Statement of Faith

I am born again because I believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son who came to earth in the form of a man, died on the Cross to take the penalty for my sin, three days later raised Himself from the dead and weeks after that ascended to the right hand of God the Father in heaven.

I am looking forward to Christ’s Second Coming and eternal life there with Him. In the meantime, I desire to live my life in obedience to Him, for His purpose and His glory, bearing much fruit as He equips and leads me (John 15:8). I endeavor to be a true follower and disciple of Christ by being a student and a practicer of His Word, the Holy Bible, which is divinely inspired and is the final measuring stick for all doctrine, life instruction, prophecy and hope in this life and eternal life to come (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Below is what I wrote as the Statement of Faith for our church, New Beginnings Believers Bible Fellowship, which I personally affirm for my life and soul:

Basics of the Christian Faith

To be truly “born-again,” it is vital that we who claim to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus not only know what we believe – that Jesus is Lord and Savior – but also why we believe it. And as we grow in this relationship, we need to be able to support our belief – our Christian Faith – with the Word of God.

The following are Essential Doctrines of the Christian Faith that individually and together define what a true believer of Jesus Christ is.

I. The Deity of Jesus Christ. True Christians believe that Jesus is the one and only God Almighty Himself revealed in human form, and that He is simultaneously both fully God and fully Man. However hard this is to comprehend (thus enters in faith), it is clear that either Jesus really is who He said He is, or He was a liar. Also, He alone has fulfilled every singly prophesy made about the Messiah so far. Genesis 15:2; Psalm 2:2-9; 45:6-7; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-14; 20:26-29; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 1:13; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 1:8; 22:7,12-13; Exodus 3:13-14 cf. (cross-reference with) John 8:58.

II. The Trinity. There is one God who subsists in three distinct Persons who make up the one true God: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit. All three are equally, fully and simultaneously Almighty God, Creator, Savior and Lord. This is also hard to grasp but clearly present in Scripture. Psalm 95:7-11 with Hebrews 3:7-11; Isaiah 6:6-10 with Acts 28:25-27; Jeremiah 31:31-34 cf. Hebrews 10:15-18; Acts 5:3-4; 13:2-4; 1 Peter 1:2. Also compare Deuteronomy 6:4 and Mark 12:29 with the following: 1) 1 Peter 1:2 for God, the Father; 2) John 1:1-14 for God, the Son; 3) Acts 5:3-4 for God, the Holy Spirit.

III. The Vicarious Atonement for Man’s Sin by Christ’s Death. You must believe that Jesus shed His own blood and died on the cross as the payment of the penalty for your sins. He is the innocent sacrificial Lamb who was pre-figured in Old Testament Israel. But He loved you and the whole world enough to pay the price, once and for all, for you. Exodus 24:8; Zechariah 9:11; John 1:29 cf. Romans 8:3 cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21 cf. Revelation 5:96; John 1:36; 3:16; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:22; 10:29; 13:20; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14; 12:11.

IV. Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection from the Dead. Prophesy about Jesus’ death and resurrection was specific and clearly referred to His physical body. Christ’s death atones for us; and His bodily resurrection assures us of His divine power to save us.  Genesis 22:5 cf. Hebrews 11:9; Isaiah 26:2; Daniel 12:2; John 2:19,21 cf. Luke 24:36-39; John 5:28-29; 10:18; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, esp. vv. 22-23; Revelation 20:5-6.

V. Salvation by Grace Alone through Faith Alone. Salvation is a gift based on God’s loving grace through what Christ has already done for you, not reward for mostly good behavior over bad. It is a work of our loving and merciful God, not a work of sinful man. With a works-based salvation, how could we ever know before it’s too late whether or not we had enough good works to save us? Salvation by grace levels the playing field for everybody: we are all given the same opportunity to accept or reject Christ, who is the only Way to heaven. Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; 5:8; Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; Titus 3:7; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter 1:10.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions about what it means to be a Christian, or for assurance of salvation or any other questions. Email me at Laurel@reluctantfirstlady.com.

 

 

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