| Jesus Christ is God's authoritative and inspired Word. He is the Word made flesh - the incarnate Word (John 1:1). The Bible is the perfect record of God's redemptive act through Jesus Christ declaring without error the promise of Christ's coming, his arrival, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, and the birth of the expression of his body, the church, through the regenerating power and guidance of His Spirit. Jesus Christ is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. To know Christ is to know God, and to know God is to know Christ both existentially and intellectually within the limits of our finite humanity. He is the full, complete, and final revelation of God. The search for God ends with Jesus Christ who actively pursues us for a relationship with Him. This pursuit is called prevenient grace or the ways God works in human beings before they believe in Christ and receive justifying grace - forgiveness of sins. He is the perfect embodiment of God and is the God/Man. To know Christ is to know God and to know the ideal role model for mankind. He is the perfect man - the perfect human. He is without error in all of his teachings. To follow Christ and to believe in Him is to submit to his Spirit making him Lord of life in all matters of belief and conduct allowing his characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control to be formed in the soul (Galatians 5:22-23). These characteristics can only be generated by the Holy Spirit giving a "new birth" in a person and cannot be generated by human will or effort due to the fallen, sinful nature that needs redeeming and changing from the supernatural power of God in Christ working through the Holy Spirit. These Christ-like characteristics will be demonstrated through the believer in daily living. Jesus forever proved his love for mankind through His death on the cross at the hands of a mean-spirited world who tried to destroy God's presence on earth and be rid of Love, Justice, and Mercy forever. Jesus forever proved his divinity through His resurrection from the dead and proved that his way is the right way and the only way for mankind and the only hope for mankind over fear, hate, despair, and the awful condition of the human heart. And, his resurrection forever proves there is life after death and that the greatest enemy of mankind, death, has been defeated and victoriously overcome by His life. And through faith in Him, we too will share in His victory over death. As a result, His love is stronger than hate. His Life is stronger than death. His grace and mercy are stronger than failure and despair. Jesus will one day return victoriously to earth in visible, bodily form to bring salvation and judgement to completion and the world as we know it to an end. The church is the body of Christ. The church's mission is the mission of Christ and the church's ministry is the ministry of Christ. The church is to be a redeeming, forgiving, encouraging, and caring body of believers showing the light and love of Christ when failure, despair, and hurt occur in the lives of believers and non-believers. Jesus succinctly summarized the purpose of life in two basic principles. Love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. Love my neighbor as myself. Jesus made no promise to his followers that they would enjoy some sort of immunity from pain or sorrow. He himself experienced intense pain and deep sorrow. He did promise that those who follow him will be given joy, courage, love, peace, and confidence from his Spirit to enable his followers to not just survive but to take the initiative and break down the gates that hold mankind in the prison of despair, fear, hate and selfishness, and self-doubt. |
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| eSpirations Statement of Faith |
| The purpose of eSpirations is to send out inspiring messages of hope and encouragment to help keep us focused on these promises of Christ and his power to enter into every situation we face. |
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