“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” – 1 Tim. 4:16
What is a Statement of Faith?
A statement of faith is a religious organization’s – whether that be a church or some other Christian ministry – explanation of what they believe to be the fundamental teachings of the Christian faith. This doesn’t mean that a statement of faith describes everything that organization believes. Rather, it describes what that organization generally believes are the clear and primary teachings of the Christian faith. While not every article in a statement of faith is necessary for one to believe in order to have a saving relationship with Jesus, every statement of faith does contain some fundamental doctrines which each church or ministry does believe is necessary for salvation (excluding certain liberal and universalist traditions). I encourage you to read our statement of faith and familiarize yourself with our theological convictions. If you have any questions, please send us a message to general@thewholechristianlife.org.
Before you read our statement of faith, we want to explain that our theology is heavily informed and influenced by the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) theological statements and traditions. I, Brandon Andrews, grew up in an SBC church, attended an SBC seminary (twice), have settled on Baptistic-Reformed (not necessarily Reformed Baptist, though something close) theological convictions, and remain a member of an SBC church today. I would like to refer you to the SBC’s statement of faith known as the Baptist Faith & Message (2000). You can find that document here.
The Bible
The Holy Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is the living word of God (2 Tim. 3:15-17). It is inerrant and infallible. Everything that is necessary for salvation is present and communicated through God’s word. The Bible is the foundational testimony to Christians of the revelation of Jesus Christ and God’s plan of salvation. (Heb. 1:1-2).
God
There is one God who is morally perfect, who exists in three persons; the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (Deu. 6:4-6, Matt. 28:20, Eph. 4:5). He is the Creator of the universe (Gen. 1:1, Psalm 19:1-6). He is eternally existent; before Him there is no other. Each person of the Trinity is co-equal and con-substantial.
The Father. The Father works in Creation to speak the world into creation. He is the author of salvation. He sends the Son into Creation to die on the cross for human sin.
The Son. The Son, who is Jesus, is the one through whom all Creation was made. Jesus is God Himself. Jesus’ role in salvation is to offer Himself as a penalty for sin, by dying on the cross at Calvary.
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is involved in Creation too, as He hovers over the waters. The Holy Spirit is the applier of salvation. The Holy Spirit indwells the Christian, regenerating the person’s heart and soul, working in them through the process of sanctification.
Mankind
Humans are made in the image of God, being endowed with certain intellectual, moral, and relational attributes that are unique to human creatures (Gen. 1:24-28). The original human state was a state of moral innocence. Human nature, though, as a result of sin, bears the weight of moral guilt and the physical consequences of death and disease. Humans were created directly, as fully formed beings, and not through the gradual process of evolution. Every human, regardless of race, religion, sex, or nationality, bears the image of God and contains the same worth and dignity as every other person.
Sin
The first human parents, who were originally morally innocent, rebelled against God’s moral law. As a result, humanity experiences spiritual and physical consequences (Rom. 6:23a). The spiritual consequence of sin is alienation from God. Humans who die in a state of sin experience eternal alienation from God, which is called Hell. Those who die in Christ will experience resurrection unto life with God. The introduction of sin into God’s creation not only affects humans, but affects the rest of creation too (Rom. 8:22-24).
Salvation
Salvation is possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ shed blood atones for the sins of those who accept Jesus as Lord (Col. 1:13-14). To receive the atonement made possible through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the individual must repent of their sin and rebellion, and trust in Christ alone for justification before the Father. An individual cannot obtain righteousness by any work of their own, but it is by faith alone, through God’s grace alone (Eph. 2:8-9).
Christ’s Return
The Lord Jesus Christ will return at the end of human history to judge the world of sin and righteousness. At His return those found in Christ will be raised in new life to eternal salvation, and those found outside of Christ will be raised from the dead to eternal condemnation.
The Church
The Church is the assembly of professing believers in Jesus as Lord. The local Church is the body of Christ manifested through its members. Every Christian should be joined in faith with a local Church.
Ordinances
There are two ordinances (or sacraments) instructed for the Christian to follow. They are baptism and The Lord’s Supper (Communion or Eucharist). In baptism the individual identifies in Christ’s death to sin (Christ died for sin, the Christian dies to sin) and being raised to new life in His resurrection. Communion is a practice whereby Christians observe the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of their salvation through Jesus’ sacrificial death; His shed blood and pierced body.
The Christian Life
As believers in Christ, Christians are instructed to live lives that are holy and worthy of their salvation in Christ. They should no longer live according to the values of the world or the lusts of the flesh, but should manifest the new life they are given in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:1-7). This includes abstaining from practices such as drunkenness, abuse of harmful substances, sexual activity outside of traditional Biblical marriage, pornography, vulgar language, and anything else which does not glorify God. In addition, the Christian is called to live a life of individual humility, love of their neighbor
and strangers, to live generous lives, and having concern for the poor and oppressed.
Important Doctrinal Statements Which We Affirm or Support
Baptist Faith and Message (2000) – This is doctrinal statement, similar to the classic confessions of faith, which many Southern Baptist churches affirm. The SBC is unique in that it does not require or demand that it’s associational churches affirm the BF&M. The reason is that the SBC is not a denomination in the traditional sense. This is a complicated matter which has to do with Baptist ecclesiology and SBC polity. Suffice it to say, the SBC has historically viewed itself as an association of Baptist churches, not a denomination. You can find the Baptist Faith & Message (2000) here.
The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy – This statement was produced in 1978 as a result of the liberal direction that many evangelical American churches and denominations were heading. The issue at the fore of that tidal change was the inerrancy and ultimate authority of Scripture. If Scripture is in any way fallible, then the dependency on the Bible as the final word on salvation and morality would soon give way to doubt and eventual abandonment of Biblical norms altogether. Seeing this outcome, many conservative evangelicals gathered together to author the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, which defines and affirms a view of the Bible as being the final, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God. You can find that document in several places. The journal Themelios has published it here.
The Danvers Statement – You can find this document published here.
The Nashville Statement – You can find this document published here.