Please tell us what you would consider an adequate declaration of faith in the saving grace of Christ. Are there a few words or sentences you would use? I’m asking because if you can encapsulate your ideas of what a correct statement of faith would be, I’d like to see it, and see if there is anything there with which Catholics would disagree. Could you just post what you believe, briefly?
I’m NOT asking this in order to attack, find fault, or argue. I suspect we may have a lot more in common that you think. So could you write something please to define what you refer to as a “gospel of salvation”?
"Moreover brethren, I declare unto you THE GOSPEL which I PREACHED unto you, which also YE HAVE RECEIVED, and wherein YE STAND; by which also YE ARE SAVED, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the scriptures; and that HE WAS BURIED, and that HE ROSE AGAIN the third day, according to the scriptures." 1 Cor. 15:1-4.
It's not enough to believe that Christ died, was buried and rose again. Lazarus did that. It's the REASON Christ died, was buried and rose again: FOR OUR SINS. THAT'S THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God; NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8,9.
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for ALL, then were ALL dead: And THAT HE DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him WHICH DIED FOR THEM, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who HATH RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF BY JESUS CHRIST, and hath given to us the ministry of RECONCILIATION; TO WIT, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, RECONCILING the WORLD UNTO HIMSELF, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of RECONCILIATION. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did BESEECH you by us; we PRAY YOU IN CHRIST'S STEAD, be ye reconciled to God. FOR HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, WHO KNEW NO SIN; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." 2 Cor. 5:14-21.
The Gospel of your salvation is believing that Christ died FOR YOUR SINS, was buried, and rose again. The reason God was able to raise Him from the dead is because the penalty for OUR SINS had been PAID IN FULL BY JESUS CHRIST. It is a free gift from God, who has saved us by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ. Not by works of "righteousness" that we perform to gain His approval. He offers us reconciliation based SOLELY on the finished work of Christ and our faith and belief that that work was done on our behalf.