Statement of Belief

  I believe in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. God in his infinite love, justice, and mercy sent his Son to save the whole world. Jesus did many things during his life here on Earth but he is noted mainly for these three:

   

• Gift of Righteousness - Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law that God gave Moses and the Jewish people. He put an end to the law for those who believe in him. When Adam sinned against God, all of creation fell into corruption and caused a rift between mankind and their God. Just as all men became sinners through the one sin of Adam, Christ was sent to us (born in the flesh) to live a righteous life unto God. Through his life of righteousness, all that believe become righteous.  He put an end to the law by fulfilling it. He fulfilled it for us or in our place. Thereby creating peace between God and man so that we can live a holy life unto God from the heart (spirit), not the letter of the law.

• Gift of Atonement - Jesus went to the cross and was crucified and died. Even though Jesus was righteous and perfect, he accepted the sin of every man or woman that ever broke the law that he fulfilled. All sin was placed upon him and was punished in him upon the cross and in death. In this way, he first fulfilled the law and then paid the price of every man's sin against the law. He was punished in our stead or in our place.

• Resurrection - God did not leave his Son in the pit of death after his crucifixion but on the third day he raised him from the dead. In doing this, God had mercy on his Son for our sin that was placed upon him. Jesus saw many after his resurrection for a period of 40 days. Jesus then ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father until all of his enemies be made his footstool.

Through these actions, I (as a believer) do not have to live by the letter of the law because the law is already fulfilled in Christ and I am not afraid of sin or punishment from sin because he put an end to sin too. There is no law to them who believe. This is the good news of the bible and there are countless scriptures that support it. We are saved by faith but also, (not of this world), set apart for Him. We are dead to the world and the law of Moses but now in newness of life, called to be holy. He put an end to the law and an end to sin once and for all. However, this does not give us a license to live a life of sin-like behavior and it is not a call to rebel against His Kingship or live against His law of love (which is the spirit of the law). We live and desire holiness to please our Lord because we love Him.

Thanks to the law, I am conscious of sin. I know what sin is and I know that it is bad. I know through the teaching of the law that the law of God is good and sin is against his ways. Therefore, I live my life unto God. I hate sin and love the law. I must not dishonor God or his Son by acting out sin-like behavior.

Now, it has returned back to the way God intended it. We fulfill the law not to be made righteous or to get into heaven but instead we fulfill the law because we wish and earnestly want to show him honor, respect, and most of all love. It is not about our worth but instead our love for Him.

These gifts and mercy are delivered to us through faith in Jesus Christ. Not only faith (belief) that he was the Son of God, that he came in the flesh, born of a virgin, was crucified, buried, and resurrected but it is also our faith in what he promised us... eternal life to all them that believe. If we have faith in such things, we are made righteous through Christ and will reign immortal with him. Praise and worship him for the great gift he has given us!