With the coming of the New Year, most of us take at least a peek at who and what we are. If you want to know why I behave as I do, examine what I believe--not what I say I believe, but what I am willing to put everything else aside for.
People are, and do, according to what they believe and that is the importance of Doctrine. Most of the struggles we face around the globe today evolve out of our faith, what we will defend with all that we are. It may be Christianity. For some it is capitalism totalitarianism, or socialism, or terrorism, genocide, ecology or even evolution. Your behavior, rather than what you say you believe, will most quickly reveal the bottom line of your belief system.
This is why the church tries hard to define the rules and disciplines by which it operates, as well as its articles of faith. The church finds its basis in the Bible. Thus, any and all statements of faith, and-or-operating policy, should harmonize with biblical principles.
Based on this premise; here are some things in which I BELIEVE:
1. I believe the Scriptures--both Old and New Testaments--are inspired of God. The Scriptures form a complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of men, and offer the Divine--and final--authority for all Christian faith and life.
2. I believe in One God, who created all things infinitely perfect, who exists eternally in Three Persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. I believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God; I believe he is truly God and truly Man, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins, according to the Scriptures. He was resurrected bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven where at the right hand of the majesty on High, He now is my High Priest and Advocate.
4. I believe the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. He works in the regeneration of sinners, and the sanctification of believers. He indwells, instructs and empowers us for godly living and Christian service.
5. I believe we are created in the image of God, both male and female, but through disobedience we became lost sinners, and only through regeneration can salvation and reconciliation be obtained through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
6. I believe the true Church is composed of all redeemed persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ live united together in the one body of Christ, of which He is the Head. I believe in the royal priesthood of believers and in the exercise of spiritual gifts in the church.
7. 7. I believe water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances the church should observe. I do not regard them as the means of salvation. I note that Jesus also observed the washing of feet, which many orthodox Christians also practice.
8. I believe in the Kingdom of God as a present, eternal Spiritual Kingdom. Jesus proclaimed-and-established it during His earthly ministry, and His apostles and contemporary believers continue proclaiming it.
9. I believe the personal Second Coming of Christ will usher in the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment of all mankind, and the eternal reward--everlasting life of believers and eternal punishment of unbelievers.
You may or may not agree with me at any or all points. If your belief squares with the Bible, we should find enough in common to live as brothers and sisters in the common faith of the Christ of the Bible and that should offer sufficient commonality to enable us to relate together.
Should we not find that common thread of faith, I suggest the Bible reveals us as created in the image of God and bonded together in our common humanity which should enable us to live cooperatively and for the mutual good of each, at minimum.
You may or may not agree with me at any or all points. If your belief squares with the Bible, we should find enough in common to live as brothers and sisters in the common faith of the Christ of the Bible and that should offer sufficient commonality to enable us to relate together.
Should we not find that common thread of personal faith, I suggest the Bible reveals us as created in the image of God and bonded together in our common humanity which should allow us to live cooperatively and for the mutual good of each ... at minimum.
Warner’s World,
walkingwithwarner.blogspot.com
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