Scriptural Authority: I believe that the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, are the fully inspired Word of God and are the only perfect authority and guide for Christian faith, doctrine and practice. I believe that the Scriptures in its entirety originated with God, was inerrant in its original form, and that it was delivered through God's inspiration by chosen men. The Scriptures are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God. Hermeneutics and Exegesis are the methodologies we can employ to interpret the Scriptural texts. In so doing we should strive to be faithful to the original authors intended meaning, and find applications for our everyday lives. Furthermore, I hope to engage differing Hermeneutical processes with humility and reverence.
Jesus Christ: I believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Second Person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by miraculous conception through the Holy Spirit and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to His Father. He voluntarily atoned for the sins of those who would believe and receive Him, by dying on the cross as our vicarious substitute. Thus He accomplished salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, although in a glorified state. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. I believe in the everlasting, authoritative, and sovereign reign of Christ over all creation as Lord. I echo the creed of the first Christians which is, “Jesus is Lord.”
The Gospel: I believe in the gospel as God’s Good News extended to man by His grace. I believe that all men, because of original sin, are in need of the saving grace of God as extended in the gospel, and thus I seek to plant the gospel in every context in which I plant His Church. The gospel is not limited to penal substitutionary atonement (Imputed guilt laid on Christ for all sinners who repent), but it is the beginning and foundation for expressing the plenary good news of the gospel. I seek to build Good News cultures that are searching to find and apply the truly good that stems from the gospel and extend it to all peoples and cultures.
The Church: I believe in one true universal Church (Ekklesia), comprised of all those who follow and have believed in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. The Bible shows us that believers should regularly unite for worship, prayer, fellowship, encouragement from the Scriptures, the observance of baptism and communion, mutual ministry through the development of spiritual gifts, and living incarnationally with each other in the world. When God's people meet regularly, there where they meet, the local expression of the Church exists. I will seek to plant the church through Missional work in all its various forms, and new expressions that the Lord, and Scripture will allow.
The Trinity: I believe that God is a triune, holy, eternally self-sufficient, and self-existent God. He has revealed Himself in three co-equal and co-eternal Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who are equal in glory majesty, and power. The trinity consists of three distinct persons, yet are one in substance, essence, or nature. I believe that the Trinitarian relationship is essential to the Missional way, in that God is a relational being, and thus the message of the gospel reflects his relational nature.
Salvation: I believe in the total depravity of man and his incapability of bringing himself out of that state apart from the intervening grace of God. Man is saved through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith apart from works, and by the regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
The Resurrection: I believe in the resurrection of the body. Both the saved and the lost will be raised. Those that are saved are raised unto the resurrection of life, and those that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation where they will experience eternal conscious punishment in Hell
Cristian Creeds: I believe with the saints through the ages in the creeds of antiquity. I hold unreservedly to the Apostles, Nicene, and Chalcedonian Creeds.
To read a more detailed belief statement refer to Richard's blog post "Here I Stand I Can Do No Other, So Help Me God!"
Partners
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