As it is Easter weekend (specifically, as I write this, Good Friday), I thought it would be a perfect time to write out what I believe, both spiritually and morally (as morals tie in with faith).
I believe that there is only one God, that he is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit- three seperate but equal parts creating the whole of God. I believe that God created the entire universe in six litteral 24 hour periods, and on the seventh he rested. I believe that all things were created by God in those six days, including man, and that Adam and Eve were the perfect representations for humans. I believe that Satan took the form of a serpent and decieved Eve into eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and that Adam, who was not decieved and could have stopped Eve, sinned by not stopping her and by eating of the fruit himself. I believe that man fell away from God that day, but that God was not at a loss as He sees the end from the beginning, and had already set into motion His plans for our redemption and reconciliation with Him, because He loves us.
I believe that God sent His one and only begotten Son, known to us as Jesus Christ (the second Adam), to earth to be that plan. That Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and walked the earth doing miracles- healing the sick, raising the dead, delivering people, etc. That Christ was betrayed and brought before Pilot, and condemned to death, though He had committed no crime. That Christ was bruised and beaten and scourged beyond recognition and until the flesh was falling off His back, that by those wounds- that massive stripe-we have received our healing from all sickness, disease, and hurt. That Christ was crowned with a crown of thorns that we could have Shalom; and nailed to a cross, His hands and feet nailed and his side was pierced, in atonement for our sins- past, present, and future. That He gave up His spirit once He knew that the work He had come to do was finished. That He was laid in a borrowed grave, and laid there for three days. That on the third day He rose, body and spirit, from the grave, having passed through Hell- defeating Satan and taking back the keys to the Kingdom. I believe that after some time (ok, I can't remember the exact lenght) He ascended into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father, where He sits today waiting to come back for His bride. That He did not leave us alone after His ascention, but sent the Holy Spirit- who is the spirit of grace- to guide us and comfort us, and to further empower us to live our lives in Him.
I believe that Christ is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life- that there is NO other way to the Father but by Him. That no other religion leads to Heaven, nor that any other way leads to true peace- that the world has nothing to offer that can satisfy. I believe that a person will receive salvation if they only ask. That salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. That if you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and ask Him to come into your life as your personal Lord and Savior, that you will be saved and spend eternity in Heaven with the Father. That when you recieve Christ as Lord, His grace comes into your life, and that when you are in Christ, you are no longer under the law, but under grace. That grace is NOT a license to sin, but what keeps us from sinning, and that anyone who is still living in sin is not living their lives in the true knowledge of that grace, but still living their lives under the law.
I believe in baptism in water by full submersion AFTER salvation, which is the burrying of the old man and the resurrection of the new. I also believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which gives us the further empowerment to not only live according to Christ but to also recive the gifts of the Spirit, including the ability to speak in tounges (the heavenly prayer language), and to do works even greater than Christ, as He said we would do- the healing of the sick, the raising of the dead, the deliverence of the oppressed, depressed, and possessed- all through His power.
That Christ will return again, one day, as King, to take back the world. In that day, those who are in Him, including the dead, will be taken up body and spirit to reign forever with Him. And should anyone who is in Christ should die before that day, that their spirit will remain in Heaven with God until that day. But those who are not in Christ, who have not recieved Him as thier Lord and Savior, will spend eternity seperated from God in Hell (which is very real, and God does not want anyone to have to go there, but that all would come to know Christ so they can be reconciled to Him- but that decision is ultimately yours. If you go to Hell, it was your own decision.)
I believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God. That " All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16&17)
I believe that sex is to be saved for marriage only. That romantic relationships are to be between a man and a woman only. That marriage is between one man and one woman for life. That children are a blessing from God, not a burden. That life begins at conception. That we are to train up children in the way of The Lord. That life and death is in the power of the tounge, and that drunkeness is wrong.
To the best of my ability to describe, that is what I believe, and NOTHING, no lies of the devil, no schemes of man, NOTHING will ever change that...and NOTHING can ever take me from God's hand. :-)
