This is my
confession of faith. This is the statement of faith I am most
comfortable with.
I wish my profession of faith could be kept this simple.
However,
there are those within the body of Christ who value (even require) a
more
explicit statement of faith.
Out of respect for them, I have decided to provide my own personal
abbreviated
statement of faith.
This will answer those who write asking for my own beliefs.
Though willing to provide a more detailed "personal" statement,
I would like to differentiate this from any organizational statements.
Organizational doctrinal statements have been used not only to affirm
faith,
but also to exclude others of differing belief.
This is very often reprehensible.
By revealing my own beliefs, I wish in no way to exclude others of any
stripe
or belief.
Once again, I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God,
and
Saviour of the world.
MY
PERSONAL STATEMENT OF
FAITH:
This is, of course, subject to change as God guides into clearer truth.
THE BIBLE:
The Old and New Testaments, were inspired by God and are the
revelation
of His will for the salvation of humankind. Under the
guidance and
testimony of the Spirit of Jesus, they present an example of Christian
faith
and practice.
DIVINITY:
The Father:
I believe in One God The Father.
Jesus Christ:
I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, Who, for our
salvation
incarnated into flesh, and dwelt among us.
I believe that He lived a perfect human life.
I believe that in Him we come face to face with the Father; so that we
learn
that The Father loves us and seeks our good.
I believe that in Jesus Christ God acted to save man, and that the
Cross
reveals at once both Yahweh's abhorrence of sin, but also the Father's
saving
love in its height, depth and power; and that the Cross is for all time
the
effectual means of reconciling the world unto God, and all into one.
I believe that Jesus was raised victorious over death and declared to
be the
Son of God with power; and that He is alive for evermore, our Savior,
and the
the firstborn among many brethren.
So I acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God Incarnate, the Savior
of the
world.
He rose from the dead according to the scriptures. He is now at the
right hand
of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest, and is the mediator
between
God and mankind, making the two one.
The Holy Spirit:
I believe in the Holy Spirit ever at work in the minds and hearts of
men.
I believe that the Spirit of Christ moves men to acknowledge Christ and
accept
the divine grace.
I believe that the Spirit is present with power in the Church, enabling
disciples to bear witness to what they have seen and heard, filling
them with
love of the brethren, and with the hope and realization of the Kingdom,
sustaining them with Christ's continuing presence in their midst.
I believe that by the same Spirit the Church is continually guided and
empowered, and her members fortified against temptation, fear and
doubt, and
built up into faith and wholeness unto salvation.
The Holy Spirit is sent to indwell, guide, teach, and empower the
believer. It
is the will of God that we be filled with the Holy Spirit, receiving
power for
holy living and effective service. The administration of spiritual
gifts for
the edification of the body of Christ is accomplished through the work
of the
Holy Spirit.
SALVATION:
Salvation is by grace through faith. It has been provided through Jesus
Christ.
There is no other name given whereby mankind must be saved. He is the
Saviour
of all men, especially those who believe. All things are made new.
PREDESTINATION
God's choice is based simply on His loving intention to unite all in
Christ.
Predestination refers to the Father's placement of all into Christ.
God created all things in, and by Christ.
All things now consist and exist in, and by Christ.
And there is also a restoration of all things in Christ.
God has freely given this salvation to all, in, by, and through Christ.
Chosen in Christ, and drawn by Him, the elect do come to faith.
It is not that we who are called are forced to respond affirmatively.
God makes his offer so appealing that we do respond, every man in his
own
order.
ETERNAL SECURITY:
God has provided a complete salvation. Believers can know they possess
this
salvation, and that it is eternally secure. The will of man cannot undo
the
work that God has accomplished through Christ.
A believer may forget what God has done.
He may become temporarily alienated, in his mind, from the life of God.
He is
free to apostatize. Those submitting to the works of the flesh, do not
inherit,
possess, experience, or see the kingdom of God, though it may be all
around
them.
However, despite this real possibility, the believer need not fear
falling
away. Kept by the grace of God, he will successfully endure all trials
and
temptations of life. The Lord is able to keep him or her from falling.
Believers are able to rest in the assurance that nothing can truly
separate
them from the infinite and unfailing love of God for all mankind. There
is no
fear in love.
This universal salvation, accomplished by God, is eternally secure for
everyone, through the death and resurrection of all, included in
Christ, in his
death, and so also, in his resurrection.
ESCHATOLOGY:
There is a resurrection of the just and the unjust, for the former a
resurrection unto life; for the latter a resurrection unto judgment. In
the
ages to come God will show the exceeding riches of His grace in his
kindness
toward us through Jesus Christ. Jesus taught that he would come again
to
establish God's Kingdom of righteousness and peace. According to God's
eternal
purpose, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is
Lord, and
God will bring all things in heaven and earth under one head, even
Christ. Then
Christ delivers up the Kingdom to the Father that God may be all in
all, and
everything to everyone. For those with eyes to see it, and the insight to enter in, the kingdom is even now spread out over all the earth.
UNITY:
I believe in the spiritual unity of all who truly believe in and know
Jesus
Christ. Jesus is the the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the
Father, but by Him. We are all gathered together into one in, by, and through him. A practical unity of all believers is a worthy
endeavor, as
a witness to Christ, and to the end that all may be saved by faith in
Him. For
Christ is all. God is all. And We are all One. "In essentials Unity; in
non-essentials Liberty;
in all things Charity" captures my sentiments perfectly.
