Statement of Faith

This Statement of Faith is adapted from the “What We Believe” page from The Crossroads International Church of The Hague, The Netherlands.  While I agree with the bulk of its content, I have changed some minor points to more accurately reflect what I personally believe.

The Written Word of God: The Bible   The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are given by divine inspiration, and are thus the written Word of God (without error in the original writings);  They are the final authority for the lives of believers in every culture and age (showing how people can come to faith in Jesus and live God-pleasing lives), and the infallible rule of faith and practice.  They are to be interpreted according to their context and purpose in reverent obedience to the living Lord who speaks through them in power by the Holy Spirit.  The primary purpose of Scripture is to restore mankind to a restored relationship with God through faith in Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15-17;  1 Thessalonians 2:13;  1 Peter 1:21)

One Living and True God   God exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – equal in power and glory.  He has revealed Himself to be perfect in love, holiness and righteousness.  He created all, upholds all, and governs all.  (Deuteronomy 6:4;  Isaiah 43:10-11;  Matthew 28:19;  Luke 3:22)

God the Father   God has revealed Himself as a Father Who is an infinite, personal Spirit – perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love.  He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men.  He hears and answers prayer;  And He saves from sin and death all who come to Him in faith through Jesus Christ.  (Deuteronomy 32:6;  Psalm 103:13-15;  Jeremiah 3:19;  2 Corinthians 6:18;  John 14:9)

Jesus Christ   Jesus Christ is God’s one and only Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and both true God and true man.  He was born of a virgin; lived a sinless life; fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah; performed miracles as evidence of His Messiahship;  died a substitutionary atoning death for our sins; rose bodily from the dead; ascended into heaven; and offers continual intercession for His people.  (Matthew 1:23;  Hebrews 1-3;  Acts 2:22;  2 Corinthians 5:21;  Colossians 1:15-20;  1 Corinthians 15:4)

The Holy Spirit   The Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement, and to regenerate (bring back to life spiritually), sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ.  The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and is an abiding helper, teacher, gift-giver, and guide.  The true believer receives the Holy Spirit and is baptised into the Body of Christ at conversion.  I believe that the gifts of the Spirit are in operation in the Church today and should be submitted to the direction and instruction given in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14, with the underpinnings of chapter 13 (Interesting how God plopped the chapter on love right in the middle of one of the more divisive issues in the Church, eh?).  (John 14:26; 16:5-15;  Romans 8:12-17;26-27;  1 Corinthians 12;  2 Corinthians 3:17;  Galatians 3)

God’s Plan to Save Man   Man was created in God’s image, tempted by Satan, and subsequently rebelled against God.  Men and women became corrupted in their nature, expressing that in sinful deeds (the “sin nature” passed down to all mankind by the original disobedience of Adam).  They have come under God’s just condemnation and sentence of death.  God regenerates (restores to a position of spiritual life) those who repent of (turn away from) their sins, adopts them as His children, baptizes them with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of their future inheritance with Christ, incorporates them into His Body, and empowers them for His service.  No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.  I believe that salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone.  (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6;  Romans 5:12-19;  Ephesians 2:1-10;  Titus 3:5-7)

The Believer’s Authority   The believer possesses great authority, through Christ, over the powers of spiritual darkness, which are led by Satan, the ruler of this world.  We actively exercise this authority as we pray, walk by faith, exercise spiritual gifts, and progress towards spiritual maturity in Christ.  Furthermore, the Holy Spirit brings a present, though partial, reality of the Kingdom of God on earth as He acts in and through our lives with sovereign, supernatural power.  In other words, we don’t follow Christ just so we can have eternal life when we die.  Eternal life begins now!  (Matthew 18:18-20;  28:18-20;  Ephesians 2:4-7;  6:10-18;  1 John 4:4)

The Church   The Church is the living, spiritual Body of Christ, of which Jesus is the Head and all regenerated persons are members.  The local church is the primary instrument of God for the extension of His Kingdom today.  While the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, I believe neither of these are a means of salvation.  The Church, in addition to promoting worship and mutual edification, is to witness in word and deed to the reality of Christ as Savior and Lord, taking the Gospel to all peoples, making desciples, baptizing and teaching all that Christ has commanded.  (Ephesians 1:22-23;  2:22;  Hebrews 12:23;  1 Corinthians 11:26;  Matthew 28:19;  Romans 6:4)

The Visible, Bodily Return of Christ and God’s Fair Judgement   Jesus will return to the earth physically to raise the dead, judge the world, consummate His glorious Kingdom, and bestow eternal blessing on those declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ – this is the hope of the Church.  The wicked, rejecting Christ as Lord and Saviour, will be fairly judged for their sins and will be banned from God’s presence forever, along with Satan and his angels.  (1 Thessalonians 4:16;  Romans 8:23;  Titus 2:13;  1Corinthians 15:51-52;  2 Peter 3:13;  Matthew 25:46;  Mark 9:43-48;  John 3:36;  Revalation 20:11-15;  21:8 )

Regarding What I Believe . . .

In the core, indisputable issues of the faith we are to have unity.   “There is one Body and one Spirit . . . there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of us all . . .”   “. . . For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified . . .”  (Ephesians 4:4-6;  1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

In the disputable, secondary matters, we are to show deference to each other.   “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters . . .”  We, as the Church (the Body of Christ) are to put into practice passages like Romans 14 and 15.  Two believers of opposing views on secondary disputable matters in reality view the other as the weaker brother.  In which case we are to show deference to one another.

Denominational lines have too often been drawn as battle lines instead of areas of preference within the circle of secondary, disputable matters.  It’s okay to gravitate and worship with those who are like-minded (as long as that’s where God has directed you to be), but we need to remember that the Church should be about relationship – first and foremost with God – and then with each other.  That’s relationship with the whole Body of Christ, not just among those who agree with each other on every point of a systematic theology.

We as the Body of Christ need to walk in the model of 1 Corinthians chapters 12, 13, and 14, recognizing that differences in the Body of Christ in the form of giftings and talents are part of God’s design for the functioning of the Church.  If some of the “parts” are more focused on their “pet theology” than on loving God or their neighbor, then there’s a problem.  But the design of the Body of Christ as God has set it up is one of necessary differences, (talents and giftings), rooted and grounded in Christ, with the underlying framework being love.

What about error?  Should we stay silent for the sake of “unity”?   If a doctrine or systematic theology results in the diminishing or cancellation of the Gospel, one must speak out.  Likewise if there is any doctrine or teaching that seeks to put believers under a yoke of bondage, one must speak out.  The epistles to the young Church are full of admonition and instruction and at times, downright rebuke!  Jesus and the restored life and freedom He purchased for us must never be minimized.  Scripture does not support any Jesus + (insert pet formula here) theology.  For an excellent excellent excellent article on how to lovingly exhort and what exhortation really means, click HERE.

The Solid Rock

My hope is based on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid, Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Edward Mote ~ 1837

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• Statement of Faith
• Comments Policy
• How I Became Aware of the Hebrew Roots Movement
• About the Author

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Other articles of interest:

• The Law of Christ – Defined and Defended
• Hebrew Roots Movement – Salesmanship 101
• Romans 14: Indisputable Matters – Torah or the Gospel?
• Hebrew Roots Movement – The Issue of “Hellenization”
• Is Law Really Law Without Enforcement?
• Hebrew Roots Movement – New Covenant or “Renewed” Covenant?
• Tzit Tzit For the Believer In Christ?
• 12 Undeniable Truths That Drive Law ‘Keepers’ Crazy
• Old Testament Believers and New Testament Christians  – From the Articles Page – Addresses the issue of how OT saints were ‘saved’ vs. how NT saints are saved, i.e. what salvation meant and how it was obtained before and after the actual work of Christ on the timeline.  It clarifies several points that we see Law keepers bring up in debate over and over again as they misapply the phrase from Scripture, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” and couple that with the claim that the Church (ekklesia, Body of Christ) also existed in the Old Testament.  It did not, and this article clarifies the difference between OT believers and NT Christians.  Excellent study.  Highly recommended.
• Testimonies Page – Read the stories of those who had bound themselves to the Law and then been freed as they began to understand who they are in Christ!

For more resources regarding the Hebrew Roots/Messianic movements see the Post Index and the Articles Page.  General study helps, discernment, and apologetics sites can be found HERE.

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