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STATEMENT of FAITHe Evangelical Free Church of America is anassociation of autonomous churches unitedaround the same theological convictions.Download the Statement of Faith in Chinese,Spanish or English. Our bylaws are also available.
mGODWe believe in one God, Creator of allthings, holy, infinitely perfect, andeternally existing in a loving unity ofthree equally divine Persons: theFather, the Son and the Holy Spirit.Having limitless knowledge andsovereign power, God has graciouslypurposed from eternity to redeem apeople for Himself and to make allthings new for His own glory.
the BIBLEWe believe that God has spoken inthe Scriptures, both Old and NewTestaments, through the words ofhuman authors. As the verballyinspired Word of God, the Bible iswithout error in the original writings,the complete revelation of His will forsalvation, and the ultimate authorityby which every realm of humanknowledge and endeavor should bejudged. erefore, it is to be believedin all that it teaches, obeyed in all thatit requires, and trusted in all that itpromises.
the HUMAN CONDITIONWe believe that God created Adamand Eve in His image, but they sinnedwhen tempted by Satan. In union withAdam, human beings are sinners bynature and by choice, alienated fromGod, and under His wrath. Onlythrough God’s saving work in JesusChrist can we be rescued, reconciledand renewed.
JESUS CHRISTWe believe that Jesus Christ is Godincarnate, fully God and fully man, onePerson in two natures. Jesus—Israel’spromised Messiah—was conceivedthrough the Holy Spirit and born ofthe virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life,was crucified under Pontius Pilate,arose bodily from the dead, ascendedinto heaven and sits at the right handof God the Father as our High Priestand Advocate.
the WORK of CHRISTWe believe that Jesus Christ, as ourrepresentative and substitute, shed Hisblood on the cross as the perfect,all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. Hisatoning death and victoriousresurrection constitute the onlyground for salvation.
the HOLY SPIRITWe believe that the Holy Spirit, inall that He does, glorifies the Lord JesusChrist. He convicts the world of itsguilt. He regenerates sinners, and inHim they are baptized into union withChrist and adopted as heirs in thefamily of God. He also indwells,illuminates, guides, equips andempowers believers for Christ-likeliving and service.
the CHURCHWe believe that the true churchcomprises all who have been justifiedby God’s grace through faith alone inChrist alone. ey are united by theHoly Spirit in the body of Christ, ofwhich He is the Head. e true churchis manifest in local churches, whosemembership should be composed onlyof believers. e Lord Jesus mandatedtwo ordinances, baptism and the Lord’sSupper, which visibly and tangiblyexpress the gospel. ough they arenot the means of salvation, whencelebrated by the church in genuinefaith, these ordinances confirm andnourish the believer.
CHRISTIAN LIVINGWe believe that God’s justifyinggrace must not be separated from Hissanctifying power and purpose. Godcommands us to love Him supremelyand others sacrificially, and to live outour faith with care for one another,compassion toward the poor andjustice for the oppressed. With God’sWord, the Spirit’s power, and ferventprayer in Christ’s name, we are tocombat the spiritual forces of evil. Inobedience to Christ’s commission, weare to make disciples among all people,always bearing witness to the gospel inword and deed.
CHRIST’S RETURNWe believe in the personal, bodilyand glorious return of our Lord JesusChrist. e coming of Christ, at a timeknown only to God, demands constantexpectancy and, as our blessed hope,motivates the believer to godly living,sacrificial service and energeticmission.
RESPONSE and ETERNAL DESTINYWe believe that God commandseveryone everywhere to believe thegospel by turning to Him inrepentance and receiving the LordJesus Christ. We believe that God willraise the dead bodily and judge theworld, assigning the unbeliever tocondemnation and eternal consciouspunishment and the believer to eternalblessedness and joy with the Lord inthe new heaven and the new earth, tothe praise of His glorious grace. Amen.
DISTINCTIVESRelationships in a healthy family can be compared to entering a cozydining room, with comfortable chairs and a fire burning—an intimate locationwhere we can share a good meal, the warm of friendship, the joys and sorrowsof life. e same is true of our family known as the Evangelical Free Church ofAmerica. True, we are part of a larger gathering of the worldwide Christianfamily. We have been adopted into that larger family by grace through faith inJesus Christ, and so we share certain characteristics. If you were to join us, wetrust that you would see that general family resemblance: Christlikeness. Yetyou would also see some specific distinctives that are unique to our intimaterelationships. For the EFCA family, our distinctives focus on God and His Word,on the Lord Jesus Christ, and on living by and with grace and truth. We inviteyou to come and spend time with our EFCA family.Read our distinctives.
W that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God's grace through faith alone in Christ alone. ey are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. e true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. e Lord Jesus mandated
