Statement of Faith

Previously I had posted here the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and was going to pick it apart to define my faith. I have since decided against that. My faith is simultaneously far simpler and more complicated.

I am a disciple of the living God, who humbled himself by being born flesh among us in Jesus Christ. This God-Man proceeded to preach a countercultural message of unlimited love, for which he was ultimately arrested, humiliated and killed. His message was not his only purpose, however, as he died as the fulfilment of the law, the ultimate sacrificial lamb, his blood poured out to satisfy God’s wrath against sin. Now, the Holy Spirit elects those God would save, convicts them of their sin and brings them to their knees before the cross, myself included. There, we die, put to death our self-reliant lives of sin, and are reborn with him.

I believe, and thus will act on my belief, that Jesus is the risen Lord and Judge of all creation, and that someday I will give an account of my life on my knees at his feet.

I believe, and thus will act on my belief, that I do not, and cannot deserve the clemency that is His right as the High King and Lord of creation to grant or withhold as He sees fit.

I believe, and thus will act on my belief, that my life is not my own, that it belongs solely to the will of my God and Savior.

I believe, and thus will act on my belief, that my highest calling is to minister and see to the spiritual health of my family, followed closely by the calling to live my life in a Christlike manner, so others can believe.

I believe, and thus will act on my belief, that the church is to be the body of Christ and thus should carry His image and behave in such a manner that would be pleasing to Him and effective in executing the mission He set before us.

I believe, and thus will act on my belief, that while God elects those whom He will save, I am not excused from the call to aggressive, offensive proclamation of His word to every ear that can hear and every eye that can read and discern.