any works we perform at any stage add to the merit of Christ, or earn any merit contributing to the ground of our justification (Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

That pairing is the hinge. Righteousness reckoned from outside, not produced inside.

Still Sinners

We affirm that while all believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and are being conformed to the image of Christ, those consequences of justification are not its ground. God declares us just, remits our sins, and adopts us by his grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone — while we are still sinners (Rom 4:5).

We deny that believers must be inherently righteous by virtue of their cooperation with God’s grace before he will declare them justified.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re holy enough yet for God to accept you, there’s the answer. Acceptance came first; holiness follows from it.

But Real Change Follows

We affirm that saving faith results in sanctification — transformation in growing conformity to Christ by the Holy Spirit’s power. It means ongoing repentance, turning from sin to serve Christ in grateful reliance on him as Lord (Gal 5:22-25; Rom 8:4, 13-14).

We reject any view of justification which divorces it from our sanctifying union with Christ and increasing conformity to his image through prayer, repentance, cross-bearing, and life in the Spirit.

What Believing Involves

We affirm that saving faith includes mental assent to the content of the gospel, acknowledgment of our own sin and need, and personal trust and reliance upon Christ and his work.

We deny that saving faith includes only mental acceptance, or that justification is secured by mere outward profession. We further deny that any element of saving faith is a meritorious work.

Three components: understanding, admission, trust. Leave out any one and something’s missing.

Doctrine Doesn’t Save You

We affirm that although true doctrine — teaching — is vital for spiritual health and well-being, we are not saved by doctrine. Doctrine is necessary to inform us how we may be saved by Christ. But it is Christ who saves.

We deny that the doctrines of the gospel can be rejected without harm. Denial of the gospel brings spiritual ruin and exposes us to God’s judgment.

Both halves again. Doctrine isn’t the Saviour — and discarding it isn’t harmless.

Telling People

We affirm that Jesus Christ commands his followers to proclaim the gospel to all living persons, evangelising everyone everywhere, and discipling believers within the church.

A full and faithful witness includes personal testimony, godly living, and acts of mercy to our neighbour — without which the preaching of the gospel appears barren.

We deny that testimony, godly living and acts of mercy constitute evangelism apart from the proclamation of the gospel.

Preaching without a life to back it looks barren. A life without preaching isn’t evangelism. Both, and neither substitutes.

What We Promise Each Other

As evangelicals united in the gospel, we promise to watch over and care for one another, to pray for and forgive one another, and to reach out in love and truth to God’s people everywhere — for we are one family, one in the Holy Spirit, and one in Christ.

Centuries ago it was truly said that in things necessary there must be unity, in things less than necessary there must be liberty, and in all things there must be charity.

We see all these gospel truths as necessary.

Now to God, the Author of the truth and grace of this gospel, through Jesus Christ, its subject and our Lord, be praise and glory forever and ever. Amen.