“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" (Matt. 1:23 NLT)

Over the last couple of days I shared  “We believe” foundational statements held by Bible believing evangelical Christians.

Here is another one

We Believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

Jesus himself is the creator who made all things

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4 ESV)

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 ESV)

Jesus did mighty signs and wonders

 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” (Acts 2:22-24 ESV)

Jesus was without sin

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21 ESV)

Jesus was buried and raised again

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” (2 Cor. 15:3-4 ESV)

Jesus was in the form of God

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:5-11 ESV)

Jesus is heir of all things

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” (Heb. 1:1-4 ESV)

Jesus is at the right hand of God

“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Rom. 8:34 NIV)

Jesus is our High Priest

“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” (Heb. 4:14 NLT)

Jesus will be coming again the same way He left

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11 NIV)

 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19 NASB)

Yesterday I shared the first “We believe” foundational statement held by Bible believing evangelical Christians.

Here is another one

We Believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Cor. 13:14 NLT)

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph. 4:16 NIV)

“I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30 KJV)

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” (Matt. 3:16 NIV)

The Trinity is taught in both the Old and the New Testaments

It is taught by implication in the Old and by direct statement in the New. In the first book of the Bible, God is referred to as “us” and “our”.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Gen. 1:26 ESV)

All Three Persons are called God in different places in the Bible

Father — “Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” (Gal. 1:1 NIV)

Son — “Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 NIV)

Spirit — “Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.’” (Acts 5:3-4 NIV)

All three Persons are associated together on an equal basis in numerous passages:

• Jesus' baptism— voice of the Father, Son baptized, Spirit descending like a dove. (Matt. 3:13-17)
• Salvation— chosen by the Father, sanctified by the Spirit, sprinkled with the blood of Jesus. (1 Peter 1:2)
• Sanctification— grace of the Lord Jesus, love of God, fellowship of the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor. 13:14)
• Christian Baptism— baptized in one name, yet three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19
• Prayer— strengthened by his Spirit, know the love of Christ, filled with the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:14-21)
• Christian Growth— chosen by God, loved by the Lord, sanctified by the Spirit. (2 Thes. 2:13)

 “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)