EAOF #1: I believe there is one true God and that he has revealed himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as recorded in the Holy Bible. This biblical revelation of the existence of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit provides the biblical basis for the concept of the Trinity. Another phrase for Trinity is Triune God. Colossians 2:9 presents the concept as the Godhead or Divinity.
A number of scriptural elements or principles taken together confirm the biblical presentation of the Trinity. These include:
- There is One God (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Romans 3:30; 1 Cor 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5)
- The Father is God (John 6:27; Ephesians 4:6)
- The Son Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1-3, 14; 8:58; 20:28; Exodus 3:14)
- The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4)
- All three distinctly manifested and personified at one event (Matthew 3:16-17)
- The three (Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit) are distinctly personified and coexistent (John 14:15-21, 26; 15:26; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 5:7)
- The Son is one with the Father (John 10:30)
- They are one but yet three; three but yet one; unified in all things, in perfect harmony, in perfect agreement (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38;)
The Old Testament attests to the Trinity in scriptures such as:
- Genesis 1:1 where the Hebrew word for God is Elohim which is plural in Hebrew indicating not many Gods but a plurality of personification of God
- Genesis 1:26 where we have the use of the plurality us and our in let us make man in our image
EAOF #2: I believe Jesus is the Son of God and the prophetic Messiah/Saviour of whom the Old Testament speaks.
EAOF #3: I believe all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and all are called to contrite confession and repentance. Accordingly, I believe the Holy Spirit has led me to repent of all my sins, and to turn from them, and to obey Christ in followship of him (Matthew 4:17; 10:32-39; Mark 8:34-38; 1 John 1:9).
EAOF #4: I believe in the biblical Jesus prophetic virgin birth, perfect life, sacrificial actual death on the cross for our sins, burial, resurrection on the third day, and ascension into heaven having all power in heaven and earth. Accordingly, I believe in the resurrection of the dead and that Jesus Christ will be the final judge of all people ever born (John 3:36; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11-15.
EAOF #5: I believe the biblical Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth, is the only way prescribed by the Bible for humankind to be saved from his/her sins and obtain Heavenly eternal life based on the judgment of Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Hebrews 9:27-28).
EAOF #6: I believe we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; the fruit of such faith is good works (Matthew 5Z:13-16) which are an expression of by gratitude. Therefore, I understand this journey is one of getting saved and striving to live saved. I believe that God through Jesus Christ saves us to live a life on earth that glorifies God and which is best for us in this life and the next.
EAOF #7: I believe Jesus is the living Word of God (John 1:1, 14; 6:51, 63; Revelation 19:13).
EAOF #8: I believe the Holy Bible scriptures are the written Word of God that serves as the sword of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) as he leads and guides the individual and the body of Christ into all truth (John 16:13-15). Jesus referred to the written scriptures; thus validating the use of the scriptures in combatting Satan and living our lives for God (Matthew 4:1-4, 5-7, 8-11).
EAOF #9: I believe God provides preachers and teachers (e.g., Ephesians 4:11) to serve as voices of the Holy Spirit that he uses to assist him in leading and guiding the individual and body of Christ into all truth.
EAOF #10: I believe not all individuals are at the same level of spiritual maturity; therefore due to one’s level of spiritual maturity we may say or do things to others thinking that we do God service (John 16:1-2). Person A may be more spiritually mature than Person B in Area A. And Person B may be more spiritually mature than Person A in Area B. Yet, it all works together for the good of the called loving believer (Romans 8:28).
EAOF #11: Jesus told his disciples there are things that I have to tell you which you can not yet bear (John 16:12).
EAOF #12: I believe there are things that a particular individual cannot bear at a particular point in his or her life; therefore, the Holy Spirit reveals to each individual that which he or she needs to know at a particular point in his or her life necessary to live a glorified life pleasing to God. This is one reason humility and personal restraint are essential characteristics of each believer’s personality.
EAOF #13: I believe we are to love God, ourselves and others. We are not to judge persons to the point of eternal condemnation; indeed, we should leave that up to God for that is his decision and not ours. However, we are to discern and judge the acts that persons do according to our faith. We are to restrain/rebuke/reprove any inappropriate acts with love, understanding, and patience through the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11; 2 Timothy 4:1-2).
EAOF #14: I believe that it is important that I voluntarily and cheerfully submit myself to discipleship and fellowship with a local congregation of fellow sufficiently likeminded believers to include those elected/chosen to govern the affairs of the local congregation. In so doing, I fully intend to promote its purity, peace, and welfare by all means within my power, so long as I shall continue to be a member of such local congregation.
A more detailed account of Christian Articles of Faith is provided at the link below:
Detailed Christian Articles of Faith
To God Be the Glory!
