What I Believe

Scriptures

I believe that the 66 books of the classical Protestant Canon of the Bible are the authoritative, divinely inspired word of God. I believe in scriptural scholarship which aims to provide us with the most accurate rendition of these ancient texts but do believe that the canon was closed with the penning of the book of Revelation. I do not insist that people read one English translation exclusively but am quick to discuss the issues that surround many of today’s translations.

Nature of God

I believe that YHWH, the God of the Bible, has eternally existed in a triune nature consisting of three persons – Father, Son, Spirit – but of the same being (Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; John 1:18; John 6:35; John 8:12; John 8:58; John 10:7; John 10:11; John 11:25; John 14:6; John 15:1; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:13). Though the word “Trinity” is not found within the text of the Bible, I believe in the foundational assertions of the doctrine.

Depravity of Man

I believe that mankind has sinned against our eternal God and is hopeless in and of itself to be redeemed of his depravity (Romans 3:23-25), but that God has provided the means of salvation exclusively through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2).

Salvation

I believe that salvation is attained only through the blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins apart from any and all works by man (Acts 4:12; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 2:2; Revelation 7:10).

The Torah

I believe in the continual expectation of God’s people to live out the commandments given by God in the Torah (Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Matthew 5:17-20; Matthew 22:37-40). I do not ascribe to the belief that obedience to the Torah is the way by which one attains salvation; rather, obedience to the commandments of God is an expression of our faith in response to God’s imparting of salvation on our lives (Genesis 15:6; Romans 3:31).

The Church

I believe that the Church is a collective body of believers in God and his son Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, and has been tasked with teaching and preaching the good news of Christ to those who are unrepented and living apart from God (Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 1:18).

The Sabbath

I believe that the Sabbath day was founded at the creation of the world as the seventh day of the week (Genesis 2:1-3) and that it is to be observed by God’s people as a day of rest, worship, and fellowship (Exodus 20:8; Matthew 12:8; Mark 3:4).

Marriage

I believe that marriage was designed by God to be a covenantal, sexual, lifelong union between one man and one woman and is meant to represent the covenant between Christ and his Church.