[CS-FSLUG] Attention to List Members: New Statement of Faith

[David M.]

On Tuesday September 13 2005 9:24 pm, Timothy Butler wrote:
> Dear ChristianSource Members,
>      The moderating team has taken into consideration suggestions
> concerning the statement of faith, and I present to you the final
> replacement for the old statement. All members are asked to agree to
> this new statement, just as you did the old one. The old statement
> will be removed from the web site, soon.
>
>      Blessings,
>              Tim
>
> The Sakamuyan Declaration
> Sakamuyo Christian Fellowship Declaration of Faith and Belief:
>
> * Note: This statement differs from the official Sakamuyan
> Declaration concerning Article VII, of which we only require respect
> for those who hold this position, not agreement with it.
>
> We, as members of the ChristianSource Free Software and Linux Users
> Group (CS-FSLUG), affirm the essentials of the faith expressed in the
> Apostle's and Nicene creeds. We also affirm the following points as
> the essentials of the Christian faith and as the minimum requirements
> to become a part of the earthly expression of the one true and holy
> church of Jesus Christ.
>
> I. We affirm the one true God of the Bible, all powerful, all knowing
> and eternal; we affirm that God exists in three persons, Father, Son
> and Holy Spirit and that these three are one.
>
> II. We affirm the Earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. We
> affirm His existence as God made flesh, both fully God and fully Man.
> We believe in his physical death and his physical resurrection after
> three days in the tomb.
>
> III. We affirm the presence of the Holy Spirit in all believers as
> the divine comforter sent by God to provide support and guidance
> since the time of Pentecost.
>
> IV. We affirm all humanity was made in the image of God, but through
> willful disobedience fell into a corrupt state of sin. In this fallen
> state we are totally depraved and unable to in anyway bring about our
> own salvation.
>
> V. We affirm God, in His mercy and despite our depravity, chose to
> bestow completely unmerited grace upon anyone who would personally
> accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through repentance and
> faith. This is made possible through the vicarious atonement provided
> by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was sinless and
> innocent of the punishment bestowed on him for our sake. We believe
> that works after salvation show only the fruit of the Spirit and in
> no way are necessary to obtain or retain saving grace. A personal
> relationship with Jesus is the key to true membership in the Church.
>
> VI. We affirm the Bible as the true, holy and divine revelation of
> God. We accept the universally accepted 27 books of the New Testament
> and the Jewish canon of 39 books as the inspired Word of God through
> which other revelations ought to be interpreted. While the full Truth
> of God is larger than the Bible, the Bible is wholly Truth. We affirm
> the validity of the scripture canon and believe the entirety of God's
> Word must be included in our theology. We believe between the front
> and back covers of the Bible in its original form, we find what God
> intended to have written.
>
> VII. While ChristianSource affirms the following article of this
> declaration, we recognize that not all Christians agree on this
> assertion and therefore do not require acceptance of it but only
> respect for those who hold to this belief:  We affirm Baptism and
> Communion as sacraments  instituted by Christ for this age as outward
> signs of inward spiritual grace. Neither baptism nor communion are
> necessary for salvation nor the continued remission of sins.
>
> VIII. We affirm all professing Christians ought make every effort to
> keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
>
> IX. We believe in the triumphant return of the Son at the end of the
> age, the judgment of all the people of the world, and the eternal
> sentence to bliss or condemnation.
>
> X. We affirm all Christians, as members of the body of Christ, are
> called to follow the Great Commission given to us by our Lord before
> he ascended to Heaven. Christians, regardless of status as laity or
> clergy, should seek to make disciples and be instrumental in
> baptizing and teaching them the commandments of Christ to the very
> end of this age.

I completely agree. 

-- 
David M.