Jim’s Statement of Faith - The Christian Life

By holiness does not mean I will be sinless but I can be blameless. My life as a Christian takes work and requires the commitment of my heart, mind and body. During my training for righteousness along with my struggles with sin, I need to have a “Christ-like attitude” (1 Peter 4:1-2). Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ”. Christ is not outside of me but He is inside me. Since Christ is within me, I must listen to His Word and walk in His steps (2 Corinthians 4:10). I am no longer according to the flesh because Christ is in me therefore, He is my Savior and Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:16). With Christ inside me, God has granted me the ability to understand the truth and live accordingly (1 John 1:5-6). I am God's letter, written in my heart to be known and read by everybody. I am to show that I am a letter from Christ, the result of His ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of my heart (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). I am being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5). I am encouraged by God that I am to offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is my Spiritual act of Worship. I will not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by renewing of my mind with the Word of God. By understanding the Word of God, I will be able to test and approve what God's will is; His good, pleasing and perfect Will (Romans 12:1-2). A life of righteousness, good works and separation unto God from the evil ways of the world (Rom 12:1- 2), manifested by speaking the truth (James 5:12), maintaining the sanctity of the home (Eph. 5:22-6:4) settling differences between Christians in accordance with the Word of God (I Cor. 6:1-8), not engaging in carnal strife but showing a Christ-like attitude toward all men (Rom. 12:7-21), exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), and maintaining a life of prayer (Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6), including the privilege, when sick, of calling for the elders of the church to pray and to anoint with oil in the name of the Lord (James 5:13-18). Jesus Christ calls us to discipleship, to take up our cross and follow him. Through the gift of God's saving grace, we are empowered to be disciples of Jesus, filled with his Spirit, following his teachings and his path through suffering to new life. As we are faithful to his way, we become conformed to Christ and separated from the evil in the world. A disciple of Jesus is to know life in the Spirit. As the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ take shape in us, we grow in the image of Christ and in our relationship with God. The Holy Spirit is active in individual and in communal worship, leading us deeper into the experience of God. Commit ourselves to tell the truth, to give a simple yes or no, and to avoid the swearing of oaths. Everything belongs to God, who calls the church to live in faithful stewardship of all that God has entrusted to us, and to participate now in the rest and justice which God has promised.