What I Believe
I believe in historical, evangelical, reformed, and Biblical Christianity.
You can read other creeds and confessions of the Christian faith, most of which I align with or closely align with.
For more clarity on my opening statement above, read Not Just a Label: What Four Specific Words Mean in My Statement of Faith
The Five Solas
I believe in the Five Solas (sometimes spelled “Solae”) of the Protestant Reformation. These clarify that the core of Christianity and salvation is not based on man-made rituals, traditions, rules, or beliefs, and instead are based on what God has done, and is through Him, in Him, and for Him.
Sola Scriptura – “Scripture alone” – The Bible, the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God, is the final and sufficient authority for Christian faith, doctrine, and practice. (Psalm 19:7-11; Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Sola Fide – “Faith alone” – We are justified before God through faith in Jesus Christ alone, apart from works or human merit. (Romans 3:28; Romans 4:4-5; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9)
Sola Gratia – “Grace alone” – Salvation is entirely the free gift and gracious work of God and cannot be earned or deserved by sinful mankind. (Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; 2 Timothy 1:9)
Solus Christus – “Christ alone” – Salvation is accomplished through the Person and work of Jesus Christ alone. He is the only mediator between God and man and the only way to the Father. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 7:25)
Soli Deo Gloria – “To the glory of God alone” – Salvation and all of life are ultimately for the glory of God. Therefore, our desire should be to glorify Him in everything we think, say, and do. (Psalm 115:1; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 1:3-14)
The Gospel
The core of the Christian faith is the Gospel (or “Good News”) of Jesus Christ, which the Apostle Paul outlined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.“
More tenets are broken down below:
The Bible
I believe all Scripture, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, is the authoritative, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.
Sufficiency
Scripture states that it is able to equip us for every good work. Therefore, I believe that the Bible alone, as believers apply it to their lives, is a sufficient resource to prepare them to handle all the challenges of life and ministry.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalms 119:160
Triune God
I believe there is only one God, eternally existing in three Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit; who are co-equal in Their essential nature, attributes, and perfection.
The Lord God is holy, invisible, personal, omnipresent, eternal, dependent on none, perfect, unchanging, truthful, trustworthy, almighty, sovereign, omniscient, righteous, good, loving, merciful, long-suffering, and gracious.
Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Mark 12:29; 1 Timothy 2:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 5:23; John 14:8-11; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-2
- God The Father:
I believe the first Person of the Trinity is the absolute Ruler of the universe.Psalm 115:3; Daniel 4:35; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; 1 John 4:14; Isaiah 64:8; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:12-13; Psalm 147:4-5
- Jesus Christ:
I believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal, divine Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, fully equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. As God, He possesses all the attributes of deity. I believe that Jesus Christ took on a true human nature, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is truly God and truly man, the Son of God and the Son of Man.I believe Jesus Christ lived a perfectly righteous and sinless life, fully obeying the will of the Father. He willingly died on the cross as a substitute for sinners. Through His death, He bore the penalty for sin, completely satisfied the righteous wrath of God, and accomplished redemption for His people. His sacrifice is of infinite worth and sufficient for all, and all who repent of their sins and place their faith in Him receive the full benefits of His saving work, including forgiveness, justification, reconciliation with God, and eternal life.
I believe that after His death, Jesus Christ literally, physically, and bodily rose from the dead on the third day. He appeared to many witnesses over a period of forty days and then ascended bodily into Heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. There He reigns as Lord, intercedes for His people, and serves as our Advocate and great High Priest. I believe He will personally, visibly, bodily, and gloriously return to judge the living and the dead, consummate His Kingdom, defeat all His enemies, and reign forever.
Colossians 1:15-20; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-3, 14, 18, 29; Isaiah 53:5-6; Matthew 1:21; John 3:16; John 8:58; John 10:11, 14-15, 30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 5:1, 10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5; Acts 1:3, 9-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1; Isaiah 9:6-7; 2 Timothy 4:1
- Holy Spirit:
I believe that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, fully divine and equal with the Father and the Son. He convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Through His sovereign work, He regenerates spiritually dead sinners, giving them new life and bringing them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.I believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer from the moment of conversion, seals believers for the day of redemption, and unites them to Christ and His Church. He sanctifies, guides, teaches, comforts, and empowers believers, illuminating the Scriptures and enabling them to understand and obey the Word of God. He distributes spiritual gifts according to His will for the building up of the Church and produces His fruit in the lives of God’s people as they walk by the Spirit.
Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 3:5-8; John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:8-15; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9-16; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; Galatians 5:16-25; Titus 3:5-6
God’s Providence
I believe that God sovereignly upholds, governs, and directs all things according to His perfect wisdom and will. Nothing occurs outside His providential rule, and His purposes cannot be frustrated. At the same time, God is perfectly holy and is never the author of sin, while human beings remain morally responsible for their choices and actions.
Psalm 103:19; Psalm 115:3; Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 46:9-10; Daniel 4:35; Romans 8:28; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 1:11; James 1:13
Satan
I believe Satan was originally created as an angel but rebelled against God through pride and sin. He is a fallen spiritual being, the deceiver and tempter of mankind, and the adversary of God and His people. Though Satan presently works in opposition to God, he remains completely subject to God’s sovereign authority and will ultimately be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire forever.
Genesis 3:1-15; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3, 14; Ephesians 6:11-12; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:10
Creation and Fall of Mankind
I believe mankind was created by God in His own image, originally upright and without sin. Adam and Eve sinned against God through deliberate disobedience to His revealed will. As the representative head of the human race, Adam’s sin brought guilt, corruption, condemnation, and death upon mankind. Therefore, all people are born with a sinful nature, are spiritually dead in sin, and are sinners both by nature and by choice.
Because of this fallen condition, mankind is alienated from God and justly under His condemnation. No person is able to rescue himself, earn righteousness before God, or secure salvation through good works, personal effort, or merit. Salvation is possible only through the gracious work of God in Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1, 26-27; Genesis 2:7, 15-17; Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:9-12, 23; Romans 5:12-19; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:1-3
Sin Resulted in Death
I believe that sin brought both spiritual and physical death into the human race. Through Adam’s disobedience, mankind came under the righteous condemnation of God and became alienated from Him. Apart from God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ, every person remains spiritually dead in sin and under judgment.
No one can remove his own guilt, reconcile himself to God, or escape condemnation through good works, religious observance, or personal merit. The wages of sin is death, but eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:12-14, 17; Romans 6:23; James 1:15; Romans 3:23; John 3:18; Ephesians 2:8-9
Salvation
I believe that salvation is entirely the work of God’s grace. In His great love and mercy, God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly gave Himself on the cross as a substitute for sinners. Christ bore the wrath of God against sin, fully satisfied the demands of divine justice, and accomplished redemption for His people. His sacrifice is of infinite worth and sufficient for all, and the Gospel is to be freely proclaimed to all people. All who repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus Christ will be saved, and none who come to Him will ever be cast out.
I believe that saving faith is personally trusting in the Person and finished work of Jesus Christ alone for salvation. It is resting in what He accomplished through His perfect life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection rather than trusting in our own works, righteousness, religious observance, or merit.
I believe that all who place their faith in Jesus Christ are justified before God. In justification, God freely pardons the believer’s sins and declares the believer righteous, not because of any righteousness or merit of his own, but solely because of the righteousness and finished work of Jesus Christ. Christ’s righteousness is credited to the believer and received through faith alone. Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
I believe that the heart of the Gospel and the Christian Faith is the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12; John 3:16-18; John 6:37-44; John 10:11, 14-15, 27-29; Acts 20:21; Romans 3:21-28; Romans 4:4-8, 22-25; Romans 5:1, 6-11, 17-19; Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:8-9; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5
Christian Walk and Sanctification
I believe that all who are united to Christ by faith are called to a life of holiness and obedience. Sanctification is the gracious and ongoing work of God by which believers, through the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of His Word, are progressively conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
Although believers continue to struggle with sin throughout this life, they are no longer slaves to sin and are called to put sin to death, pursue righteousness, and walk by the Spirit. A believer’s life should increasingly be characterized by love for God and others, obedience to God’s Word, the fruit of the Spirit, prayer, good works, and perseverance in faith. These works do not earn or contribute to our justification before God, but are the necessary fruit of genuine saving faith and the work of God’s grace within us.
John 15:1-8; Romans 6:1-14; Romans 8:12-14, 29; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:22-32; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 3:1-17; Hebrews 12:14; James 2:14-26; 1 John 2:3-6
Ordinances
I believe that Christ has given two ordinances to His Church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These ordinances do not save or contribute to our justification, but are commanded by Christ and are to be faithfully observed by His people.
Baptism is the immersion in water of a person who has repented of sin and professed faith in Jesus Christ. It is an outward sign of the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and a public profession of new life in Him. Baptism follows conversion and does not itself regenerate or save.
The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, was instituted by Jesus Christ for His Church. In partaking of the bread and the cup, believers remember Christ’s sacrificial death, proclaim His death until He comes, give thanks for His saving work, and express their fellowship with Christ and with one another. The bread and the cup signify Christ’s body and blood, and believers are to partake reverently, examining themselves and receiving the Supper by faith.
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 10:48; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
The Great Commission
I believe that Jesus Christ has commissioned His Church to make disciples of all nations until He returns. Christians are therefore called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people, calling them to repent of their sins and believe in Him for salvation.
Those who believe are to be baptized and taught to observe all that Christ has commanded. The work of the Great Commission includes evangelism, discipleship, teaching, and the establishment and strengthening of faithful local churches throughout the world. Every believer should desire to bear witness to Christ, while the Church collectively is responsible for sending, supporting, and equipping those who take the Gospel to places where Christ is not yet known.
Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:8; Acts 14:21-23; Romans 10:13-17; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:2
The Church
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Head of His Church, which consists of all those who have been redeemed by Him and united to Him by faith. This universal Church includes all true believers in Jesus Christ throughout the world and throughout history.
I believe that every Christian should be committed to a faithful local church. A local church is a visible congregation of professing believers who gather regularly under the authority of God’s Word for worship, prayer, biblical teaching and preaching, fellowship, discipleship, the observance of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and the mutual building up of the body of Christ.
Christians are called to love, serve, encourage, exhort, pray for, and bear with one another within the life of the local church. They are also called to submit to biblically qualified shepherds who watch over their souls. The local church is responsible to preserve sound doctrine, make disciples, exercise biblical church discipline when necessary, care for its members, and proclaim the Gospel to the world.
Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:24-25; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 4:10-11
Church Leadership – Elders / Shepherds and Deacons
I believe that Jesus Christ alone is the Head of His Church and that He has established the offices of elder and deacon for the leadership and service of local churches.
I believe that each local church should ordinarily be shepherded by a plurality of biblically qualified elders. The New Testament terms elder, overseer, and pastor or shepherd describe the same spiritual office and emphasize different aspects of its work. Elders serve under the authority of Christ and His Word and are responsible to shepherd God’s people, teach sound doctrine, guard the church from error, provide spiritual oversight, equip believers for ministry, and lead by godly example. Elders must meet the character and doctrinal qualifications established in Scripture.
Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17, 28-31; Ephesians 4:11-14; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4
I believe that deacons are biblically qualified servants of the local church who assist in meeting practical needs and carrying out ministries entrusted to them, allowing the elders to remain devoted to their primary responsibilities of spiritual shepherding, prayer, and the ministry of the Word. Deacons must likewise meet the qualifications established in Scripture.
Acts 6:1-6; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13
The Role of Women in the Church
I believe that men and women are equally created in the image of God, possess equal dignity and worth before Him, and are equally recipients of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. God has gifted both men and women for meaningful ministry and service within His Church.
I believe Scripture teaches that men and women have distinct and complementary roles within the church. Women are called and equipped to serve the body of Christ in many ways, including prayer, evangelism, discipleship, hospitality, mercy, teaching and mentoring other women, instructing children, and exercising their spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.
Acts 1:12-14; 9:36-42; 16:13-15; 17:1-4, 10-12; 18:1-2, 18, 24-28; Romans 16; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 1:5; 4:19
At the same time, Scripture reserves the office of elder or pastor, including the responsibility of authoritative doctrinal teaching and spiritual oversight of the gathered church, for biblically qualified men. Therefore, women are not to serve as elders or pastors over the church or exercise the governing and authoritative teaching role Scripture assigns to that office.
Genesis 1:26-27; Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 11:5; 1 Corinthians 14:33-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 2:3-5
Marriage and Sex
I believe that marriage was established by God at creation as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman for life. In marriage, husband and wife are joined together by God as one flesh and are called to faithfulness, love, companionship, and mutual devotion.
I believe that marriage is designed by God to reflect the covenant relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church. Within marriage, the husband is called to love, serve, and sacrificially lead his wife as Christ loved the Church, and the wife is called to respect and submit to the godly leadership of her husband as the Church submits to Christ. Husband and wife are equal in dignity and worth before God while fulfilling distinct and complementary roles within marriage.
I believe that sexual intimacy is a good and holy gift from God to be enjoyed exclusively within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. Therefore, all sexual activity outside of biblical marriage is contrary to God’s design and is sinful. Christians are called to sexual purity in thought and conduct, while the Gospel offers forgiveness, cleansing, and new life in Christ to all who repent and believe.
Genesis 1:27-28; Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 1 Corinthians 7:2-5; Colossians 3:18-19; Hebrews 13:4.
Civil Government
I believe that civil government has been established by God for the good and orderly governance of society. Civil authorities are accountable to God and are appointed to uphold justice, restrain and punish wrongdoing, and promote the good of those under their authority. Christians are therefore called to pray for governing authorities, honor them, pay what is lawfully owed, and submit to lawful civil authority.
I believe that all human authority is subordinate to the authority of God. When civil authorities command what God forbids or forbid what God commands, Christians must obey God rather than men while being willing to accept the consequences of faithful obedience.
I believe that God has given the Church and civil government distinct responsibilities. The Church is governed by Jesus Christ through His Word and is responsible for worship, doctrine, discipleship, the ordinances, spiritual shepherding, and the proclamation of the Gospel. Civil government has no authority to redefine or govern the doctrine, worship, or spiritual mission that Christ has entrusted to His Church.
Romans 13:1-7; Mark 12:17; John 19:10-11; Acts 4:18-20; Acts 5:27-29; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Titus 3:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Daniel 3:16-18; Daniel 6:7-10
Death and the Intermediate State
I believe that physical death separates the soul from the body. At death, the souls of believers immediately enter the presence of Jesus Christ, where they consciously enjoy fellowship with Him while awaiting the resurrection and glorification of their bodies.
I believe that those who die apart from Christ enter a state of conscious punishment and remain under God’s judgment while awaiting the resurrection of their bodies and the final judgment. At the appointed time, both the righteous and the wicked will be bodily raised, and every person will stand before God in judgment. The redeemed will enter everlasting life in the presence of God, while the unredeemed will receive everlasting punishment in the Lake of Fire.
Luke 16:19-31; Luke 23:43; John 5:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:21-23; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15
Future Events – The Tribulation, Christ’s Return and Reign, Final Judgement, Lake of Fire, and Eternal Glory
I believe that Jesus Christ will personally, visibly, physically, and gloriously return to this earth at the end of the age. His return will be unmistakable and triumphant, bringing the present age to its divinely appointed conclusion and displaying His complete victory over every enemy.
I believe that Christians should expect tribulation, persecution, and opposition throughout this present age while faithfully awaiting the return of Christ. The timing of His return is known only to God, and believers are therefore called to remain watchful, faithful, holy, and ready for His coming rather than attempting to determine the day or hour.
I believe that Jesus Christ will reign in victory, Satan and all the enemies of God will be finally defeated, and both the righteous and the wicked will be bodily raised. Every person will stand before God in judgment. Those who belong to Christ will enter everlasting life and glory in His presence, while those who remain apart from Christ will experience everlasting conscious punishment.
I believe that God will ultimately make all things new, creating a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. God’s redeemed people will dwell with Him forever, free from sin, death, sorrow, suffering, and every effect of the Fall, worshiping and enjoying Him for all eternity.
Matthew 24:29-44; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 50-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:12; Titus 2:11-13; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:1-15; Revelation 21:1-5; Revelation 22:1-5
