Statement of Faith
God:
The Trinity
I believe God has revealed himself in scripture as three distinct persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Event though God has revealed himself in three separate persons, scripture points to only one God. God, meaning capital “G” God. Since this is an important and core aspect to my faith as a Christian, I will attempt to explain the Trinity below.
Starting in Genesis 1:26, scripture has God saying, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Genesis 1:27 then says God created man in his image. With 1:26, scripture makes use of plural “us” when referring to make man in “our” image and let “us” make man. This helps lay the case that there is a plurality of God. The next passage makes use of God as singular, God created man. We see this throughout scripture. God being singular. There is only one God, but plural in persons of God. Context is key, so mentions of God and references to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit should be read in context to one another.
For example, with God being singular, passages like Isiah 43:10 helps to show God is the only god. None formed before, and none after. Isiah 44:6 has God telling us that he is the first and the last. We also see in Deuteronomy 6:4 that it is written that the Lord our God is one. When thinking about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it’s so important to keep focus on the context that God is one.
There are many, many passages that reference the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and reference them as God, and having a relation to each other. There are a few passages I like to reference because all three persons are pointed to within one or more sequential passages. I’ll detail Galatians 4:4-7 below, and I’ll make note of the person within parenthesis.
Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when a fullness of time had come, God (Father) sent forth his Son (Son), born of woman, born under law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God (Father) has sent the Spirit (Holy Spirit) of his Son (Son) into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God (Father).
We even see single passages reference one or more of the persons. These two passages, one in Romans and one in 2 Corinthians, each reference all three persons of the Trinity.
Romans 8:14
For all who are led by the Spirit (Holy Spirit) and God (Son) are sons of God (Father).
2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (Son) and the love of God (Father) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit) be with you all.
There are many more I could reference, but instead of including them all, I just want to remind the reader to read scripture in context to one another.
Humanity:
Sin Nature, Penalty of Sin, and Need of a Savior
The idea of sin nature is referenced as early as Genesis and continues throughout the Bible. It is a term to describe man’s nature, or instinct, to rebel against God. This rebellion continues throughout life unto death. This is why mankind needs a savior. If we look at Romans 8:5-8, we can see an example of sin nature within scripture.
Romans 8:5-8
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
We, as a fallen people, live according to the flesh. Scripture tells us that we are dead in the flesh, dead in our sin. Without a savior, without repentance, a cleansing for our sins, we would continue to be hostile to God. As a person thinks about scripture and the gospel, they may think “What if I keep all the law or all the commandments of God?” This is a great question, one I thought as a non-believer. Scripture tells us that WE cannot accomplish this. A few passages that helped put this in perspective are in James and 1 John.
James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
1 John 1:8
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
When studying these two passages in context, we see that a person who keeps the whole law, but fails (sins) once, is guilty of transgressing all the law. It then proceeds to explain that a person who claims they have not sinned is a liar, and God’s word is not in him. The heaviness of these two statements point out that we cannot be without sin. Our fallen, sin nature is guilty. This flesh is a slave to sin. Without a savior, it is impossible to be with God. Romans 5:12 wraps this concept up nicely.
Romans 5:15
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.
With our sin nature, and being guilty from that sin, scripture tells us the punishment for that guilt is death. Despite our best efforts, scripture tells us it is impossible for us to work our way to Heaven. Work out way to God. We are both unworthy of God’s love, of God’s grace, and we are owed nothing. Scripture says that God needs nothing. All of this helps put into perspective how amazing, how loving, and how undeserved the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross was.
Jesus, who was born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, paid the punishment of death for us. He took our punishment and paid it through his completed work on the cross. Revelation 1:18 tells us that He has the “keys” of death and has control and authority over death. Reading scripture and putting all of this in context, seeing it all in perspective, shows how loved we are by God. He didn’t have to pay our debt, he doesn’t need our worship, and thus further emphasizing that he wants a relationship with us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 wraps up our need for a savior and how blessed we are to be given the free gift of Grace.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Revelation 1:18
“… and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Salvation:
Justification and Sanctification
When talking about salvation, justification and sanctification are commonly referred to within that conversation. Justification is a one-time past action for a Christian. As Christians, our belief in the risen Jesus and his completed work on the cross is what provides us with justification. Repentance and belief in Christ provide us the gift of Grace. This Grace is undeserved, and it is a free gift. Paul tells us that this free gift of Grace is not our own doing, lets any man should boast.
With justification, it is a completed work. John tells us Jesus declared “It is finished” upon the cross before he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. With sanctification, it is a continual process. To sanctify is to make holy. Through our continued growth in our faith, through the continued work of the Holy Spirit, we are to become more like Christ. This continued experience to become sanctified by obedience to God’s Word, but as John tells us in 1 John, we are still sinners saved by Grace, and if we say we don’t sin, we are liars.
Peter does a good job at summarizing sanctification. He tells us to be the glory now and to the day of eternity. When reading about both justification and sanctification in scripture, within context, we get a picture of the completed work of Christ, to be one in Christ, and the whole of salvation.
Romans 5:18
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
1 John 1:10
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Bible:
Sola Scriptura and God Breathed
I hold to the belief that all scripture is God Breathed. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that scripture is breathed out by God. He then tells us that scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. With scripture, a man of God may be complete and equipped for good work. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:21 that no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man. Men can speak from God as they are carried along by the Holy Spirit.
With reading scripture in context, I feel that a Christian, who is equipped with the word of God (the Bible), and guided by the Holy Spirit, can trust that they have all the tools they need. That’s not to say the Holy Spirit is a tool, as I’m not calling or referring to God as a tool we can control and use. Because of this, I hold to sola scriptura. The idea of the bible, or original writings, alone is authoritative. We can rely on biblical text to be the revealed Word of God. God’s word is truth.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
2 Peter 1:21
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The Church:
The Church Role and View
While I view the Bible as the Word of God, and I believe the Holy Spirit guides us along our path, that doesn’t mean we can’t benefit from others. There are many passages talking about Christ and the Church. In Acts 2, we are told about the fellowship of the believers. It describes those believers as those that devoted themselves to the teachings of the Apostles, who broke bread together, prayed together, and praised God together. It tells of those that attend temple together, broke bread in their homes, and had favor with all the people. The church isn’t portrayed as a place people barely thought about or visited, but more so it is portrayed as part of a Christian’s life. The church is portrayed in scripture not as a place to visit once a week and be done. Church is portrayed as a fundamental part of a Christians life. A place of fellowship, a place of guidance, a place of love.
There are many passages in scripture talking about the church, and the importance of coming together to love and praise God. I feel a lot of Christians today don’t have a high regard for their church, and they view it more as a weekly obligatory obligation. When I think about the role of church, and how Christian’s should view it, I think of Ephesians 5:25. Christ relates his love for the church and tells husbands to love their wives the same. Marriage, a bond between husband and wife, where two shall become one flesh. Christians should think about this level of commitment and love when evaluating their view and role for the church.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Ephesians 5:31
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Acts 2:46
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,