David's Statement of Faith

The Scriptures are the inerrant, inspired word of God, and are the final authority in all matters of conduct. God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is God's Son, and is the physical incarnation of God (John 1:1, 14). He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life on this earth. He paid the full penalty for man's sin when He died on the cross of Calvary (John 3:16-18). He arose from the grave and ascended into Heaven, where He now intercedes between God the Father and mankind as our risen Savior. 

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, and at conversion, indwells the believer and enables us to live a new life, free from sin's bondage. He helps us to be increasingly conformed to the image of Jesus, and empowers us for spiritual service.

Jesus has promised that he will physically and visibly return to earth, and that we should be on the alert for His return (Matt. 24:30,42). The resurrection of the dead at His second coming is Christ's great promise to believers, who will enter into everlasting life and peace. Unbelievers  also await resurrection, but to punishment and eternal separation from God. (Matt. 25:31-46)

Man was created in God's image, but man disobeyed and rebelled against God. The result was physical and spiritual separation from God. Jesus died to pay the price of our disobedience, and to bridge the gap between a perfect God and imperfect man. Only when we consciously choose to acknowledge our sin and imperfection, ask for God's forgiveness, and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, do we receive salvation (John 5:24;  I John 5:11-13).

Any person who now, in simple faith, trusts in the risen Christ receives the gift of eternal life (John 6:47). Jesus also clearly taught that He was the only way to the Father (John 14:6), and that faith in Him is the sole condition for receiving eternal salvation. There is nothing we can do to earn or deserve it (Ephesians 2:8-9). When this happens, we become children of God by faith, and a relationship with our loving Heavenly Father can now begin.

What should our motivation be to follow Christ and obey God's Word? It is to live our lives in gratitude and thanksgiving for the things that Jesus has done for us (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:14). We are now set free from trying to earn God's favor by our own efforts, which has always been impossible (Gal. 2:16). Our obedience is now motivated by our love of God.

God also wants us to grow in our faith and deepen our walk with Him, as we seek His specific will in our lives. We do this by seeking Him daily through prayer (1 Thess. 5:17), studying His Word (Ps. 119:11), and by worshiping Him with other believers (Heb 10:25). As we do these things, we then fulfill God's greatest commandments: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt.22:36-40). We are also called to share this good news with others, as we glorify Him by being the living expression of His love and His will on earth.