“Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-42 NIV)

Most people will tell you they are “Christians”, but if you press them to explain what they believe as followers of Christ, most can’t say for certain. This is unfortunate, because, If you don’t know what you believe, you will be doctrinally weak and can be led astray by error. Most churches have “What we believe” statements regarding their doctrinal positions, but, most church attendees don’t ask, so they don’t know what they are.

Ignorance can hurt you!

“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” (2 John 1:6 NIV)

Cults only exist because their followers are not grounded in solid foundational Bible truths.

You must know what you believe!

Over the next few days I will share the “we believe statements” held by most Bible believing evangelical Christians. Here is the first one.

We believe

In the Bible as originally given by God, divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy; and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

It is the Word of God

“Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn't think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God--which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. (1 Thes. 2:13 NLT)

It is Inspired by God

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17 NLT)

 “… I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Tim. 1:12 NKJV)

You can be confident

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6 NASB)

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Eph. 3:13 NIV)

You can be steadfast

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (2 Cor. 15:58 NASB)

And you can be sure of this...

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6 ESV)

“’Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.’” (John 5:28-29 NIV)

Jesus holds the keys

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Rev. 1:18 NIV)

Jesus is the life

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’” (John 11:25 NIV)

We are citizens of Heaven

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Phil. 3:20-21 NIV)

 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24 NIV)

“Whosoever” means you

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)

Whoever has the Son has life 

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12 NIV)

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12 NIV) 

“For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matt. 5:45 NLT)

Even though He made the world, the world did not recognize Him

“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.” (John 1:10 ESV)

He doesn’t want anyone to perish

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

He is gracious and merciful

“And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” (Exodus 33:19 ESV)

His plans are to give us a future and a hope

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11 ESV)

His kindness is meant to bring us to repentance

“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4 ESV)

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb. 10:24-25 NIV)

Church – obtained for you with the blood of Jesus

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts. 20:28 ESV)

Church – good teaching, fellowship, communion, and praying together

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NIV)

Church – hear the Word of a God and grow in faith

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17 NKJV)

Church – though many, are one body in Christ

“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Rom. 12:5 ESV)

Church – experience God’s presence

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt. 18:20 NIV)

Church – singing with gratitude in your heart

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Col. 3:16 NIV)

Church – be equipped for works of service

“to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Eph. 4:12 NIV)

Church - makes you glad

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’” (Psalm 122:1 NASB)

“And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer.” (Psalm 78:35 NASB)

“The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” (Deut. 32:4 NASB)

No other rock like this one

“There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.” (1 Sam. 2:2 NASB)

“Indeed their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves judge this.” (Deut. 32:31 NASB)

A rock of strength

“On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.” (Psalm 62:7 NASB)

A rock of habitation

“Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.” (Psalm 71:3 NASB)

This rock is the chief corner stone!

“"He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.” (Acts 4:11 NASB)

“For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," (2 Oeter 2:6-7 NASB)

Therefore, do not tremble and be afraid!

“'Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.'" (Isa. 44:8 NASB)

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31 NIV)

EVERYTHING!

This verse makes it pretty simple and plain. Do EVERYTHING for the glory of God. “Whether you eat or drink or WHATEVER you do.

Serve to bring Him glory

“Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11 NASB)

Because He is worthy!

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." (Rev. 4:11 NASB)

Let your light shine

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 15:16 NASB)

With all your heart

“I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.” (Psalm 86:3 NASB)

And bear much fruit

"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”  (John 15:8 NASB)

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3 NIV)

He wipes away their tears

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev. 21:4 NIV)

He is close to them

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 NIV)

He is the strength of their heart

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26 NIV)

He blesses and comforts them

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4 NIV)

He comforts us so we can comfort others

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Cor. 1:3-4 ESV)

He walks with us

“Often we say that Christ will meet us on the other side. That is true, of course, but misleading. Let us never forget that He walks with us on this side of the curtain and then guides us through the opening. We will meet Him there, because we have met Him here.” – Erwin Lutzer