My Beliefs
Essentials
These essentials are things that I think are absolutely key to the Christian faith. It may be in some cases that you can be saved without believing some of them however I think most Christians would agree with me on most of these points:
God
- There is one God in three persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- He is Lord over all of creation.
- He reveals himself to human beings.
- He revealed himself supremely in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ who was fully God and fully man when born to a virgin.
- Though fully man he was sinless.
- Sin is primarily anything that goes against the revealed will of God.
The Bible
- The Bible is the main way that God communicates himself to us after Jesus. Therefore it is the supreme authority in all matters of belief and practice.
- He inspired the Biblical authors at all points and thus the Bible may be called “God’s Word”.
- The Bible consists of the 66 books in the Protestant canon.
- These 66 books in their original form when interpreted according to their genre are without error.
- The Bible’s main purpose is that Jesus may be made clear.
Man
- God made man as male and female, both equal before God.
- Man sinned, and continues to sin, thus making him guilty before God. He is unable to rid himself of the power of sin.
- This results in God’s wrath towards mankind, which is the reason for suffering in this world.
- When man dies in sin he will go to hell a place of eternal torment.
Salvation
- Jesus came down to earth and lived a life without sin.
- On the cross he took the punishment of sinners, that is the full wrath of God.
- Though he most certainly died and was buried, he was then raised from the dead by God. Now he reigns over heaven and earth and mediates for His people before God.
- Those who believe in Jesus Christ are freed from their sins only by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross are men redeemed from the guilt, power and penalty of sin and reconciled to God.
- This salvation is not just the only way Christians are reconciled to God but the only way anyone can be reconciled to God.
- This salvation is completely undeserved and is an act of God’s mercy not by good works, church membership or baptism on behalf of the believer.
- It is the Holy Spirit who is responsible for this turning to God. He creates a new heart in the believer and causes him to repent and have faith in Jesus.
- The Holy Spirit lives in all those who have been born again. He makes them more and more like Christ and gives them the power to witness to Jesus in the world.
- There is one universal Church to which all believers belong.
- There is no single denomination of Christianity which contains all believers.
- Jesus will return to judge everyone. Those he has given life to will be raised from the dead and will reign with him on a new earth for eternity.
Distinctives
These are some things not essential to being a Christian but are the frequently debated issues. They may colour my comments. These things are much more likely to change than the other doctrines, though for most of them I am quite soundly convinced.
- God sovereignly ordains everything in the universe for his own purposes, whilst at the same time he does not sin.
- God elected a people to be saved before time on the basis of his own grace and purpose not on any faith he saw in them or any works they would do. He irresistibly called these people by the power of his Holy Spirit and he will not let them go. No other human being will become part of God’s family, however this does not mean God does not desire them to come. It is ultimately their responsibility that they did not respond.
- There is a difference between faith and assurance. Faith is a trust that Jesus will take away sins that gives us eternal life. This may be small as a mustard seed and may not be fully recognised by the person who has it. Assurance is when a person is certain that they have faith. Assured people are not more likely to be saved, they are just more likely to be happy!
- Men and women are equal but with different roles. Men are giving the responsibility of caring leadership. Husbands are to be the heads of their households and only men are to preach to both men and women in the church congregation and have positions of leadership. Women are called to submit to male authority, though there are many ministries they can undertake within the church.
- The local church should evangelise (tell people the good news), administer the sacraments to believers (baptism and communion), preach the Word of God (not their own opinions), apply that Word to their hearers lives, have male leaders, care for the weak and sing as part of their regular work.
- I believe God can and does perform miracles today if he so chooses but I’m not sure how he administers those miracles to his people (i.e. are there people gifted as prophets or people who prophesy?). I do not believe tongues is an essential gift nor do I believe it should be practised in the main part of the church service. I think it is confusing to call anyone an apostle in today’s environment and advise against it.
- God definitely created the world and it would seem strange for him to do so via evolution, especially in light of the account in Genesis. Therefore I hold a creationist viewpoint, but I do not have any specific opinion on evolution.
- A significant part of the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and “liberal” Christians are not the same as that given by God. Whilst members of these churches may be saved they are under dangerous teaching that is not for their benefit. It is best for saved persons not to attend these churches as their primary means of receiving sacraments and teaching.
- Involvement in politics is not essential for Christians. Christians will never save the world by getting elected.
- The ultimate gift God gives us is relationship with Him, not a mansion in heaven or reunion with loved ones.
I hope all that’s clear. Please feel free to comment on these ideas or to ask specific questions, especially if I have not explained myself clearly.