Written 1993 Added John 14:6 5/1/2007
I know there are some who don’t like the idea of a “statement of faith”. And I understand that position. I like the principle of, “No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible”. But for now, this list of statements says some important things. Please email me with comments or questions. If one or more of these items represent something other than what the Bible says, I want to change them.
The Bible
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice.
God
There is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory. This triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all. God the Father is an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men. He hears and answers prayer. He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. The present ministry of the Holy Spirit includes all the Biblical gifts of the Spirit as God sovereignly uses yielded vessels.
Jesus
Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, fully God and fully man. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, taught truth, died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, rose again bodily, ascended into heaven, is perpetually interceding for His people, and will personally and visibly return to the earth.
Man
All humans are sinners by nature and by choice, and, therefore, under condemnation. The heart of man is evil. All unregenerate humans are enemies of God. God regenerates, by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. Jesus Christ baptizes the believer with the Holy Spirit to empower for service by His sovereign will and timing. The believer will be bodily resurrected to eternal blessing. The unregenerate will face final judgment and endless suffering.
Angels, Satan, and Demons
Angels were created by God to worship and serve Him and to minister to believers. Satan, an angel, exalted himself in rebellion against God. Satan (or Lucifer) led a rebellion of a portion of the angels. These demons, led by Satan, provoke rebellion among humans against God. Demons may control (i.e. possess) an unregenerate human. Demons cannot control a true believer in Jesus. Demons may tempt or attack a true believer, but only as allowed by God. A demon cannot force a true believer to sin. A true believer sins when led astray by the lusts of his own flesh.
Salvation and Perseverance
Salvation for an individual is by grace through faith in believing in and confessing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. An individual must recognize the evil and hopelessness of his own heart and life. He must recognize that he deserves eternal hell. He must recognize his need for a savior. He must believe that Jesus’ deity, sinless life, death on the cross, shed blood, and resurrection from the dead, is sufficient propitiation for his sins. He must repent of his own self-centered and rebellious life, ask God for forgiveness, and receive as a gift eternal life through Jesus Christ. The believer must deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Jesus. He must abide in the Vine and walk in the Spirit knowing that his standing with God and perseverance is by grace from first to last.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
The Church
The Church of Jesus Christ is the Body of Christ on earth and includes all people throughout the world who have believed in the true Jesus in terms of the true Gospel. The Church exists to glorify God, to edify believers, and to make disciples of people from all nations. God has ordained various ministries for the overseeing and working of the Church. God has provided each member of the Body of Christ with gifts for the edification of the Church. The Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: water baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
World History
World history is a matter of two elements: Mankind rebelling against God and God reaching out in mercy and reconciliation to all who would humble themselves. Every event in time relates to one of these two elements. There is nothing neutral. World history is the unfolding of God’s sovereign purposes and plans in spite of the evil intentions of men and fallen angels.
The World System
The World System is under the control of the evil one as allowed by the sovereignty of God. The kings and rulers take their stand against God and His anointed one. Christians are to pray for and give honor to the kings and rulers. Christians are to be subject to the magistrates without disobeying God. The World System is developing towards the global system of Anti- Christ.
The “Wisdom of Man”
The “wisdom of man” is foolishness to God.
The Blessed Hope
Our hope is not in this world system but in the “Blessed Hope” of Jesus’ soon return. The Lord Jesus Christ will visibly return to the earth and establish His earthly Kingdom.
Return to About
Return to Loving the Truth