CLARE DE GRAAF: WHAT I BELIEVE

Since the beginning of the church, Christians have differed on a variety of subjects and theological issues. However, there are some truths genuine Christians have always believed and ought always to hold true, even 2,000 years from now to be called Christians. I (we) believe There is only one loving, eternal, sovereign God who exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the beginning, out of nothing, God created the heavens and the earth and all living things and they were good and perfect. The first humans, who God created in his image, sinned and all human beings ever since are driven by their sin nature to act selfishly and contrary to Gods written laws and even their own consciences. Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of Mary, a virgin, and was both fully God and fully man. Jesus lived a sinless life, taught about the Kingdom of Heaven and how God wants us to live in this life. He died on the cross for the sins of the world, rose from the dead, and lives today with the Father. All who desire forgiveness must be broken-hearted over their sin, repent, believe Jesus is the Son of God, and they will be born again by the Holy Spirit. All those who are truly born again will bear witness to that fact by making it the purpose of their lives to live out all the teachings of Jesus, summarized by the two greatest commands: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus Christ rules over the Kingdom of God on earth primarily through his church (all believers, everywhere) and local assemblies of believers who worship, love and obey him. Jesus is coming again to usher in the final phase of his perfect kingdom, on earth. On that day he will judge the living and the dead. All those who truly believed and obeyed God will live and reign forever with him. Those who did not will be separated from God forever. The Bible was inspired by God and is therefore absolutely reliable. Its through the Bible we best understand God and His will for our lives.

(I believe a whole lot more than this to be true, but its enough for starters.)
10SR\WhatIBelieve.RC 6/8/11