Statement of Faith

The author of this website believes that a statement of faith is important.  However, in his experience he has found that such a statement becomes meaningless if it is not supported by both Biblical evidence and, most importantly,  correlating works.  It is far better to preach what you live and live what you preach, than to just preach.  Therefore, this statement of faith is qualified by the declaration that all of the below are essentially absolutely meaningless if those of us who say we abide by such articles of faith do not exemplify and practice the words of 1 John 3:16-18: "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."  And the second is like unto it:  James 2:14-17: "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." God wants us to honor Him with our lips and our hearts, and therefore lip service should be accompanied by "heart-service" and actions that speak more volumes than mere words.  Although my views are essentially the same as those represented here and here,I have decided to formulate a statement in my own words.  With that said, I will now enumerate my beliefs based on Scripture: God 1 -There is only one, true God.  This God has revealed in Scripture, through progressive revelation, that He is a Trinity.  He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one Being who eternally self-exists in three divine personalities.  These are not mere manifestations but attributes of the very essence of God.  The Bible 2 - The Bible is a collection of writings that have been produced by the breath of God, as He moved supernaturally upon holy people to write according to His will.  The Bible, in its original languages of Hebrew (Aramaic) and Greek, is without essential error and stands above all other "holy" books as unique and historically substantiated by a vast body of historical, archaeological, and scientific evidence.  Jesus 3 - Jesus was born of the  virgin Mary in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth by His "parents," Joseph and Mary.  He always existed and is the eternal God with the Father and Holy Spirit.  He is not and never was a created being (John 1:3; 8:58).  While on earth He was both God and man, as Philippians 2:5-10 explains that He existed in the essential form (Greek, morphe) of God prior to His becoming human, and that He continued to be God as He walked in human form.  This is more clearly seen in the Greek of the above passage.  He gave up His life to redeem humanity from spiritual and physical death and the ultimate consequences of Hell (Hades) and eternal punishment, which is separation from God.  He was crucified under the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and died on a wooden cross.  He was buried in a tomb and rose again from the dead on the third day, according to the Scriptures and His own words.  He ascended into heaven in plain sight before many people with the promise that one day He would return to earth in like manner.  Jesus will return again to earth, not as a babe in a manger but as King of kings, and Lord of lords.  The Holy Spirit 4 - The Holy Spirit is God, also known as the third Person in the Trinity.  His primary role in salvation is regenerating and renewing those who have repented of sin and accepted Jesus as Savior.  More to come...