Share YOUR Statement of Faith

[Servant of Jesus]

Some time ago, I started a thread that encouraged Christians to share their statement of faith.

I think it is very important for a Christian to know exactly what it is they believe, and to be able to share this with others when asked; my own statement of faith is as follows:

I believe:

1. That the Universe was created by God.
(Genesis 1:1)

2. That the Bible is divinely inspired by God, and describes God’s creation, and how we are to live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to God.
(Matthew 24:14)

3. That we are all sinners and as such, are destined to go to hell when we die.
(Romans 3:23)

4. That God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ and promised that if we believe in Him, repent of our sins, and ask God through the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us through life according to His will, that we will have eternal life and a place with Him in Heaven.
(John 3:16)

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I use BibleGateway a lot- they have a wonderful statement of faith that is reproduced below:


Statement of Faith for Bible Gateway

1. Doctrine of Scripture. The Bible is God’s unique revelation to mankind, the inspired, infallible Word of God. As such, it is the supreme and final authority and without error in what it teaches and affirms. No other writings are vested with such divine authority.

2. Doctrine of God. There is only one true God. He exists eternally as three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — each fully God yet each personally distinct from the other. God is the creator of everything.

3. Doctrine of Sin. Everyone, regardless of race, gender, social class, or intellectual ability, is created in God’s image and for communion with God. But because of sin, that communion was broken and all of humanity was separated from God, the source of all life. Because of the fall, everyone deserves God’s judgment.

4. Doctrine of Salvation. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and God gives salvation and eternal life to those who trust in him. Salvation cannot be earned through personal goodness or human effort. It is a gift that is received by repentance and faith in Christ and his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave.

5. Doctrine of Christ. Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary — he was God in human flesh. He lived a sinless human life, yet willingly took upon himself our sins by dying in our place and on our behalf. He rose bodily, victorious over death. He ascended to Heaven and is at the right hand of the Father as the believer’s advocate and mediator. Some day, he will return to consummate history and to fulfill the eternal plan of God.

6. Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, convicts the world of sin and gives new life to those who trust in Jesus. He indwells all believers and is available to empower them to lead Christ-like lives. The Spirit gives them spiritual gifts with which to serve fellow believers and reach out to a lost and needy world.

7. Doctrine of Judgment. At the final judgment, unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. Believers will be received into God’s loving presence.

8. Doctrine of the Church. All believers are members of the body of Christ, the one true church universal. Spiritual unity is to be expressed among Christians by acceptance and love of one another across ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, national, generational, gender, and denominational lines. The local church is a group of believers who gather for worship, prayer, instruction, encouragement, mutual accountability, community with each other, and as a witness to the world.

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Finally, of course, there is Christian Forum's Statement of Faith, which is based on the Nicene Creed- you can view it here (scroll down).

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Many churches have a statement of faith- which is helpful if one is traveling and wishes to go to a church that has beliefs that are similar to one's home church. But I believe it is also important that anyone who is searching to find out more about Christianity is able to do so effectively by reading a church's statement of faith.

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I would appreciate additional comments and see other Christian's Statement of Faith.

.

 

[Rdr Iakovos]

Cool.
Here's mine:

Πιστεύω εἰς ἕνα Θεόν, Πατέρα, Παντοκράτορα, ποιητὴν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, ὁρατῶν τε πάντων καὶ ἀοράτων. Καὶ εἰς ἕνα Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ, τὸν ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς γεννηθέντα πρὸ πάντων τῶν αἰώνων· φῶς ἐκ φωτός, Θεὸν ἀληθινὸν ἐκ Θεοῦ ἀληθινοῦ, γεννηθέντα οὐ ποιηθέντα, ὁμοούσιον τῷ Πατρί, δι' οὗ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο. Τὸν δι' ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν καὶ σαρκωθέντα ἐκ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆς Παρθένου καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσαντα. Σταυρωθέντα τε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου, καὶ παθόντα καὶ ταφέντα. Καὶ ἀναστάντα τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ κατὰ τὰς Γραφάς. Καὶ ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς καὶ καθεζόμενον ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ Πατρός. Καὶ πάλιν ἐρχόμενον μετὰ δόξης κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς, οὗ τῆς βασιλείας οὐκ ἔσται τέλος. Καὶ εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον, τὸ κύριον, τὸ ζωοποιόν, τὸ ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον, τὸ σὺν Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ συμπροσκυνούμενον καὶ συνδοξαζόμενον, τὸ λαλῆσαν διὰ τῶν προφητῶν. Εἰς μίαν, Ἁγίαν, Καθολικὴν καὶ Ἀποστολικὴν Ἐκκλησίαν. Ὁμολογῶ ἓν βάπτισμα εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Προσδοκῶ ἀνάστασιν νεκρῶν. Καὶ ζωὴν τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος. Ἀμήν.

That's the Symbol of Faith, aka Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, aka Nicene Creed.

 

[Lion King]

Here's mine:

I believe in God.
I believe in Jesus Christ.
I believe in the Holy-Spirit.
I believe that God, Jesus Christ and the Holy-Spirit are one.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of Man.
I believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again.
I have faith in Jesus Christ.
I believe the Bible is the word of God.
I believe that Jesus Christ paid for us all.
I believe in Love (God first and then neighbor).
I believe in baptism.
I believe that Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary.
I believe in the law of Christ.
I believe in being born again in water and Spirit.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the bread of life.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.
I believe that God is the creator of all things.
I believe in prayer to God only.
I believe that only God can forgive our sins.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and man.
I believe that God alone can save us.
I believe only God can redeem us.
I believe there is no power greater than the Lord's.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

 

[Searching_for_Christ]

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Athanasian Creed

Written against the Arians.

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three Eternals, but one Eternal. As there are not three Uncreated nor three Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and one Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.

The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or after other; none is greater or less than another; But the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He, therefore, that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of His mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood; Who, although He be God and Man, yet He is not two, but one Christ: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead; He ascended into heaven; He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.

This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.

yep

 

[joyfulthanks]

The Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian creeds pretty much sum it up for me, too.

 

[Harry3142]

I believe that it is only by our accepting the righteousness freely given by God to all those who accept as fact that his Son did indeed die for our sins, and was subsequently resurrected by God the Father as a testament to the efficacy of his sacrifice, that we truly attain salvation. As a result of this Christ is now both our Lord and our saviour. It is only by replacing our innate unrighteousness with his perfect righteousness that we obtain salvation.

I also believe that as Christians our words and actions are also to God's credit rather than our own. It is only through our connection to the vine as branches that our words and actions can truly conform to God's will. It is only through our submitting to his work at 'reining in' our sinful nature that we truly have it brought under submission to God. It is also only through our accepting the Spirit's leadership and gifts (the 9 fruit) that we truly behave in accordance with God's will.

So God's wisdom has dictated that both our salvation and the work that follows it must be totally dependent on our faith in him. It is only through our accepting his righteousness freely given that we obtain the righteousness necessary for salvation. It is also only through our accepting his power, strength, and leadership that we become useful instruments in the furtherance of God's kingdom. So there is no room for boasting.

 

[Kristos]

1. That the Universe was created by God.
(Genesis 1:1)

.

Created from what? From something, or from nothing?

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

.

I'd probably simply state the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds....

But the first 6 posts here http://christianforums.com/showthread.php?t=2245966 give more personal thoughts (although some of those posts are several YEARS old).



.

 

[cubinity]

My Personal Statement of Faith

1. God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek him.
2. By faith I understand that the universe was formed at God’s command.
3. God loved the world so much that he gave his Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
4. I have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and am justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
5. I am convinced that nothing in all creation will be able to separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus my Lord.
6. Jesus lives forever, able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
7. If I confess with my mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead, I will be saved.

8. Everything that was written in Scripture was written to teach me, so that through endurance and the encouragement of those writings I might have hope.
9. All of those writings are God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the person earnestly seeking God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
10. By faith I believe the Bible is reliable, relevant, timeless, and understandable.
11. However, I do not think that by any writings, including the Bible, I possess eternal life, but I go solely to Jesus Christ to have life.

12. Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
13. I am instructed to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind, and to love my neighbors as myself.
14. Therefore, I accept others, just as Christ accepted me, in order to bring praise to God.

15. The Lord is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
16. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
17. Therefore, I encourage repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit.
18. If I preach, I do not preach myself, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and myself as your servant for Jesus’ sake.

(1) Hebrews 11:6
(2) Hebrews 11:3
(3) John 3:16
(4) Romans 3:23-24
(5) Romans 8:38-39
(6) Hebrews 7:24-25
(7) Romans 10:9
(8) Romans 15:4
(9) 2 Timothy 3:16-17
(10) (Every other statement is from the Bible)
(11) John 5:39-40
(12) 1 John 2:6
(13) Matthew 22:37-39
(14) Romans 15:7
(15) 2 Peter 3:9
(16) John 3:17
(17) Acts 2:38
(18) 2 Corinthians 4:5

 

[cyberlizard]

Hear O Israel (spiritual and physical)

יהוה our God
יהוה is One
and you shall love יהוה your God with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your resources

and you shall do acts of love to your neighbour as to yourself.

And what does יהוה require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.




Steve

 

[River-Dweller]

I may take some time to post what I believe in my own words later on, but here is what I believe:

Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship distinctives:

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]FULL GOSPEL DISTINCTIVES[/FONT]



1. We believe the Full Gospel includes: (A) the proclamation of both the eternal power of Calvary and the potential power of Pentecost; (B) the baptizing power of Jesus Christ for salvation because of Calvary, and (C) the filling/controlling power of the Holy Ghost for service and Holy victorious living because of Pentecost.
2. We believe in the perpetual and continuing ecclesiastical value of all spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ until the end of this Church Age, which will be consummated by the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. We believe in the Divine personhood of the Holy Spirit and His present-day ministry to believers, which includes the sovereign distribution of spiritual gifts to believers for empowerment for service in the contemporary church.
4. We believe in Jesus Christ as the sovereign giver of spiritual gifts to the church. We believe spiritual gifts are given for the perfecting of the Saints, for work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ and are given without regard to ethnicity, social class, or gender.
5. We believe in the full autonomy of the local church as an independent entity under the Lordship of Christ, through pastoral authority, with regards to: A) government, polity, and operations,
B) discipline, and C) with the added value of the Episcopacy as a covering.
6. We believe in the value of biblical terminology of leadership in the contemporary church: Bishop, Overseer, Pastor, Minister, Elder, and Deacon. We believe all of these are designations for servant-leaders.
7. We believe in the formal and intentional praise and worship of the Almighty God as a proper, spirit-led, corporate acknowledgment and response to His person and work.
8. We believe in Jesus Christ as the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit whereby He by means of the Holy Spirit, brings men and women at salvation into relationship with Himself and His Body, the Church.
9. Believers are never commanded to be baptized with the Holy Ghost; it is in fact the baptism of the Holy Ghost that makes one a part of the Body of Christ. All believers have been baptized by Christ with the Holy Ghost.
10. We believe in the indwelling of the Holy Ghost for all Believers and that the Holy Ghost verifies and validates the Believer as part of the Body of Christ.
11. We believe in the spirit-filled life as desirable, valuable, and an issue of obedience for all Believers who are commanded to be filled with the Holy Ghost. We acknowledge that within the Body of Christ, the term, “filled with the Holy Ghost” is often used interchangeably with the term, “baptism of the Holy Ghost.” When referring to the controlling presence and power of the Holy Ghost, as a result of the submissive will and desire of the Believer, we allow such alternation of terms. We believe it is the will and command of God that every Believer be “filled,” “walk in,” be “led by,” and “live in” the power of the Holy Ghost.
12. We believe that it is God’s desire that all believers live under the “Divine Direction” of the Holy Ghost. We believe that the filling of the Holy Ghost is an ongoing ministry of the Spirit in the life of the Believer, that enables the Believer to live a life of power, victory, and glory to God
Compendium on Distinctives VIII and X
13. We believe the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the filling of the Holy Ghost are distinct, separate, valid, and valuable ministries of the Holy Ghost which may occur simultaneously at salvation.
A) Being filled with the Holy Ghost may and should occur subsequent to salvation in obedience to biblical exhortation.
B) The baptism of the Holy Ghost occurs once and for all at salvation.
C) Being filled with the Holy Ghost should not only be a continuous reality, but an ongoing characteristic of the believer’s consecrated holiness. (Matthew 3:11; John 1:33;

National Association of Evangelicals statement of faith:

• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.

• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

• We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.

• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

And, I can't find a brief statement on this, but I believe the TULIP and that would be in there somewhere as well.

 

[Yab Yum]

Why should anyone deviate from the Apostle's Creed, we already have a statement of beliefs.

 

[katherine2001]

The Nicene Creed is my statement of faith:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten not made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. The third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

 

[Dylan Michael]

Here's Mine...


In Song!

YouTube - Credo in Latin

 

[Servant of Jesus]

Thank you so much- some of you have some amazing and inspirational insights!

Definitely is brightening up my day! Imagine what these insights do for someone from Africa or the Middle East who has an opportunity to view them.

 

[Ortho_Cat]

Hear O Israel (spiritual and physical)

יהוה our God
יהוה is One
and you shall love יהוה your God with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your resources

and you shall do acts of love to your neighbour as to yourself.

And what does יהוה require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.




Steve

That doesn't really say anything about Jesus though....

 

[razeontherock]

YouTube - Petra - Creed

 

[Uphill Battle]

here's mine.


I'm unworthy, but redeemed, because God is merciful.

everything after that, is either technical (as in how, Jesus died on the Cross etc...) or window dressing.

I personally don't have a need for long statements.

 

[DailyBlessings]

The Creed of Andrew of Carpinteria

I believe in God the Inheritance,
faith in whom we learned from our parents
and through whom all things have their being
without whom there can be nothing
because of whom existence has beauty, nobility, and grace

I believe in Jesus Christ, the man in whom God was fully realized
and through whom we can know that which is greater than us
he came in time to teach us the way of undying life:
to love the Lord our God, and
to love our neighbor and ourselves in equal measure
these things he did and is doing
for he is not dead, though he was killed, but lives
in him there is no darkness, no deceit, no pain
those who believe on him will never be disappointed

I believe in the Holy Spirit
which makes the will of God known to us
makes us bold to claim the promises of God
and becomes our refuge in times of fear and doubt

In God made manifest I place my faith, my trust, my hope
my self, my love of life, my care for creation, and my service to others
from now until the day of my undoing

 

[Tangible]

Welcome to the Book of Concord