|
Statement of Faith
Statement #1
There is one God,1 who is infinitely perfect,2
existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.3
Statement #2
Jesus Christ is true God and true man.4 He was
conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.5
He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutionary
sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of
His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures.6
He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High
Priest.7 He will come again to establish His
kingdom of righteousness and peace.8
Statement #3
The Holy Spirit is a divine Person, sent to indwell,9
guide, teach, and empower the believer, and to convince the world of
sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.10
Statement #4
The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally
inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation
of people. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith
and practice.11
Statement #5
Humankind, originally created in the image and likeness of God12,
fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual
death. All people are born with a sinful nature, are separated from
the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the
Lord Jesus Christ.13 The destiny of the impenitent
and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment, but that
of the believer is everlasting joy and bliss.14
Statement #6
Salvation has been provided only through Jesus Christ. Those who repent
and believe in Him are united with Christ through the Holy Spirit and
are thereby regenerated (born again), justified, sanctified and granted
the gift of eternal life as adopted children of God.15
Statement #7
It is the will of God that in union with Christ each believer should
be sanctified thoroughly16 thereby being separated
from sin and the world and fully dedicated to God, receiving power for
holy living and sacrificial and effective service toward the completion
of Christ's commission.17
This is accomplished through being filled with the Holy Spirit which
is both a distinct event and progressive experience in the life of the
believer.18
Statement #8
Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for
the healing of the mortal body. Prayer for the sick and anointing with
oil as taught in the Scriptures are privileges for the Church in this
present age.19
Statement #9
The universal Church, of which Christ is the Head, consists of all those
who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood,
regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and commissioned by Christ to go into
all the world as a witness, preaching the Gospel to all nations.20
The local church, the visible expression of the universal Church, is
a body of believers in Christ who are joined together to worship God,
to observe the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, to pray,
to be edified through the Word of God, to fellowship, and to testify
in word and deed to the good news of salvation both locally and globally.
The local church enters into relationships with other like-minded churches
for accountability, encouragement, and mission.21
Statement #10
There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust;
for the former, a resurrection unto life;22 for
the latter, a resurrection unto judgment.23
Statement #11
The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal
and visible.24 As the believer's blessed hope,
this vital truth is an incentive for holy living and sacrificial service
toward the completion of Christ's commission.25
1. Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 45:5-6
2. Matthew 5:48; Deuteronomy 32:4
3. Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19
4. Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 2:14-18; Colossians 2:9
5. Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35
6. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; 1 John 2:2; Acts 13:39
7. Hebrews 4:14-15; 9:24-28
8. Matthew 25:31-34; Acts 1:11
9. John 14:16-17
10. John 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12
11. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21
12. Genesis 1:27
13. Romans 8:8; 1 John 2:2
14. Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
15. Titus 3:5-7; Acts 2:38; John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 6:11
16. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
17. Acts 1:8
18. Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:16-25
19. Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:13-16
20. Ephesians 3:6-12; Ephesians 1:22-23
21. Acts 2:41-47; Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 11:19-30;
Acts 15
22. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
23. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
24. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
25. 1 Corinthians 1:7; Titus 2:11-14; Matthew 24:14; 28:18-20
The Statement of Faith appears in the General Constitution and the
Local Church Constitution in the current edition of the Manual of
The
Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.
|