My Personal Christian Beliefs and Statement of Faith
Introduction to Personal Beliefs
As a Christian, I continue to develop a personal Bible based theology through daily study of the Bible while seeking truth as guided by the Holy Spirit. I believe each human being must develop a personal relationship with God, and that to know God we must seek Him continually by studying the Bible as we get closer to our Creator. Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. James 4:8 (KJV)
I accept true Christians of all denominations as being one church in the Body of Christ. My journey as an individual in search for answers to ultimate riddles was chosen because real truth can only be found in the Bible. Some mistakenly teach Christianity based on the traditions of mankind, or Bible verses taken out of context.
I encourage Christians and non-believers interested in learning about Christianity to use study tools developed by others while realizing the complete truth and final authority is God's Holy Word. While previous work of experts may enlighten your studies, and even this website, individuals should form their opinions based on what they learn from personal experience while studying the Bible.
Statement of Faith and Beliefs
God
There is only one true living God existing eternally as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Who created the universe, the earth, the sea, and all therein, Who is, was, and always will be for ever.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God and the begotten Son of God, Who became flesh born to the virgin Mary through the divine and miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit. Christ led a life without sin, was crucified and suffered for the atonement of sin, was raised on the third day, is sitting at the right hand of God, and will return to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom to come will be eternal. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but through Him. When Philip questioned Christ about seeing God, consider the answer given. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? John 14:9 (KJV)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God present here on earth, the inspirational force of prophets and author of God's Word, and the Spirit of goodness and comfort given to Christian believers. In the Trinity the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified" as stated in the Nicene Creed.
The King James Version of the Bible
My Christian faith is based solely on the Bible as God's Holy Word, written entirely by divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and documented without error in the original manuscripts of Hebrew, Chaldee, and Aramaic in the Old Testament and Greek in the New Testament. Skeptics who charge discrepancies in the Bible do err in that presumptions are made taken from translations rather than the original language of the manuscripts. Human translators made mistakes. Others challenge similar verses describing facts that vary in some way, and assume the two were identical events when in fact each is a similar yet separate event. After comparing various translations, the King James Version (KJV) is my choice as the most accurate for studying beyond English to the ancient and original languages.
The New Covenent
Mankind is by nature corrupt and lives in sin, and throughout Bible history people rejected covenents with God, and the new covenent is salvation and eternal life through His son Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Those who accept Christ as Lord and Savior are saved by grace, freely given, and not by works. Immanuel, which in Hebrew is "God with us", is Jesus Christ, and by His sacrifice we have a new covenent to become His for eternity. Trust requires faith, and through faith in Christ we have the promise of eternal life.
About Baptism
We are instructed to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, so at an accountable age we should be baptized just as Christ was, yet even this act is not a requirement for salvation and eternal life. Consider the malefactor condemned and crucified next to Jesus at Calvary who believed on Him and was told Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43 (KJV)
Being Reborn
Once saved, we die in Christ and spiritually become reborn as His, no longer of this world although still living in this world. Therefore, though saved by grace which is freely given, we will by this new nature become servants of Jesus and good works will naturally follow. Deeper understanding of the meaning of being a Christian is available by studying the Bible for spiritual growth, and when accepting Christ as our Savior the gift of the Holy Spirit will guide us. Christ's last commission to the disciples was to reach out and spread the Gospel to all nations. Working to bring souls to Christ by introducing nonbelievers to the Gospel is an important part of our purpose, as well.
Repentence
Salvation is not an excuse to live an ungodly life. I believe the theology of "Once saved always saved" is false. If one accepts Christ and then rejects their newborn spirit instead of seeking their worldly purpose as God intended, they risk eternal damnation. While we are reborn after accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, mankind continues in the flesh, and sin is inevitable. We should continue to repent of our sins with sincerity, because once forgiven, God forgives, wipes your slate clean, and His promise is your sin is forgotten never to be mentioned again.
The End of Times
Upon physical death, the spirit returns instantly to God who gave it. Your ancestors are not lying in a grave waiting for resurrection. For those still alive in the end times, the sequence of events yet to come need to be understood. Briefly stated, the false Messiah comes next pretending to be Jesus Christ while performing miracles and wonders, the tribulation occurs and at the end Satan is bound, those alive transform instantly into spiritual bodies when Christ returns to rule for 1000 years, Satan is loosed and immediately overcome, and then final judgment for all mankind.
Eternal Life
The afterlife is beyond human comprehension. You will recognize those you knew in this life. The Bible states Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV). Heaven is where God is, and in the end this earth will be refreshed and made new, and heaven will be on earth with God among us. God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16 (KJV)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 (KJV)
Accepting Jesus Christ as Your Savior
Here is advice for those readers moved by the Holy Spirit and wondering what formal steps are necessary to be saved and born again in accepting Christ as your Savior. You can be alone. No formal ceremony is necessary.
If you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and want Him in your life as your Lord and Savior, state a prayer from your heart, and in your own words, similar to the one below to join other Christians in the Body of Christ. In praying, simply admit you are a sinner in need of forgiveness, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and acknowledge His sacrifice, death, and resurrection.
If it makes you more comfortable, first believing and then reading the following prayer example is fine, too.
Lord God, I am a sinner asking forgiveness, and accept Jesus Christ today as my Lord and Savior. I confess that Jesus is God, Who as the Son of God came in the flesh for the remission of sin, that He was crucified and died for me, was raised on the third day, and sits at the right hand of God waiting to return. I believe through faith and the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ that I am saved, and now take my place in the Body of Christ. Thank you for this moment and the promise of eternal life. This I pray in Jesus' precious name, Amen.