Statement of Faith

This is a Christian based Blog and based on recent events I feel it is needed to post my Statement of Faith.

This is the official statement of faith of “Serving God and Family”:

These are the Essential Doctrines for salvation that are common with all believers: (1-8)

1. I believe the Bible teaches God Sovereign over all human affairs. Created all things roughly 6,000 years ago (Young Earth Creationist).

2. I believe God has eternally existed in the three persons of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

3. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is the Word of God, through Whom all things were created. He was incarnated and took on the nature of man, being both fully God and fully man, in the one person of Jesus Christ. I believe He was crucified under Pontias Pilate, buried, and raised from the tomb three days later (in the same body He was crucified in) and was seen by His disciples and many other witnesses.

4. I believe that Jesus Christ will return bodily.

5. I believe that Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient to cover all sin, but effectively only covers the sins of the elect who were chosen by God from before creation.

6. The Gospel is salvation to man and is commanded to be preached to all people. The Gospel is:

“…that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).

7. I believe that we are saved through faith by Grace, not of works.

8. I believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God. “All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for the instruction in righteousness…” (1 Timothy 3:16).

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The next part of this SOF is taken from Dr. Voddie Baucham’s Church Website (Grace Family Baptist Church, http://www.gracefamilybaptist.net/GFBC_/About_Us.html)

Biblical Worldview

Christianity is not merely a religion, it is also a lifestyle, a philosophy; a worldview. We are to think biblically about every aspect of our lives (Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 10:5-6; Colossians 2:8; 1 Peter 1:14-16).

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Biblical Community

The Church is not a building, but a community of believers. As such, we are to live in fellowship and community with one another. We must do more than just occupy pews near each other on a weekly basis to call ourselves a church.(Matthew 18:15-18; Romans 12:3-18; Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-35; 6:1-7; Hebrews 13:17)

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Biblical Manhood/Womanhood

God has given clearly defined roles to men and women in the home and in the church (I Corinthians 16:13-14; I Kings 2:1-3; Proverbs 31, 12:4; Titus 2:3-5; I Tim 5:14). While these roles have come under attack in our culture, God has not changed. We embrace, teach, and celebrate these distinct roles at GFBC.

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The Blessing of Children

We believe that children are a blessing from the Lord. God has called us to be fruitful and multiply. We reject our culture’s view of children as financial burdens that should be received sparingly. Instead, we rejoice with those who receive children in abundance, and mourn with those whose prayerful plea for the blessing of children has gone unanswered (Psalms 127:3-5; 128; Genesis 1:28; Proverbs 17:6; Job 42:12-16).

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The Nobility of Motherhood

Motherhood is a high and honorable calling. While not every woman is called to be a wife and/or mother, those who are have an incredible responsibility; a noble calling (Psalm 113:9; Ps. 127:3; Psalm 128:3; Proverbs 31:27-31; Titus 2:3-5).

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Family Discipleship

While the church is called to make disciples, it is clear that God has given the family as the primary discipling agent. Children are entrusted to parents for their spiritual nurture(Genesis 12:8; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 78:5-8; Psalm 113:3; Ephesians 6:1-4; II Tim. 3:14-15).

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Christian Education

We believe every Christian family should strive to give their children a Christian education (Psalm 1; Proverbs 1:7-9; 2:1-7; 3:1-7;9:10; Luke 6:40; Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 1:18-21; II Corinthians 10:3-5; Colossians 2:8-10; Ephesians 6:1-4; 1 Timothy 6:20-21).

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Dr. John Piper explains what I believe in reference to the 5 points of Calvinism on his website Desiring God (http://www.hopeingod.org/WhatWeBelieveAboutthe5PointsofCalvinism.aspx)

What Are The Five Points of Calvinism?

• T - Total depravity.
• U - Unconditional election
• L - Limited atonement
• I - Irresistible grace
• P - Perseverance of the saint

This acronym is the way they are most often presented. We have found, however, that people grasp these points more easily if we follow a presentation based on the order in which we experience them.

1. We experience first our depravity and need of salvation.
2. Then we experience the irresistible grace of God leading us toward faith.
3. Then we trust the sufficiency of the atoning death of Christ for our sins.
4. Then we discover that behind the work of God to atone for our sins and bring us to faith was the unconditional election of God.
5. And finally we rest in his electing grace to give us the strength and will to persevere to the end in faith.

We would like to spell out what we believe the Scripture teaches on these five points. Our great desire is to honor God by understanding and believing his truth revealed in Scripture. We are open to changing any of our ideas which can be shown to contradict the truth of Scripture. We do not have any vested interest in John Calvin himself, and we find some of what he taught to be wrong. But in general we are willing to let ourselves be called Calvinists on the five points, because we find the Calvinist position to be Biblical.

Read the full article (pdf). Read this booklet on Desiring God's website.

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***My husband will be made aware of ALL emails and comments and thus he reserves the right as head of my family to respond on my behalf. I am under God's protective authority by placing myself under my husband's God-given authority. He will also proof read EVERYTHING before I send a response, so he will be aware of any personal attack on me or my family.

Serving God and My Family,

Crystal <>< (SAHM)