Personal Statement of Faith

Silvia MendezMid America Christian University

THEO 2303Fall 2013

IntroductionSalvation is Personal, in my opinion.

God is real. Jesus lived as a man, and is alive in those who believe.We must accept Jesus as Lord and Savior in order to have everlasting

life.Our sins are forgiven through our Faith in Jesus and His sacrifice.

As members in the body of Christ, we must spread the Gospel and not be ashamed.

We must study the Word and understand that we must suffer in order to gain what is promised to the Saints.

We must bear fruit and fellowship with one another.

The God of the Bible

Creator Redeemer

Judge Father

Author of SalvationYahweh, Abba, Adonai

Holy Trinity

“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7

• The Father• The Word

• The Holy Spirit

“”

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that

whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

God had chosen the time, place, setting for Jesus’s birth,Knowing in advance all that Jesus would do in obedience to Him while He

lived& lives because He conquered death

Jesus Christ

• Jesus is God in the flesh• Jesus is the Lord• He is the Beloved son of God• He will come to judge the world• He is our friend

Atonement

Propitiation &

Justification

Holy SpiritComforter

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 1the

Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in

you.” –John 14:15-17

HumanityWhen Adam and Eve were turned away from the Garden of Eden as a result of their disobedience/sin, we were all turned away along with them, having been born outside the garden and all.

We can still access God through Jesus, for He is the Way to the Father.

We are faced with suffering in this world: Demonic/ the battles of the invisible realmLack of self-controlThe evil intent of othersNatural Occurrences

Suffering is a chance to prove oneself before Godlearning obedience, humility, patience, experience, and hope

Sin

Primordial

Devilish

Systemic

Individualized

SalvationSalvation comes from the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. We don’t need anything else to be washed away from all of our sins.

We don’t need to torment ourselves emotionally to compensate for our mistakes

We don’t need to make animal sacrifices for temporary covering of sins

We don’t need to feel guilty or ashamedWe no longer need to self-condemn ourselves

It isn’t by our own works that we are saved

The BeatitudesBlessed are the poor in spirit

• For theirs is the kingdom of heavenBlessed are those who mourn

• For they shall be comfortedBlessed are the meek

• For they shall inherit the earthBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for

righteousness• For they shall be filled

Blessed are the merciful• For they shall obtain mercy

Blessed are the pure in heart• For they shall see God

Blessed are the peacemakers• For they shall be called sons of God

Blessed are those who are persecuted for Righteousness’ sake

• For theirs is the kingdom of heaven

ChurchWhat it is not: • The Church isn’t the buildings that we erect.• It is not the synagogues of Old that were transformed into churches

that we know today• It isn’t the architecture, or paintings, denomination, or statues

What it is: • 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members

individually. • 1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members,

but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. • Romans 12:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and

individually members of one another.

Conclusion

God is the Alpha and OmegaWe who belong to Christ cannot be snatched from HimWe are here to spread the Good News and to live Holy

We are not to repay evil for evilUltimate punishment if for God alone

Ultimately, Judging is God’s prerogative, not oursJesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Light

God is FaithfulAll that is Written is true.

ReferencesDeffinbaugh, B. L. (2004, May 18). The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4:1-5:13; 6:24-30).

Retrieved from https://bible.org/seriespage/sin-offering-leviticus-41-513-624-30

Driscoll, M. (2009, February. 01). 15 kinds of suffering. Retrieved from http://marshill.com/2009/02/01/15-kinds-of-suffering

Got Questions Ministries. (n.d.). Why did God require animal sacrifices in the Old Testament?

Retrieved from http://www.gotquestions.org/animal-sacrifices.html

Loughran, D. B. (1997, December). Human Suffering. Reading: Revelation 21. Retrieved from http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/sbs777/snotes/note0712.html

Luginbill, R. D. (n.d.). Categories of Suffering. Peter’s Epistles #4. Retrieved from http://ichthys.com/Pet4.htm

New Life Community Church. (n.d.). Eight explanations for Suffering found in the Bible.

Retrieved from http://www.new-life.net/growth/other-articles/eight-explanations-for-suffering-found-in-the-bible/

Stafford, G. W. (2012). Theology for Disciples. Second edition. Anderson, IN: Warren Press