Post by Soulfyre on Nov 4, 2004 17:17:49 GMT -5
We believe in:
1) The only true God, the almighty Creator of all things, existing eternally in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--full of love and glory.
2) The unique divine (verbal, plenary) inspiration, entire trustworthiness and authority of the Bible, inerrant in all that it affirms as touching the cosmos, history, morality, and godliness; that scripture is our primary source of faith and practice, and is the standard by which all Christian belief and behavior must be measured. [Note: I have modified this particular statement to reflect honestly what I believe, and to allow for a recognition of the importance of early tradition as a source by which we can understand how the early church understood worship and the interpretation of scripture. To not take such tradition seriously gives short shrift to the work of the Holy Spirit within the church to guide the church into all truth. I believe that the true final authority resides in God, and that because God cannot contradict Himself, the tradition of the church must comport with Holy Scripture. I believe we must be honest to the full understanding of the "priesthood of the believer" within the church, the Body of Christ. All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, define our doctrine within "traditional" concepts. Hence we must exercise great care when we neglect the tradition of the church, as though our own perception were the final authority. I admit, however, that I do not accept the magisterium as a source of authority, although such is commonly held in Roman Catholicism.]
3) The value and dignity of all people: created in God's image to live in love and holiness, but alienated from God and each other because of our sin and guilt, and justly subject to God's wrath.
4) Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Son of God, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example, who assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord that we might finally be united with him.
5) Justification by God's grace to all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Thus we believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, and demonstrated by a life of obedience, manifested in love and good works.
6) The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life, a new calling to obedient service, and the empowerment to pursue the life of faith and obedience befitting a disciple of Jesus Christ.
7) The present Lordship of Jesus Christ over all of our lives, as a foretaste of the Kingdom of God, bringing all things into subjection to him through the application of his redemption to all areas of our thought and activity. Thus his redemption extends to all of creation, material and immaterial.
8) The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ as the church, the Body of Christ, made manifest by worshiping and witnessing communities of believers making disciples throughout the world through baptism and the sound exposition of all that Christ has commanded.
9) The victorious reign and future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life.
To God alone be the glory!
1) The only true God, the almighty Creator of all things, existing eternally in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--full of love and glory.
2) The unique divine (verbal, plenary) inspiration, entire trustworthiness and authority of the Bible, inerrant in all that it affirms as touching the cosmos, history, morality, and godliness; that scripture is our primary source of faith and practice, and is the standard by which all Christian belief and behavior must be measured. [Note: I have modified this particular statement to reflect honestly what I believe, and to allow for a recognition of the importance of early tradition as a source by which we can understand how the early church understood worship and the interpretation of scripture. To not take such tradition seriously gives short shrift to the work of the Holy Spirit within the church to guide the church into all truth. I believe that the true final authority resides in God, and that because God cannot contradict Himself, the tradition of the church must comport with Holy Scripture. I believe we must be honest to the full understanding of the "priesthood of the believer" within the church, the Body of Christ. All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, define our doctrine within "traditional" concepts. Hence we must exercise great care when we neglect the tradition of the church, as though our own perception were the final authority. I admit, however, that I do not accept the magisterium as a source of authority, although such is commonly held in Roman Catholicism.]
3) The value and dignity of all people: created in God's image to live in love and holiness, but alienated from God and each other because of our sin and guilt, and justly subject to God's wrath.
4) Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Son of God, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example, who assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord that we might finally be united with him.
5) Justification by God's grace to all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Thus we believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, and demonstrated by a life of obedience, manifested in love and good works.
6) The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life, a new calling to obedient service, and the empowerment to pursue the life of faith and obedience befitting a disciple of Jesus Christ.
7) The present Lordship of Jesus Christ over all of our lives, as a foretaste of the Kingdom of God, bringing all things into subjection to him through the application of his redemption to all areas of our thought and activity. Thus his redemption extends to all of creation, material and immaterial.
8) The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ as the church, the Body of Christ, made manifest by worshiping and witnessing communities of believers making disciples throughout the world through baptism and the sound exposition of all that Christ has commanded.
9) The victorious reign and future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life.
To God alone be the glory!