Statement of faith
What I believe
The ground I stand on.
Every study, book and talk I put out stands on this. It is a historic evangelical statement, and I have kept it close to the one my own church family in Texas holds so that a women's ministry leader can see exactly where I stand before she hands my work to her women.
The Bible
The Bible is God's Word, breathed out by him and without error in its original writings. It is the final authority for what I believe and how I live, and the only rule for everything I teach. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; John 17:17
God
There is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each is fully God, and each is a distinct person. Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 2:9
Jesus Christ
Jesus is the eternal Son of God who became fully man without ceasing to be fully God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived without sin, died in our place on the cross as the substitute for sinners, was buried, and rose bodily from the grave. His resurrection guarantees salvation for everyone who trusts him, and he is the only way to the Father. He is now exalted at the right hand of God as our high priest and advocate, interceding for his people, and he is the head of the church. John 1:1, 14; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24-26; 4:25; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 7:23-25; 1 John 2:1-2
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God, a divine person. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and he lives in every believer from the moment of faith: baptizing her into the body of Christ, sealing her for the day of redemption, making her new, giving her gifts for serving, and filling and guiding her day by day. John 16:7-11; John 3:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 14:16-17; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18
People and sin
God made men and women in his image, innocent and good. Our first parents sinned, and through them sin and death came to every one of us. We are born rebels, unable to earn God's favor, and apart from his grace our rebellion distorts our judgment, damages the people around us, and ends in judgment and death. Genesis 1:27; 2:17; 3:19; Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 1:20-24; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3
Human life, male and female
God forms every person in the womb and knows each one from conception to the end of life, so every life carries his image and is worth protecting. He created us male and female, different by his design and equal in dignity and worth. Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:4-5; Genesis 1:26-28
Marriage and sexuality
God designed marriage as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, and he designed sex for that covenant alone. Living inside his design brings blessing. Rewriting it is part of our brokenness and leads where brokenness always leads. The gospel offers forgiveness and new life to every one of us, whatever our story. Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-9; Ephesians 5:31-33; Psalm 128:1-4; Romans 1:21-22
God's love and pursuit
God loves rebels and goes after them. He offers forgiveness, healing and abundant life to anyone who turns to him in humility. Romans 5:8; John 3:17; 10:10; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7
Salvation
Salvation is God's gift, not our achievement. We are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, apart from any work of our own. Jesus is the only Savior, and no one is saved without personally turning from sin and trusting him. Everyone who truly belongs to Christ is kept by him forever; nothing can separate her from his love. Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10; Acts 13:38-39; John 14:6; Romans 10:9-10; Romans 8:1, 29-30, 38-39; John 10:27-30
The return of Christ
Jesus will return to the earth visibly and bodily to judge, to rule the nations, and to establish his kingdom. That day ends the war. Until then, we are on mission. Philippians 3:20; Matthew 24:30-31; Revelation 19:11-21; 21:1-5
On secondary matters where faithful Christians differ (Sabbath practice, the continuation of certain spiritual gifts, the sequence of end-times events, methods of child discipline), my studies say so plainly and leave the question to you and your church.