Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/1006607
BSHDFC E-Mag July 2018 | Page 9 Belief vs. faith OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH There is a big difference between BELIEF and FAITH. One is an ACCEPTANCE and the other is an INVESTMENT. BELIEF can agree that a ladder is strong enough to bear their weight, but then walk. FAITH makes an investment. Faith puts its whole weight on that ladder and begins to climb, trus ng that the ladder will hold. Do you BELIEVE in God? James 2:19 says, "So what! Even the demons believe in God!" Black Sheep's Statement of Faith below is NOT something we simply accept. We have INVESTED our lives, our souls and everything there is into the faith that these things are true. We LIVE by each of these statements. A. We believe the Bible is the authorita ve Word of God. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correc ng and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (II Tim. 3:16-17) B. We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons; the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..." (I Timothy 2:5) and "the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26) C. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in all of His miracles, in His subs tu onary and atoning death through His blood which was shed on the cross, in His bodily resurrec on to the right hand of the father and in His personal return in victory and power. JESUS IS LORD! "Therefore God exalted him [Jesus] to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 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." (Philippians 2:9-11) D. We believe that all persons are sinful and lost and in need of salva on and that that salva on comes only through the name of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are jus fied freely by his grace through the redemp on that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24) E. We believe in the present ministry of God the Holy Spirit; in His convic ng, cleansing and empowering work. "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." (Romans 8:13-15) F. We believe in the resurrec on of all persons; that they are resurrected to either eternal life and glory or to eternal damna on. "...Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrec on of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22) G. We believe in the spiritual unity of all Chris ans. We are the church, united as the bride of Christ. "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (I Corinthians 12:26) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Faith is a living, unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake." Mar n Luther "The issue of faith is no so much whether we believe God, but whether we believe the God we believe in." RC Sproil "I believe the promises of God enough to venture an eternity on them." Isaac Wa s "Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading." Oswald Chambers "Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you might understand." Augus ne