My beliefs
The Basics
The most important thing to me in my faith is my relationship with God. I believe that God loves me and desires for me to know Him as well as He knows me. He communicates with me through the Bible and the Holy Spirit. I communicate with Him through prayer. What He has shown me through the Bible and confirmed in my heart by the Holy Spirit is that, though I am a sinner and deserve punishment and death, He has chosen to sacrifice His Son to pay the debt for my sin so that I can be saved from punishment and someday join Him in heaven where I will get a more complete understanding and knowledge of Him.
My relationship with God is not a result of my own desires and actions, but, rather, is the result of His calling and the work of the Holy Spirit in me. I am saved by my faith, but my faith comes from Him through the Holy Spirit, so it is not a work of my own. However, if my faith is true, it will be shown through my actions. Therefore "faith without works is dead".
Jesus (and belief and faith in His actions during His time on earth) is essential to this relationship with God, as, without His humanity and without His perfection, salvation would not be available to sinners. Because He was fully man, He suffered all the temptations of man. Because He was fully God, these temptations did not lead Him to sin. Because He was man and did not sin, His persecution and death on the cross was able to atone for the sins of all who are saved. No person can save himself, through any amount of good works or penance, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". For these reasons, Jesus is our intercessor with God and presents those who are saved as guiltless and perfect despite our human natures.
How this effects me personally
All these things are statements of doctrine and are echoed in the Bible and the literature and confessions of the Christian Reformed Church. However, these things are also personal. God is active in my life, both in my sufferings and in my blessings. The Holy Spirit is with me constantly, and I have only to listen for Him to be guided and confirmed. Jesus not only saves me but also identifies with my suffering so that I do not suffer alone or suffer in a way unfamiliar to God. I am not perfect in keeping up my end of this relationship - too often I fall into my own habits and desires and forget to pray and read the Bible and ask God for guidance. This is the human nature - not to be inclined toward God and His desires, but to be inclined toward my own desires and pride. But for the grace of God, I would know no other way and be condemned. But for the grace of God, I would, even knowing, still behave in accordance with my human nature and not desire the things of God without recognizing my guilt or the possibility of salvation despite my guilt.
Common Points of Contention
Justification through Faith or Works
I would like to take a closer look at the subject of good works, as this is a point of contention for many people and even many denominations within the Christian Church. The statement "faith without works is dead" means that those with true faith will respond to their faith and this response will be shown in their actions. These works in no way justify the faithful; they are only outward signs of the inward work of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, faith is a gift from God, not something that a person can cause on his own or earn in anyway. Therefore, a person cannot save himself even through faith – only God can save a person by giving him faith. Because of these things, baptism, profession of faith and the Lord's Supper as physical acts are not required in order for a person to be saved. These physical acts are only symbols and reminders of things that God has done inside of people without their effort or deserving. On the basis of these things, any person can be saved by faith at any time, even if they are on their deathbed and have no opportunity for good works.
Justification for Children
I would also like to explore in more depth the fact that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Since the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, all people have been born into sin and sinful natures. Even the youngest of infants is subject to this tragedy, and this human nature continues to dwell within us to the day of our death. However, God may yet save those who die before they were old enough to understand the teachings of the Bible and the voice of the Holy Spirit. Since faith is a gift from God and not based on a person's understanding and actions, God may extend this grace and mercy to a child as easily as He does to those who have learned of Him and are capable of making decisions.
Justification for those who have not heard of the Bible
The Bible states repeatedly that God reveals Himself through His creation, through the testimonies of His Son and the Bible, and through the revelation of the Holy Spirit within a person's heart. However, as seen above, none of these revelations will cause a person to believe except the work of the Holy Spirit. A person is not inclined to believe and have an active faith on his own, due to his sinful nature. However, if the Holy Spirit softens his heart, he will believe and be saved, regardless of the availability of the Bible and its testimonies - for the Holy Spirit will provide the knowledge necessary for active faith. Therefore, it is still through God's grace and mercy that people are saved. God uses creation and the testimonies to re-enforce belief, and holds accountable those who have these proofs but choose to ignore them.
