Confessions on the Church and Salvation

So, here we are at the last set of confessions. To post what that means to me...there doesn't seem to be the words. The irony of two years (almost to the day) of being declined for missions work because of baptism, we study the subject in class. The awe of God's faithfulness in light of my rebellious nature/heart. The reflection of how much this pursuit has changed my life. The fragileness that my faith still embodies at time. What I've learned of God, of myself, of others. I'm very happy. I'm glad I took this class and I'm glad for what brought me to this point.

Oh...and I joined a church. That is a big deal!

Confession on Ecclesiology

This confession is coalescent of my upbringing in the Christ of Christ, my Baptist education, the influence of Reformed thought, and current participation in the Wesleyan denomination.

I believe the Church is a community of believers in Jesus Christ, through whom God restores and reconciles the world to himself. The Church is a people united to God, like a bride to her groom; connected to Christ like a part of the body through whom God works; and the presence of God to the world, thru the indwelling of God’s Spirit. (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:29, 32; Rom. 12:4-8; 2 Cor. 6:16)

I believe in one, holy, catholic, apostolic church and in the communion of saints. Though the church is represented locally, we are all connected as the universal church; set apart from all other human organizations, for the purpose of God. The church has descended from the teaching of the apostles and we are connected to all saints, past, present, and future. (Jn 17:20-23; 1 Pet. 2:5; Gal 3:26-29; Rev 6:9-11; 1 Cor. 3:10-11)

I believe all those who have professed their belief in Jesus and have been baptized are members of and in connect with the church. These members comprise the visible church, but only God know who has truly been regenerated.

I believe the church, as the expressed Body of Christ, should gather regularity to worship, disciple others, serve, and nurture the Christian Community. The church is also the means by which God furthers his kingdom and brings restoration. (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35; 2 Cor. 5:18-20)

I believe a true church is set apart by the preaching of God’s Word, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, prayer, worship, and church discipline.

I believe baptism is a sign of God’s grace in the regeneration of believers. Through baptism we die to sin and rise to new life. It is the means by which God joins us to the church. Anyone who has confesses Jesus as Lord, turns away from sin, and seeks to unite with the church can participate in this sacrament. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:1-11; Col. 2:11-12; Gal. 3:26-29)

I believe those who have declared through baptism, that they are part of the church, should participate in the Lord Supper. The elements are a symbol of Christ’s body and blood. Through this sacrament, we proclaim and testify to Christ’s death on the cross and the forgiveness of our sin. (Luke 22:14-23; 1 Cor. 11:23-32)

I believe the local church should be independent, autonomous, and democratic, while still connected to the larger church community. The church should be led by pastors, elders, and deacons. Pastors and elders act as overseers to the church. They should live a life worthy of respect, be self-controlled, the spouse of one person, , gentle, hospitable, mature in the faith, and manage their household well. Deacons serve the people and handle the administrative tasks of the church. They must be people of great respect, not indulgent in the things of the word. They must hold to the deeps truth of the faith, spouses to one partner, and serve well. These roles are best filled with a combination of gifted men and women, who seek to keep each other accountable to the church body and to God. (Gal. 3:28; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3)

Confession on Salvation

I believe God’s grace causes us to want to leave our sin and precedes any willful act on our part. God gracious call to repent of our sin and believe in him is the initial step of regeneration and draws us toward Christ. Our will is conformed to allow us to respond to this call. (Jn. 5:21; Acts 13:48; Eph 1:3-14)

I believe all who are elected will persevere. God keeps those who are his until the end. Though He is the only one who knows the elect, we take comfort that He who began a good work in us, will keep us. (Jn. 10:28-30; Ro. 8:29-30, Jude 24)

I believe God enables us to have deep-rooted assurance in the promises of Christ’s incarnation, atonement, and resurrection, as well as the promise of our salvation. Faith is the combination of knowledge, acceptance, and commitment to the truth of Christ. Faith is trust and obedience, and leads to repentance; the act of understanding God’s view of sin, feeling grief because of our sin, and determining to turn from our sin and amend our lives. We are only able to have faith and repent because of God’s call on our lives. (Jn. 1:12-13; 7:37-39; 8:5; 17:6; Acts 2:37-38; Eph 2:1-5)

I believe regeneration is a work of God, by which we are born again and brought into a new life. It both precedes faith and is a response to faith. The Holy Spirit empowers us to have faith and through repentance our regeneration is complete. (Jn. 3:1-21; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal 6:15; Col 2:13)

I believe just as we are united to Adam, God unites us to Christ when we are saved. In this way the history, death, and resurrection of Christ becomes our own. Through this union we are grafted into Christ and he dwells in us. This union with Christ allows us the benefits of adoption, justification, sanctification, and glorification. (1 Cor. 10:1-2, 15:22, John 14:20, 15:5)

I believe salvation give us a new identity as children of God. We are adopted into a spiritual family and receive all the rights and privileges of a natural child. We are co-heirs with Jesus. (Ro. 8:17; Gal 4:7; Titus 3:7)

I believe justification is an act of God, by which he declares that we have been declared right through faith in Christ. By this act, God credits Christ’s righteousness. It is apart from any work of man. (Ro. 3:21-26; 4:1-25; 5:1, 6-9, 18-19; Gal 2:15-17

I believe sanctification is the process of being made holy. We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit and set apart to conform to the will of God. Through sanctification we are being changed into the likeness of Christ that we were declared to be at justification. Our sanctification is outwardly expressed by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22; 1 Cor. 1:30; Heb 10:10; 1 Thes. 5:23)

I believe glorification is the state in which we are unable to sin and will occur upon Christ’s return. At this time the sanctification process will be complete and the sin nature will be eliminated. We will see Christ in his glory. (1 Cor 15:52-53, 2 Cor 5:2-4)