STATEMENT OF FAITH
1. Scripture
“The Holy Scriptures…are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim 3:15
The Scriptures are only “able” to make us wise. They do not automatically do so. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal their true meaning and application to our lives.
“God…made us sufficient as ministers…not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Cor 3:5-6
“I thank You, Father…that You have hidden these things [context is judgment] from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.” Mt 11:25
“No one knows…the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Mt 11:27
“He [Christ] expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself .” Lu 24:27
And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Lu 24:45
“Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able….He who is of God hears God’s words…” John 8:43,47
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mt 11:15; Mt 13:9; Mt 13:43; Mk 4:9; Mk 4:23; Mk 7:16; Lu 8:8; Lu 14:35; Rom 11:8 - Repeated nine times!
“Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,” Mt 13:34
“To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.” Lu 8:10; Mk 4:11; Mt 13:10-13
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. but you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” Jn 5:39-40
“I am…the truth…” Jn 14:6
Note: The Bible experts in Christ’ time did not recognize the Word of God when He taught in their very presence. In fact, they had Him crucified as a criminal!
The Scriptures, as I believe they are illuminated and quickened to my mind and heart by the Holy Spirit, are what govern my life.
2. Jesus is God
God took human form to reveal His nature and character to the world. Jesus is:
“One” with the Father (John 10:30)
The “Image” of God. (Col.1:15; 2 Cor. 4:4)
“The radiance of God’s glory” (Heb 1:3 NIV)
“The exact representation of His being…” (Heb 1:3 NIV)
“In very nature God…” (Phil 2:6 NIV)
“Great God” (Titus 2:13)
“Immanuel (God with us)” (Isa. 7:14)
“Mighty God” (Isa. 9:6)
“Eternal Father” (Isa. 9:6)
“God” and “Maker” of all things (John 1:1-3)
“Creator of all things” (Col. 1:16)
To whom “Every knee will bow…to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil.2:9-11)
Only God is worthy of such universal worship.
Thomas referred to Christ as “God” and our Lord did not correct him! (John 20:28-29).
Of the Son we read, “Your throne O God…” (Heb. 1:8)
The truth that Jesus and the Father are One is precious to me. We have not seen God our Father, but we (2000 years ago) have seen Jesus Christ. God, in Christ, came to earth as one of us. He lived and walked among us. “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” (Jn 14:9) Jesus modeled the very character of God. To know Christ is to know God. We continue to see Christ today, in the Scriptures and in His people.
The unity of the Father and the Son, in the Holy Spirit, is a Oneness I cherish. Why? Because when I see Christ suffering and dying on the cross, I see God suffering and dying for the sins of all humanity. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.” (2 Cor. 5:19). I believe that the Father at least felt the same pain on the cross as His son did, and if not, then it was a greater pain. (It hurts us more as parents to witness the suffering of our children than to receive direct pain ourselves.) Whatever the case may be, the Father also suffered horrifically for us all. This truth draws my heart to God. It ignites the emotions of love and affection for Him from the depths of my being. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). He loves us with a sacrificial, infinite and indescribable love.
3. God is Good (Psalms 86:5, 9-10, 15)
Is God good? Is He kind? Will He torment most of humanity in hell forever? These are the questions that matter most of all; all else fades in comparison. These questions relate to God’s character. These are the questions a dying world longs to know.
Is God good?
That is the most important question of all.
4. God is Love (1 John 4:8; 4:16)
John repeats this phrase two times. There is no mystery about God’s love. “By this we know what love is. Christ (God) gave His life for us (1Jn 3:16). And who are the “us”? “The Lamb of God…takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29)!” He atones for the sins of the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2)!” He died for every single person that has ever lived. (Hebrews 2:9).
5. God is Holy (Rev. 4:8)
The Holiness of God is not something apart from, or separate of His love, since love is His very essence (1 John 4:8; 4:16). We cannot say “God is love, “but” He is also holy and must punish sinners forever. No verse says this. There are no “buts” to God’s love. Many say sin (sinners) cannot exist in the presence of God. But this denies the Divinity of Christ, for Christ hung-out with sinners. Was Christ not God? Plus it denies that God does away with all sin through Christ (John 1:29). It denies that Christ will draw (literally drag) all men unto Himself when He is lifted up from the earth. (John 12:32). God’s love for all humanity is simply a manifestation of His holiness, not something opposing it.
6. Christ died for “everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9, John 1:29; 1 John 2:2)
“I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified [for the whole world ].” 1Cor. 2:2; John 1:29, 12:32; 1 John 2:2. See: http://www.hopebeyondhell.net/telling-the-good-news-of-peace/
7. One Body, One Spirit, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father of all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
I pray Christians everywhere, of all persuasions (among hundreds of denominations), will hold dear what our Lord said identifies us as His followers:
“By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, by the love you have for one another. (John 13:35).”
May the Holy Spirit unfold to our minds the full implications of this passage. Note: He did not say “unity of doctrine” but ‘love.” This is very significant.
If you were about to be tortured and killed; what would you pray for?
Please stop a moment…
Think…
If you were about to be tortured, and killed; what would you pray for?
Answer? You would pray for the thing you hold most dear to your heart.
Now…
What do you think Jesus prayed for when He was about to die? Observe what He prayed for on the eve of His crucifixion, just moments before His arrest and night of torture:
Jesus prayed that we “all may be one” as He was one with His Father…that “the world may believe” that the Father sent Him. (Jn. 17:21). He repeats His concern for the world…“that the world may know!” (v.23). Jesus petitions His Father five times to make us one! (See verses 11, 21a, 21b, 22, and 23. And why? Because He cares for the whole world, and not just us. We are His hands and feet to touch the world with his love. See Mathew 9:36-38.
I pray that we, as followers of Jesus, will hold this precious prayer close to our hearts. May we love and accept one another in all our diverse beliefs. May God make us one!
8. Savior of the world (John 4:42; 1John 4:14)
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
I believe Jesus Christ is truly the Savior of the whole World. Read my book, “Hope Beyond Hell,” for abundant and compelling Scriptural and reasonable evidence for my belief.
9. All things are possible with God (Mark 19:26; Mk 10:27; Luke 18:27)
“Who then can be saved? …With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10: 26-27)
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth…Christ Jesus… gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:3-6)
“Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand.” (Isaiah 14:24)
“Through Your power Your enemies shall submit to You…All the earth shall worship You.” (Psalm 66:3-4)
I, like Abraham, am strengthened in my faith by God’s marvelous promises. I am convinced that He has the power to do all that He has promised. (see Rom 4:20-21)
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Eph. 3:20)
I hold some very high and lofty thoughts about our amazing God; especially in regards to His unlimited and unfailing power and love for all His creation.
10. The Apostle’s Creed (A summary statement)
The Symbolum Apostolorum was developed between the second and ninth centuries. It is the most popular creed used in worship by Western Christians. Its central doctrines are those of the Trinity and God the Creator. It has been called the Creed of Creeds. ¹
I subscribe to this creed. Note that “everlasting punishment” is not mentioned in it.
Modern English Version
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. AMEN.
Systematic Theology
Neither Christ, nor His apostles, formulated a systematic theology, as did Augustine and Calvin, and other teachers and denominations, past and present. It would be unwise for me to discuss in depth things I do not understand or what God has not illuminated to my heart.
References:
¹ http://www.creeds.net/ancient/apostles.htm
