Statement of Faith

Our Belief

That there is one and only one true Creator God who made all that was made.  The Creator became Our Father through the life, love, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

That Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He was both God and man living on earth, and that He is sitting now at the right hand of Our Father.

 

That Jesus is the only one who has completely and totally loved and obeyed Our Father in all things, even by His death.  And that this obedience, love, and respect He gave Our Father is a once-and-for-all love-sacrifice accepted by Our Father for the sins of all men.  No other sacrifice, no other plan can do the work of atonement and forgiveness that Jesus, the Obedient and Loving Son, did at the cross. (John 14:6, John 17:3-4)

John 14:6  Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life.  No one gets to the Father apart from me.”          

John 17:3-4  And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you.  The one and only true God.  And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.  I glorified you on earth by completing down to the last detail what you assigned me to do.  

 

That no man will enter Our Father’s house without first paying due respect and honor to the Obedient and Loving Son, Jesus.  That as much as Our Father loves all men and created all men, Jesus’ love for the Father is far greater than any man has been able to give.  Because He loved Our Father more than His very life, Our Father has restored life, honor, and respect to this Obedient and Loving Son.  So that now, Our Father cannot allow others to show disrespect to His Obedient and Loving Son by letting anyone enter His house who does not come in by the door where Jesus stands to greet and welcome them in. (John 10: 9, John 14:2-4, 31)

John 10:9  I am the Gate.  Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture.

John 14:2-4  There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home.  If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you?  And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live.  And you already know the road I’m taking.

John 14:31  But so the world might know how thoroughly I love the Father, I am carrying out my Father’s instructions right down to the last detail.

 

That the Obedient and Loving Son, Jesus, is indeed Our Father, the Creator.  (John 14:9b)

John 14:9b  To see me is to see the Father.

 

That the Great Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father. That the revelation of the Obedient and Loving Son comes only from the Great Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the comforter that Jesus sends to us as Friend to live and dwell in us and also from our testimony. (John 16:7-10, 15:26-27)

John 16:7-10 So let me say it again, this truth: It’s better for you that I leave.  If I don’t leave, the Friend won’t come.  But if I go, I’ll send him to you.  When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control;

John 15:26-27  When the Friend I plan to send you from the Father comes—the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father—he will confirm everything about me.  You, too, from your side must give your confirming evidence, since you are in this with me from the start.

 

That prayer is a priority and our life’s work.  That it is not asking out of our own heart and our own desires, but seeking His heart and His desires. (John 14:13-14, John 14:10b, Mark 11:22-24)

John 14:13-14  From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it.  That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son.  I mean it.  Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.

John 14:10b  The words that I speak to you aren’t mere words.  I don’t just make them up on my own.  The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.

Mark 11:22-24  Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life.  Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you.  This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’ - no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done.  That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large.  Include everything as you embrace this God-life and you’ll get God’s everything. 

That the Bible is the true word of Our Father

 

Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright @ 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.