Writing with Grace:
Statement of faith
(Some parts Adapted from Well Watered Women’s Statement of Faith at https://wellwateredwomen.com/about)
GOD’S WORD
We believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God. It is without error and never changes. The Bible is trustworthy, true, and what we build our entire life upon. We affirm all 66 books of the Bible, including both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
We believe that the Bible reveals the will of God for the salvation of man and is the final authority for Christian faith and life. (2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; John 10:30)
GOD
God has always been, and always will be. He is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (always with us), and omnipotent (all-powerful). He created the entire universe and mankind and He holds all things together. We believe that there is one true and living God who eternally exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19; Colossians 2:9; 1 John 1:1-5)
GOD THE FATHER
We believe that God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, is the originator of salvation and reconciles sinners to Himself through the death of Jesus Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. (1 John 5:11; John 5:21; John 11:25)
We believe that the Father hears prayer through the intercession of his Son and the Spirit, and answers in accordance with His will. (John 6:65; Romans 8:26-27; John 14:6; Hebrews 7:25)
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, is the Son of God who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life on earth being both fully God and fully man. He died on the cross, taking on our sin and punishment, so that we could have new life and a right relationship with God. After being crucified, He rose from the dead three days later and has ascended to heaven. He is now exalted, sitting at the right hand of God where He intercedes for us as our High Priest and will return again to earth to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1) and to reign as King of kings and Lord of Lords. (Acts 1:9,11; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Hebrews 4:14)
We believe that the Bible declares His sinless life and His miracles. (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; John 3:4-5; Acts 2:22; Acts 10:37-38; Hebrews 4:15) We believe that Christ is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).
HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. After Jesus ascended into Heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to be our counselor, comforter, and keeper. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, and equips the believer for ministry and life. The Holy Spirit lives inside of all believers and testifies to the will of God. (Genesis 1:2, Acts 1:8, Ephesians 1:13-14)
SALVATION
We believe that salvation is only through Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace through faith, not by our own good deeds but through Jesus’ righteousness and shed blood on the cross. All humans are born sinners and in need of a Savior. Christ came to rescue us from our sins and offer atonement on behalf of us. The gospel is the “good news” of Jesus Christ, and we believe that we should live our lives to share the gospel through word and action. (Romans 3:23, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9)
THE CHURCH
The church is the body of Christ that is called to live out God’s mission today. It is not a place, but rather the body of believers. (Matthew 28:19-20, Colossians 1:8, 1 Peter 5:1-5) Participation in a local church body shall be a sought-after and consistent aspect of the Christian life. Christ is the head of the Church (Col. 1:18, Eph. 1:22-23).
BAPTISM
Baptism is the washing with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; it signifies and seals our adoption into Christ, our cleansing from sin, and our commitment to belong to the Lord Jesus and His Church. (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)
MARRIAGE, SEXUALITY, and GENDER
We believe that man, both male and female, are created by God, in His image, which bestows upon us great dignity and value. (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8:3-6)
We believe that God created the human race male and female and that all conduct with the intent to adopt a gender other than one’s birth gender is immoral and therefore sin. (Genesis 1:27: Deuteronomy 22:5)
We believe God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive covenant relationship between one man and one woman and that all intimate sexual activity outside the marriage relationship, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise, is immoral and therefore sin. (Genesis 2:24-25; Exodus 20:14, 17; Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:22-23; Leviticus 20:13; Leviticus 15-16; Matthew 19:4-6, 9; Romans 1:18-31; I Corinthians 6:9-10, 15-20; I Timothy 1:8-11; Jude 7)