THE KNOXBORO CONFESSION OF FAITH

 

A Word from the Leaders of Knoxboro Community Church

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ has entrusted to us the life-changing message of the gospel, that we would be attentive to it, be shaped by it, obey it, and pass it on to others.  We therefore place a high value on making sure that our life and thought are governed by Holy Scripture.  Indeed, we are called to hold fast to the truth that has been given to us - to be faithful to it and to uphold it as the sacred treasure that it is.

 

In light of these things, it seemed good to us to put into written form those matters of the Christian faith that we consider to be of first importance - those life-giving and necessary matters that we cannot do without.  You will find nothing new written here.  Our only desire has been to give fresh expression to the historic Christian faith.

 

So, you will find that the words written here are deeply rooted in Scripture and faithful to its teaching (see the list of Bible passages at the end of this document), as well as to the teaching of the church for the last two millennia.  But you should also know that the words written here faithfully express what we really believe and treasure in our hearts.

 

Though we have freely incorporated the language of Scripture as well as the language of earlier creeds into our writing, the Knoxboro Confession of Faith stands on its own as our declaration of the sovereign grace of God the Father, the saving mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit. 

 

May the Lord be pleased to use this sacred confession to touch your heart and build you up in the things of God.

 

The Knoxboro Confession of Faith consists of twelve parts:

 

1.  The Blessed Trinity

2.   The God Who Speaks and Acts

3.   Our Heavenly Father

4.   Jesus Christ our Lord

5.   The Holy Spirit

6.   The Church

7.   The Creation of Men and Women

8.   The Fall of Men and Women

9.   Salvation

10. The Resurrection of the Dead

11. The Life of the World to Come

12. The Christian Life

 

 

1.  THE BLESSED TRINITY (Exodus 15; Isaiah 40-45; John 17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6;             Ephesians 1-3)

 

            We believe in the one, true, living and eternal God, who is glorious in holiness and sovereign over all things.  This living God eternally and always exists in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - whose life together consists of mutual love and perfect joy.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equal in every divine perfection and they act together in their work of creation, providence and redemption.  This glorious God is worthy of our complete devotion and worship.

 

 

2.  THE GOD WHO SPEAKS AND ACTS (Psalms 19, 78, 104, 105, and 106;                                                     Matthew 22:34-40; Luke 24; 2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5; Hebrews 1:1-4; 2 Peter)

 

            We believe that the living God interacts with the world He created.  He is the God who speaks and acts.  This God has spoken in many ways in the course of history: through acts of creation and providence, through acts of deliverance and judgment, through the acts of the prophets and the apostles, and definitively and supremely through His Son, the living Word of God who became flesh and made the Father known.  This same God who speaks and acts has given to us a marvelous treasure, the book commonly referred to as the Bible, which is the reliable record of God speaking and acting in history, of God interacting with men and women like us, and of the human response to this God.

            We believe that the Bible, consisting of the thirty-nine Old Testament books and the twenty-seven New Testament books, was breathed out by the living God and is thus nothing less than Holy Scripture, the written Word of God.  Holy Scripture, as the Word of God to His people, has governing authority in the Christian community and is the sure source and standard of sound doctrine.

            The living God speaks and acts in our lives through Holy Scripture.  Through Scripture God shows us the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, causes us to flourish in life and godliness, works in us a growing love for God and neighbor, and trains us to think and live in a manner that pleases Him.  The Sacred Writing is full of instruction, nourishment and refreshment for the people of God.

            Until the Lord returns, it is our privilege and responsibility to give apt attention to the Word of God as to a light shining in a dark place and to live under its authority as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

3.  OUR HEAVENLY FATHER (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 33:12-34:9; Psalms 36, 85, 86,             and 89; John 3; Romans 8)

 

            We believe in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, our Father and our God.  He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, and righteous and just in all that He does.  He created all things in heaven and on earth, governs all things for His glory and our good, and sent forth His Son for us all.

 

 

4.  JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD (Luke 1-4, 22-24; John 1, 6, and 8:12-59; Acts 1-2;

            1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Philippians 2:1-11; Colossians 1; 2 Thessalonians 1;         1 John 1:5-2:2)

 

            We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, our Savior and our Lord.  All things were created by Him and for Him, and all things are held together and find their purpose in Him. 

            For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven and became a man with flesh and blood like ours.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  He was and is the embodiment of grace and truth. 

            He always lived in perfect obedience to His Father.   He revealed the Father to His disciples and laid down His life for them and for us.  He suffered under Pontius Pilate and was crucified for our sins.  His body was broken and His blood was poured out for the forgiveness of our sins.  He breathed His last, was dead and buried.  In this He loved us and gave Himself for us. 

            He was raised from the dead on the third day.  He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of His Father.  He poured out the Holy Spirit on His disciples. 

            He is our merciful and sympathetic High Priest who always intercedes for us.  He is the only way to the Father.  Eternal salvation is found in Him alone. 

            He will come again, with glory and power, to judge the living and the dead, and to be glorified in His holy people.

 

 

5.  THE HOLY SPIRIT (John 14-16; 1 Corinthians 2-3, 6, and 12; Galatians 5)

 

            We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, our Helper and our Strengthener.  He is sent from the Father and the Son for our sanctification.  He is actively working in us and in our world. 

            He directed saints of old in the writing of Holy Scripture and He enlightens us to understand the sacred text.  He directs our hearts to the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  He draws us into the fellowship of the Father and the Son and unites us to one another as brothers and sisters in the household of God.  He produces in us the character of Christ and strengthens us in the battle against sin.  He empowers us to proclaim the good news about Jesus and works through our spiritual gifts for the common good.  He inhabits the community of disciples and lives in the hearts of the faithful.  The fellowship of the Holy Spirit is a deep joy and a strong help.  His presence with us now is a foretaste of the glory to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.  THE CHURCH (Matthew 5:14-16 and 28:16-20; John 17; Acts 2;

            2 Corinthians 4:1-6 and 6:14-7:1; Ephesians; 1 Peter 1:1-2:12)

 

            We believe that the church of the living God consists of those people who have been called out of darkness into the kingdom of light and truth.  The local church consists of those people who have received this call and gather together as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.  As the church, we are the people of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

            We are holy and dearly loved by the Father because we are His people.  As a people who belong to God, we are called to make known the excellencies of His glory.  As brothers and sisters in the household of God, we are called to love one another in practical ways and with sincere hearts. 

            We are nourished and cherished by our Lord Jesus Christ because we are His body.  As a people who belong to Christ, we are called to depend on Him for encouragement and strength.  As one body, we are called to pursue peace with one another, support one another and work together for the gospel. 

            The Holy Spirit is present and active in our life together because we are His temple.  As a people in whom God’s Spirit lives, we are called to be filled with the Spirit.  As the dwelling place of God, we are called to be in sync with the Spirit of God and holy in every way.

            We are sent into the world by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in order to share the gospel of the glory of Christ, shine our light before others and make disciples, that other people may experience the goodness of the Lord and worship our gracious God. 

 

 

7.  THE CREATION OF MEN AND WOMEN (Genesis 1-2; Leviticus 19; Psalm 8;             Ecclesiastes 12; Romans 2:1-11)

 

            We believe that men and women are created in the image and likeness of God and that each person is thus ennobled with substantial purpose and worth. 

            As men and women, we are created to experience joyful communion with God and with one another.  We are designed to order our lives according to the will of God, exercise careful and thoughtful stewardship of the created order, and embody the character of God in our relationships and work. 

            As creatures and stewards of God, we are accountable to Him for the character and conduct of our lives.  In the end we will give an account of our lives to God, who will render to each one of us according to what we have done.

 

 

8.  THE FALL OF MEN AND WOMEN (Genesis 3-11; Proverbs 1-4; John 3:36; 1 John     5:12-13; Romans 1:18-32 and 3:9-20; 2 Thessalonians 1-2; Revelation 20-22)

 

            We believe that our first parents, Adam and Eve, exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than their Creator.  In this way the human race fell into an existence of physical and spiritual death, and human nature became marked by sin.  (continued) 

            As sinful men and women, we are disconnected from the life of God and the way of peace.  We order our lives according to our own desires, live in a manner that is contrary to God and the created order, and experience frustration in our relationships and work.

            This fallen existence is both perilous and vain.  It is perilous because the wrath of God rests on those people who continue to reject the truth of God and the penalty of eternal destruction will surely come upon them.  It is vain because there is ultimately no meaningful existence to be found outside of a right relationship with God, because God alone is the fountain of life and supplier of joy.

 

 

9.  SALVATION (Isaiah 55; Acts 2-3, 13 and 17; Romans 1-8; 1 Corinthians 1-2;             Colossians; Titus 2:1-3:11)

 

            We believe that we have been saved from this perilous and vain existence by the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We believe that we are being saved from this perilous and vain existence by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.  We believe that we will be saved from this perilous and vain existence by the grace that will be given to us when our Lord returns.

            Sinful men and women enter into this salvation through faith and repentance.  In faith and repentance a person turns from the way of sin and turns to King Jesus as Savior and Lord, forsakes a life oriented around self for a life oriented around Jesus, leans on Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God, and finds in Jesus the key to joyful communion with God.  The initial act of faith and repentance marks the beginning of an entire life of ongoing faith and repentance, and growth in the things of God.

            We who have been saved have been reconciled to God the Father through the death of His Son.  Our sins have been forgiven and washed away.  Once bearing the weight of God’s wrath against us because of our sin, we have been freed of this burden by Jesus, who suffered the wrath of God for us on the cross.  Once separated from the fatherly presence of God, we have been brought near to Him by the redeeming love of Jesus.  We are now His sons and daughters.  By the Spirit we are able to cry out to God as our dear Father.

            Our hearts and minds have been made new.  The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  The law of God has been written on our minds.  We have become new creatures who have the mind of Jesus.  With renewed hearts and minds we are free to pursue God and seek His kingdom.  By the Spirit we are being conformed to the image and likeness of Jesus.     

            We have been called together as God’s holy people, and as such we are defined, not by ethnic identity, economic or social status, or gender, but by the life that Jesus shares with us all.  By the Spirit we are able to regard and love one another even as Jesus regards and loves each of us.

            This glorious salvation is a gift from our God and Father.  It is not attained by the work of our hands, but is given to us according to the abundant mercy and lavish grace of God.

 

 

10. THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD (Daniel 12:1-3; John 5:25-29; Romans             8:18-25; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3; 2 Thessalonians 1)

 

            We believe that the dead will rise again with their bodies.  The righteous will experience a resurrection of life.  They will enjoy eternal life in the presence of God and will share in the blessings of the new heaven and the new earth.  But the unrighteous will experience a resurrection of judgment.  They will suffer eternal conscious destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and excluded from the blessings of the new creation.

 

 

11. THE LIFE OF THE WORLD TO COME (Daniel 12:1-3; 2 Peter 3; 1 John 3:1-3;             Revelation 20-22)

 

            We believe that one day our Lord Jesus Christ will come again, with glory and power, to judge the living and the dead, and to save those who belong to Him.  On that day we will see Jesus as He really is, and we will become like Him, gloriously conformed to His image.  We will experience joyful and unhindered communion with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and with one another.  We will love and serve the Lord forever and ever. 

            On that day God will make all things new.  He will fashion a new heaven and a new earth, dwell among His holy people, and wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will no longer be any curse or any death.  There will no longer be any mourning or crying or pain.  The Lord God will illumine His holy people with His own brilliance and radiance, and they will shine like the brightness of the heavens and like the stars forevermore.

 

 

12. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (Romans 12-15)

 

            We believe that it is our privilege and responsibility to embody this confession in our individual and communal lives.  This task calls us to love God with all that we are, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, do everything in a manner worthy of the Lord, and work together for the sake of the gospel.  May the Lord be pleased to work in us and through us those things that are pleasing to Him.  Amen.