Before you study someone's writing or teaching, especially about the Bible, you should know what shapes their worldview. The following statements represent my beliefs shaped by Holy Scripture:
Beliefs
I Believe…
in the one true holy God, who is three equal and eternal Persons in one divine Being—God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit— known as the Godhead or Trinity. (Genesis 1:1-2, Matthew 3:13-17, 17:5; Mark 1:10-11, 9:2-8; Luke 3:21-22, 9:35)
humans are made in God's image and are, therefore, inherently sacred with intrinsic value regardless of their ethnicity, gender, age, education, ability, or beliefs. (Genesis 1:27)
God created a perfect place that humans messed up with sin and rebellion that has spread like a spiritual cancer throughout time. Because of this sin, the world and everyone in it is broken, lost, hurting, and hopeless without the Savior, Jesus Christ. We cannot help or fix ourselves outside of God’s mercy and grace. (Genesis 3:1-7, Romans 3:23, 6:23)
in a good, kind, and loving God who made a way for us to be in a restored relationship with Him even after sin entered into the world. Jesus is the way, truth, and life, and no one can come to God the Father except through Him. (Romans 5:8, John 14:6)
in the immaculate conception through the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary, and the incarnation where Jesus became flesh and made His dwelling among us in order to save us. Jesus, as the second Person of the Godhead, was begotten from God not created. (John 1:14)
Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and was the all-sufficient sacrifice for humanity's sins. I believe he died on a cross, was buried in a tomb, and three days later rose from the dead in a bodily resurrection. (John 3:16, Hebrews 4:15, 9:28, 10:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
anyone can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus. I believe salvation is a free gift from God; there is nothing we can do to earn our way into heaven. I believe, as Scripture says, if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Romans 5:8, 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 John 1:9)
upon our confession in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are raised from spiritual death to life where our sins—past and future—are removed forever. (Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:7, 103:12; 1 John 1:7-9 1 John 1:7–9)
the gospel of Jesus Christ really is the best news ever! (Romans 8:1, 32)
in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who seals us until the day of redemption by Christ and leads, convicts, and comforts us in all truth once we are saved. (John 14:16, 26, 15:26)
the Church is God's plan to share the good news of the gospel with the whole world so that many can be saved for eternity. (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8)
Jesus is coming back one day to establish His kingdom on earth where He will reign and rule forever. (Matthew 24:30-42, Acts 1:9-11, Hebrews 9:28)
the 66 books of the Bible are God-breathed and, therefore, inerrant, complete, and the greatest revelation of God to us. I believe the Scriptures shape and renew us spiritually like nothing else. (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Christi also confesses the Nicene Creed, as well as these doctrines.