成聖的7「然」

 今天課堂的其中一個要點，明白聖經描述的復興是「已然，未然，必然，仍然」，後來有人加多一樣說有人錯看了以為復興是「徒然」的。

願賜平安的神親自使你們【全然】成聖！

又願你們的靈與魂與身子得蒙保守，

在我們主耶穌基督降臨的時候，

完全無可指摘！ 

(帖撒羅尼迦前書5:23 和合本)

感謝主，課後有機會與一位肢體交談，一同經歷聖靈的工作，和操練饒恕的功課。

「讓靈性帶動生活」為我們帶來「突然」的復興🙏

https://seattlecac-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/tomchow_scacseattle_org/EWhsbELR3npOu4N6-KahshoBWYxAIdfS_cHDzYMgEea3cQ?e=C7u5WJ

神學的反思與實踐系列—— 蕭道生：何謂「靈命培育」？

最近蕭道生牧師在西宣有兩篇講道，當中的重點是人與神的關係。第一篇的命題是《來到我這裡！》；信息的總結是神/人關係重建的第一步，在於培育一顆親近神的心。（源自約5:39-40- 你們查考聖經，卻不肯來到我這裡···）。第二篇的命題是《從「約」的角度思考「主餐」的真理》；內容非常豐富，提到「約」的核心是愛的關係，以對方為自己人生的中心。他的總結是「主餐」作為超越「舊約」的「新約」，是要用時間去揣摩和建立的。為此，我特意重溫蕭十多年前的一篇文章，盼望對自己的神學反思與實踐有所幫助。

何謂「靈命培育」？/ 蕭道生

「靈命培育」(Spiritual Formation)到底是甚麼呢？它關注些什麼東西？簡言之，「靈命培育」所關注的，就是信徒如何向這位深愛他的天父，敞開自己的心，讓父神透過聖靈，把基督的生命，成形在他心靈深處(加四19)，以致他從這顆承載着主生命的心出發，去回應神給他一生的使命。

正因為人是神最精緻的創作，所以人擁有一個複雜的生命，只有聖靈才能完全參透，因此，亦只有聖靈才能作每位信徒的真正屬靈導師。然而神的心意，卻同時把每位信徒放在一個屬靈的家，互相守望，由屬靈的父母親，教導和牧養下一代(參林前四15~16)，所以踏上靈命成長之旅的信徒，也極需要有屬靈長輩的指導，學習敏銳地留心、正確地聆聽和回應神透過聖靈在他身上的帶領。因此，基本上「靈命培育」不是甚麼新道理，它是新約聖經所教導的，也是歷世歷代教會所關注的。那麼為何「靈命培育」好像是近日才普遍出現的一個詞彙，到底這詞彙的出現，代表着什麼？

首先讓我們指出，任何一位真誠信主的基督徒，他從神領受的新生命，是一個必然會長大的生命，正如我們肉身的生命一樣，只要是生命，它就有成長的本能。不過，生命要成長得好，就需要攝取養料，防止疾病的侵擾，也得學習各種謀生技能；故此，承擔着牧養責任的，就必須思考如何健康地培育信徒的靈命，於是，不同傳統的教會，就按它們傳統的特性，建立起一套套門徒訓練課程來。

時移勢易，經過多年的「門徒訓練」，好些教會發現，許多「老信徒」的生命，到了一個階段，便停滯不前；繼續增添聖經與信仰知識，各樣宗教活動的參與，行為上的不斷操練，都不易建立一個更有深度的穩健生命；表面保持熱誠的可能有，但能活出澎湃生命的卻不多，而真誠熱心的，有些也坦然表白自己無法跳出內心黑暗的枷鎖；往日熱心的信徒領袖，經歷耗盡之後，不知何處找到重新得力的途徑；教會舉辦的特會，亦只能帶來一時的興奮，對一部分「老信徒」來說，這類聚會已失去吸引力。主所應許如活水江河、滔滔不絕的生命，好像天方夜譚；保羅所講活在基督裏的生命，只是神學論述，這些聖經真理，對許多「老信徒」來說，並非切身體驗。那麼，問題到底出在哪裏？當然，不是「門徒訓練」有任何錯誤，「門徒訓練」對每個信徒，都是重要和必須的。我們也不是期望地上的生命沒有掙扎、沒有困局，但我們期望，在初信的蜜月期和之後的熱心期過後，信徒仍能穩健地成長，繼續經歷到主同在的真實、體驗到聖靈的帶領和嘗到從上而來的力量。許多信徒都渴望信仰不單是頭腦的一套理念，而是生命的真確體驗。正是這些信徒真實的現象和渴想，推動近日「靈命培育」的思考，探索如何補充往昔門徒訓練的不足。

簡而言之，「靈命培育」並非教導一套新的方法。首先，它是重新探索先聖先賢留下的屬靈遺產，從他們的經歷中學習，發掘出那些隱沒了的珍貴教導，正確地了解對各種屬靈操練的詮釋；也參考二十世紀心理學對人內心世界的認知，並同時注意二十一世紀後現代思潮對人心靈的衝擊，還加上細心揣摩聖經對生命更新的教導，這種多面性的思考，就如耶穌在馬太福音十三章52節所說：「因此，你們每一個為天國而受門徒訓練的律法教師，就像一個家的主人，從自己的寶庫裏拿出新的和舊的東西來」(新漢語譯本)。神在人類歷史中，賜下特殊與普遍的啟示，教育人類不斷更深地認識自己；透過這些學習，我們可探索出一些指標與渠道，協助信徒有意識地踏上一條更深入的成長之旅，這正是「靈命培育」所探討和研究的領域，它的終極，就是指導信徒如何更敏銳地體會神對他的引導，踏上那條保羅走上的路，叫他的舊生命與基督同釘十字架，讓基督耶穌的生命，在他裏面活出來，成就神託付他的使命。這種成長，是由內至外，它更新人內心的感情世界，清洗人心靈積壓的苦澀，醫治內心的創傷，重建人的品格，讓聖靈的果子湧現，它不停於理性對真理的認知，看重對神聖言的深度默想，建立豐富的禱告生活，透過聖靈的光照與啟迪，讓基督的生命活現出來(參加二20)。

作者簡介︰
蕭道生牧師於美國牧會數十載，早年在香港參與神學教育工作，對靈修、信徒生命成長和屬靈導引滿有心得，曾翻譯《裡外更新》。

原載於《建道通訊》167期，2012年4月，頁18-19。

董家驊牧師：世代— 從交替到同行 Unity in Diversity

 

圖片：列治文華人宣道會 7/27/2023

以下是董家驊牧師在「加拿大美國華聯會聯合年會」的第三講講義，得同意作分享。

An Alliance Approach in Navigating Divisive Issues

The following article is adopted with a written permission from the original author. The purpose of posting it on this blog is to help the Alliance church members and leaders to navigate divisive issues by identifying the level of severity or sensitivity of the controversial subjects. 

Please contact Pastor Fowler if you would like to quote or share any part of the article. 

“This article was not published and is not accessible online. You’re welcome to use the article on your blog.” 

STEVE FOWLER

Church Revitalization Director
Alliance NW District Office

alliancenw.org

In navigating divisive issues, I have found it most helpful to distinguish levels of certainty. Then I can differentiate what is essential from that which is merely controversial. For me, this breaks down into four levels.

 

First are things I would “die for.” To deny them knowingly would demonstrate that you are outside the boundaries of gospel orthodoxy and perhaps not in living relationship with Jesus.

In navigating divisive issues, I have found it most helpful to distinguish levels of certainty.

 

Second are things I would “divide for.” We are Christians, fellow members of the body of Christ, but we won’t be in the same local fellowship. 

 

Third are things I would “debate for.” Here, we are in the same church but we will wrestle (sometimes heatedly) with these issues. 

 

Fourth are things we “decide for.” These issues contribute to the rich diversity in the life of our church. Let’s discuss each in turn.

 

Die For

This category contains the foundations of the faith once delivered to the saints for which we contend earnestly (Jude 3). If necessary, the truth of the gospel incorporated in these propositions are things for which we would give up our life. They include the inspiration and authority of Scripture, the Trinity, and the incarnation of the second person of the Trinity as the God-man, Jesus, including his virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection and personal return. Also included is justification and regeneration by grace alone through faith alone which is lived out in gospel centered good works (Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 2:11-13;3:3-8), the Spirit’s personal indwelling believers constituting the one body of Christ, and the final judgment leading to hell and heaven.

 

Calling a person who knowingly denies essentials of the faith a brother or sister in Christ for the sake of “unity” truly denies the unity founded on the truth of Jesus Christ. We see a growing progressive wing that calls for humility and broadening the definition of gospel orthodoxy to include universalism. Humility concerning such items can never be a virtue. Some truths are worth dying for.

 

Consider for a moment the Egyptian brothers who were paraded onto a beach in North Africa by their ISIS captors.  They were told to deny Jesus and convert to Islam or be executed.  This was a “die for” issue for the men and they chose to die for Jesus. 

 

Divide For

Everyone who affirms the essentials in word and life is a fellow member of Christ’s body, one whom we call brother or sister in Christ. However, other important issues are so foundational to our life with God that we will divide fellowship over them. In ancient times it led to the division between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:39). In modern times, these are the foundations of the denominational differences.

 

The best example of a divide for event in church history would be the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther's posting of The Ninety-Five theses at Wittenberg is seen as the start of the Protestant Reformation. This happened in the year 1517. In 1515, the Pope started a new indulgence campaign to raise money for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica, a church in Rome. Preachers came to Germany to sell the indulgences, promising that money could release souls from purgatory.  Martin Luther, a German Catholic monk thought this went too far. On October 31, 1517, he sent his 95 theses to the local archbishop in protest. It is said he nailed a copy to the door of a church in Wittenberg. These theses, written in Latin, were points that Luther wanted to debate. Most of them related to the problems caused by the sale of indulgences. Luther said that the idea the money could buy forgiveness prevented people from turning away from sins. He said that it also made people give less money to the poor.  Without Luther's permission, the 95 Theses were translated into German and sent to many places. Many people agreed with Luther. The Catholic Church tried to stop these new ideas, but without much result. Luther was considered an enemy of the Pope, and when he refused to change his ideas, he was excommunicated. 

 

In recent years, we have reduced the number of issues in the “divide for” category. Often this is because there is an attempt to look for unifying points and see the differences within that light. When churches emphasize the power of the Spirit’s work and the fullness of the gifts, the evidentiary significance of speaking in tongues that used to divide Pentecostals and Charismatics is much less significant. As we affirm strongly the centrality of Scripture, fewer will divide over the question of whether God speaks today only through Scripture, or if He also speaks through prophetic revelation.

 

When the unifying truth of a whole-person spirituality (including mind, will, emotions, body and spirit) is emphasized, churches balance careful teaching of the Word and the expectation of a gospel-centered, heart-level obedience.

 

Jesus calls us to unity and so we should pursue gospel ecumenism, a spiritual unity that still respects these important differences. This kind of ecumenism promotes true understanding between instead of caricatures of the other groups. It speaks first and primarily of our unity in Christ and addresses others as fellow believers.

 

Debate For

We wrestle with these issues inside a church or denomination. The wrestling may be prolonged or painful, but we do it while maintaining regular fellowship, joining in worship and service. Debated issues may include the leadership roles appropriate for women, the extent of involvement the church should have in compassionate ministries in the community, the age of the earth, or which musical and preaching styles are best in a worship service. 

 

It seems to me that we must keep debate for’sfrom escalating into divide for’s. The best leaders keep the unity of the body at the center of our thinking as Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 4:3. These leaders are also able keep the focus on the essentials even when the wrestling is strenuous.

 

I find that when churches try to maintain unity by silencing the debates or smoothing things over with “nice” words, divisive folk are often empowered. The divisive people continue to promote their wrangling without being called to responsibility by the wisdom of the group.

 

The ground rules of Acts 15 seem appropriate in resolving these issues in congregations. Paul took the divisive people back to their body in Jerusalem, where everyone spoke for themselves before the whole church. They spoke what they believed and to the issue at hand rather than to the errors of the other group and to irrelevant issues. The whole congregation listened and recognized the wisdom of James as he stood for essentials (justification by faith alone apart from observance of the Mosaic Law) and proposed compromise on secondary issues. They led the group in wise decision-making, rather than making decrees and enforcing decisions by weight of authority. The size of the group of people involved would vary depending on the significance of the debated issue.

 

Decide For

These are the kinds of issues addressed in Romans 14-15, the areas of belief and behavior about which there is no law. This is where acceptance is a virtue and legalism a real danger, especially as divisive people latch onto lower-level issues, raising them into foolish controversies (1 Tim. 1:4; 6:4-5; 2 Tim. 2:14-16, 23-26; Tit. 3:9-10).

 

Paul instructs us to stop judging one another over such issues, to stop holding others in contempt because they differ here. Rather, he directs us to accept each other, urging us, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Rom. 14:19).

Note well, this accepting attitude applies only in the non-essentials. Difference in essential matters like what is required for becoming a true Christian “brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them” (Acts 15:2).

 

Conclusion

How do you discern the differences between these levels of certainty? In my judgment, the discernment revolves around the centrality and clarity the issue takes in Scripture and the significance of the issue for our faith.

 

Jesus as God incarnate in full humanity, who lived a sinless life, is a die for. Scripture is clear that Jesus did not sin. Those who affirm that He sinned in order to establish His full humanity may appear sensitive to human problems, yet, they exclude themselves from gospel orthodoxy when they do.

 

In my judgment, the discernment revolves around the centrality and clarity the issue takes in Scripture and the significance of the issue for our faith.

 

When a church decides to affirm a sexual expression, which scripture has forbidden,members of the church often will divide over this decision. The United Methodist Church (UMC)announced a proposal to split the denomination over what it called "fundamental differences" regarding its beliefs on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. This has become a divide for issue for some in the UMC.

 

What did Jesus mean when He cried out, "It is finished" (Jn. 19:30) and died? Did He mean He finished the work of propitiating the wrath of God toward elect sinners whom God chose based on His sovereign purposes alone (definite atonement in Calvinism)? Or did He mean He had finished the arduous work of atonement to provide payment for the penalty of sin for all who would receive Him, whom God chose based on His perfect foreknowledge of their choice from all eternity (universal atonement in Arminianism)? These sorts of questions that have to do with different ways of connecting scriptural affirmations are often debatefor issues.

 

Which songs shall we sing in church? Should the fellowship hall floor be covered with linoleum or carpet? Can we sell Christmas ornaments in the lobby at church? These are excellent examples of decide for questions.

 

The struggle with division in the church is when our lack of spiritual maturity and/or our divisiveness escalates matters from a decide for or a debate forcategory to something we must divide for or even die for.  The subtleties of our comments often betray our lack of wisdom.  I remember a church leader saying, “If that ever happens here, it’ll be over my dead body!”  This leader had escalated a decide for issue all the way up the ladder to something he would fight to his metaphorical death over. 

 

As we comprehend these levels of certainty and begin to employ them as a community of believers, we can avoid the trap of being unnecessarily divisive on one hand and compromising the faith on the other. As we emphasize the essentials, we are less likely to fall for the cultural accommodations of Christianity that lead to liberalism. That also helps us keep secondary issues in perspective and avoid the divisions they create.

 

My understanding of the Alliance teachings

The numbered statements below comprise according to the Statement of Faith of The Alliance followed with my biblical and theological understanding. 

1.

There is one God, who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God is infinitely perfect in self-revealing, self-authenticating, and self-justifying in the creation and salvation history (Deu. 6:4, Mat. 5:48, Mat. 28:19). Doxological, God is perfect and holy, infinite, eternal, and unchanging, our mind can’t comprehend the glories of our God and King, Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and Glory forever and ever. (1 Tim. 1:17)

In the creation account, Gen. 1:1-2, 26, God exists and makes reference to himself in the plural, “Let us make man in our image." In Mat. 3:15-17 when Jesus baptised, all three persons of the Trinity were involved when the Son went up from the water, "the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” In Mat. 28:18-20 Jesus commanded us to go make disciples in the name (singular) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (three persons). In the rest of the N.T. and church history, Acts 5:3-4, 1 Pet. 1:2, each person of the Godhead is referred to as being equal in authority and in divine relationship to those who are chosen.

2.

Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutional sacrifice; and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His Kingdom of righteousness and peace.

Jesus is truly God and truly man as his incarnation and the whole N.T. revealed to us, espcially in Phil. 2:6-7 says, "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped… but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."

The salvific work of Christ was a substitutional sacrifice because he who knew no sins died in our place and for our sins (1 Pet. 3:18, 2Cor. 5:21) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (Heb. 2:9, Rom 3:23-25). His atonement for our sins was done by his shed blood (Rom 5:8-9).  

The resurrection proved that Jesus has died for our sins, buried, and raised on the third day according to the Scripture (Acts 2:23–24, 1Cor. 15:3-6). And now we have hope in the enthroned Christ, who sits at God’s right hand (Heb 8:1), reigning and praying for the Church and preparing them for his second coming (Mat 26:64).

3.

The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.

I affirm that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, sent by the Son from the Father (Joh 14:15–18). The scripture testifies that the Spirit grieves, gives spiritual gifts to the people of God as he wills (Joh 16:13; Acts 1:8). The Spirit has power and personality, bearing witness of Christ in the life of believers.  (Eph 4:11, Joh 14:26)

The Holy Spirit convicts both the believer and unbeliever of sins, of righteousness, and of judgment (Joh 16:7–11). But he also fills, renews, and gives gifts to the believer, of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), of visions, direction, assurance of salvation, unity, and various spiritual gifts. (1 Cor 12-13, Eph 4)

4.

The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.

Inerrant means that the original text of the scripture is true, and it is without error in all that it affirms. The Scripture is God’s written Word, and it is self-justifying (2 Pet 1:20–21;  2 Tim 3:15–16). Jesus has said in a prayer to the Father that “Your Word is truth” (Joh 17:17).

Inspiration means that the words of the Bible were “God-breathed”, the chosen writers were “moved by the Holy Spirit”, to an extent of their words “the mouth of the Lord has spoken it”. The Lausanne Covenant asserts, “the Scripture is “the Word of God” because God “spoke” it (Heb. 1:1,2; I Thess. 2:13). It is his “written Word” for he then caused it to be recorded for the instruction of later generations (Rom. 15:4; I Cor. 10:6,11; I Tim. 3:14,15).

The Bible in its Old and New Testaments is the “only” written Word of God, for we cannot accept the so-called sacred scriptures other than the 66 books of the Bible or of other religions as having come out of the mind and mouth of God (Rev 22:18, Deut. 4:2). 

The Bible is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:44). The Bible is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. When a given text is correctly interpreted, it can be fully trusted as a sure, dependable, and trustworthy authority for Christian living in faith and practice (2 Pet 1:20–21, 2 Tim 3:15–16). 

5.

Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God. He fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prospect of the impenitent and unbelieving person is existence forever in conscious torment, and that of the believer in Christ is everlasting joy and bliss.

 Men, including women, are created in God’s own image and likeness. Being image-bearers of God, they are blessed to multiple or be fruitful, have dominion over the rest of God’s creation, and engage in work. God created all humans with a conscience that reflects the requirement of the moral law written in their hearts.  (Gen. 1:26-7, Gen. 2:15, Rom. 2:12-15)

Sin entered the world through Adam and brought death to the world. Sin did not originate from God. Sin not only corrupted humans but every aspect of creation. The term original sin is applied to the entire human race. (Rom. 3:23, 1 Jn. 1:8)

The most devastating effect of the Fall was the spiritual blindness and insensitivity to God’s truth, and those controlled by sinful nature cannot please God.  (I Cor. 2:14, Eph 4:17-8, Rom. 8:7-8)

After death, the bodies of human beings decompose and return to dust, but their souls, which do not die or sleep, have an immortal existence and return to God who created them. The souls of the wicked are thrown into hell, where they remain in torment and complete darkness, set apart for the great day of judgment (Rev 21:8).

The souls of the righteous are then perfected in holiness and are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory and wait for the full redemption of their bodies (Rev 21:1–4).

No, "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And because mankind has no ability to seek after God, nor can he come to saving faith without the supernatural work of saving grace alone, through Christ alone, by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:20, 28, 32). 

God is faithful and just to forgive, and those who have not heard the gospel will be judged according to their conscience revealed to them (Rom. 2:14–15). But the answer needs also to include the Christians’ response to evangelism, "How will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?" (Rom 10:14). 

6.

Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men, and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become children of God.

Jesus is the author and finisher of our salvation (Heb 12), the righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Rom 3:22) and salvation is a gift of God (Eph 2:8–9). 

Salvation is the work of the triune God to those who believe, as the following passage illustrates, “4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4–7). 

The Holy Spirit works in an effective way enabling the elect to respond in repentance and faith (Acts 2:38). True repentance of an unbeliever is twofold: turning away from sin (2 Chron. 7:14), and turning toward Christ for salvation (John 1:12, 13).  

It means to turn one’s eyes on Jesus by faith for what He has done to redeem us. “True saving faith involves the commitment of the whole person to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in response to the free offer of salvation in the gospel.”  So, salvation requires more than just orthodoxy- right belief, but also orthopraxy- right conduct, both ethical and liturgical built upon faith and grace for Christian living.  

It is the work of God which he effectually calls all those and only those whom he has predestined to life. He calls them by his word and Spirit out of their natural state of sin and death into grace and salvation through Jesus Christ.” (Eph 2:1-5)  The Holy Spirit implants a new nature in the sinners’ hearts spiritually with a saving understanding of the things of God and takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh (Ezek. 36:26, Joh 3:5-7).

Genuine repentance is followed by justification which is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins (Rom. 3:24-25; 4:6-8), and accepts us as righteous in his sight (2 Cor. 5:19, 21), only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us (Rom. 5:17-19), and received by faith alone (Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9)”. And justification is immediately followed by adoption whereby we become the children of God and receive the privileges of sonship (1 Joh 3:1, Joh 1:12, Rom. 8:17). 

Paul taught extensively about justification, “for all have sinned, now justified by his grace through the redemption in Christ, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom 3:21-25).  

We were told that for God so love the world that whoever believes in Him shall not perish (Joh 3:16). Salvation is sufficient for all (Jon 1:29, 3:16-17, 2Pet. 3:9) and salvation is effective to those who repent and believe in Jesus are born again of the Holy Spirit (Joh 1:12-13, 3:3).

God calls and regenerates, people repent and believe in Jesus. The first act is part of the divine aspects, and the second act is on the human aspects. Salvation is a reconciled relationship between God and human, vertically God has given the believer a new life from above, and horizontally those who are dead in the flesh are now alive in the spirit in Christ. (2Cor 5:17, Gal 5:24, 25, Eph. 2:1-10)

7.

It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly, being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.

Sanctification is the will of God for all believers to be sanctified wholly (1 The 5:23). It is both a crisis and a progressive experience of the believer subsequent to conversion, receiving power for holy living (Acts 1:8), and effective service (2 Tim 1:7)

It is the will of God to give freely the Holy Spirit to those who believe, he has sent the Spirit upon the early church and commanded them to be filled with Holy Spirit through repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38, Eph 5:18). 

To be sanctified wholly is the work of God in Christ to all believers. The experience of Christ as the sanctifier is a relationship, a blessing, and an already-but-not-yet reality. 1Th. 5:23 "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

Sinless perfection is first a relational matter and then a functional matter. When a sinner saved by grace, experienced Christ's vicarious atonement, he no longer lives but Christ lives in him. Thus the person can obey Christ's commands and overcome sins progressively (Rom 12:1-2, Heb 12:1-2). 

Fully dedicated to the will of God by loving him and others is the result and desire after being filled with the Spirit. This is what the term consecration properly means. It is the voluntary surrender or self-offering of the heart, by the constraint of love to be the Lord's (Rom. 6:2-6, 13). 

To designate sanctification as a crisis is to emphasize that it is not just a gradual reality in the life of the believer, but is also an instantaneous work of God received by faith. (1 The 5:23,  Eph 2:1-5)

“Crisis” is used as a theological term, referring to a `point in time' experience, not in the common sense of emergency or disaster. 

To designate sanctification as progressive because the old sinful nature is gradually subdued in this life and will be completely abolished when Christ returns. It is the process of a Christian’s growth that will lead to a holy relationship with God (2 Pet 1:5-9, Heb. 5:12-14).

We are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and have died to sin in Christ, and live unto righteousness in faith and obedience in witness and ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:23-24, Rom. 6:2-6). 

8.

Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age.

In Isaiah 53, the promise of "He bore our sicknesses", as well as our sins, have been fulfilled in the vicarious atonement of Christ. Jesus also promised his disciples that they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mar 16:18).

Yes, as promised and fulfilled in and through Christ’s present ministry. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the scriptures and are privileges for the church. The anointing oil symbolizes the direct and immediate work of the Holy Spirit. With regard to the sick person initiating the request matters of obedience, faith, preparation of the heart, humility, and dependence upon God, are key ingredients (Jam 5:13-18; Mar 6:13).

Yes, a 80 years old man was rescued from heart failure when his daughter and I were praying in the ICU waiting room. Another sister was healed from her suddenly sensual distress when a group of people were praying together at her home. Those are the recent experiences of the Lord’s healing power.

Divine healing is God’s special way of intervening the physical body and physical realm beyond medical explanation. It is God’s supernatural grace to supplement his natural grace revealed in modern science in order to fulfill his word, testify the Gospel, and further His kingdom through one to many. 

9.

The Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations.

The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. 

The local church belongs to the larger body of Christ, the universal church, witnessing and serving the people of the local community as a visible church (Acts 2:38, 41- 47).

There were four essential marks that the early church devoted to-- the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42). The body of believers has faithfully taught and observed throughout the church history so that they remember the Lord's teaching and proclaim the gospel till His returns.  

The church gathers to hear the word of God preached and to equip and send them to the world to live as witnesses of the gospel (Acts 6:2, 11:19). 

The church also gathers to participate in the ordinances (sacraments) of baptism and the Lord's supper, and to fulfill the great commission by making disciples who make disciples (Mat 28:19-20).  

I believe in believers' baptism and immersion as the preferred way. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him (Mat 3:11, Acts 2:38, Rom 6:4) 

The Lord's Supper is a sacrament according to Christ's appointment and is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance,  love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves (1 Cor. 11:23–29).

Notes: 1. Although water baptism is not essential to salvation (see Lk 23:43, the thief on the cross), when the situation allows true believers should be baptized and received the Holy Spirit as an act of obedience to Christ and the teaching of the apostles (Mat. 28:19, Acts 2:38-19, Rom. 6:3-5, Gal. 3:27-28, Eph. 4:4-6, Tit. 3:5). 2. Believer's baptism texts (Acts 2:38, 16:14-15, 16:31-33, 18:8 they all expressed personal faith prior to baptism).

10.

There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life; for the latter, a resurrection unto judgement.

The physical body will be redeemed when Christ returns and entered into eternity. On that day not only will the apostate angels are judged, but all the people who have lived on earth will appear before the court of Christ to give an account of their thoughts, words, and actions, and be judged according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil (1Cor. 3:13, 15:51-57). 

11.

The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal, visible, and premillennial. This is the believer's hope and is a vital truth that is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.

Christ’s coming is imminent (Hebr 10:37, Mat 24-25), in a sense that it is soon and sudden (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20),  his return is personal (Acts 1:11), visible (Rev. 1:7), and premillennial (Rev 20:1-10). It is the believer's hope and motivation to pray watchful with holy living and faithful service (Titus 2:11-14, Mat 25). 

The Alliance Beliefs

Fourfold Gospel

As we seek to know Jesus personally, being one with Him, He will reveal Himself as our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. Simpson called this theology the Fourfold Gospel, the Christological summary on which the spiritual DNA of The Christian and Missionary Alliance is built.

• Christ Our Savior: The cross reminds us of His sacrificial death and Resurrection as the Atonement for the sins of humankind (Acts 4:12).

• Christ Our Sanctifier: The laver represents the daily cleansing from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 1:30).

• Christ Our Healer: The pitcher represents oil to anoint the sick for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing (James 5:15).

• Christ Our Coming King: The crown represents Christ’s royalty as the King of Kings. His coming will be a visible, personal appearance: “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62).

• 
  

  Savior

  Acts 4:12

• 
  

  Sanctifier

  1 Corinthians 1:30

• 
  

  Healer

  James 5:15

• 
  

  Coming King

  Acts 1:11

Jesus Christ is our Savior.

The Name of Jesus has impacted lives around the world for more than 2,000 years. He is a universal Savior, promising that: “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus is an exclusive Savior. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name in heaven given to men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12. Contrary to what contemporary culture tells us, there are not multiple paths to God. There is only one—Jesus Christ

Learn More

Jesus Christ is our Sanctifier.

Many Christians understand God’s promise of salvation but do not experience the ongoing sanctifying work of Jesus Christ in their lives. For those who neither understand nor allow the Holy Spirit's control in their lives, the results have a profound effect. 

Unsuccessful struggle against sin and a lack of power in life and ministry frustrate those who have asked Jesus to be their Savior but not their Sanctifier, resulting in a lack of joy in their walk with Christ. At the point when we are born again, we become members of God’s family. We believe He paid the price for our sin and that his followers are—set apart from those who are not born again—and are seen as holy because of what Christ has done.

Learn More

Jesus Christ is our Healer.

A great portion of Christ’s time was dedicated to healing the sick. He healed all kinds of people: the blind, the paralyzed, the lame, the deaf, lepers, those who had fevers, and many with chronic illnesses.

We find no record in the gospels of Jesus turning away anyone who came to him for healing, nor do we find that any disease was too difficult for him to heal. He even raised the dead. Miraculous healings still occur today—evidence that Christ is still our Healer.

Learn More

Jesus Christ is our Coming King.

The physical return of Jesus has been the subject of speculation and controversy since His ascension into the clouds, which is recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts. Knowing that countless millions still have not heard the gospel, The Alliance is committed to doing its part to complete Christ’s Great Commission before His imminent return.

Learn More

ALLIANCE CORE VALUES

1. Lost people matter to God. He wants them found. Luke 19:1
2. Prayer is the primary work of the people of God. Philippians 4:6-7
3. Everything we have belongs to God. We are His stewards. 1 Chronicles 29:14
4. Knowing and obeying God’s Word is fundamental to true success. Joshua 1:8
5. Completing the Great Commission will require the mobilization of every fully devoted disciple. Matthew 28:19
6. Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can accomplish nothing. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
7. Achieving God’s purposes means taking faith-filled risks. This always involves change. Hebrews 11:6

Statement of Faith

There is one God,⁽¹⁾ who is infinitely perfect,⁽²⁾ existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.⁽³⁾

Jesus Christ is the true God and the true man.⁽⁴⁾ He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.⁽⁵⁾ He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust,⁽⁶⁾ as a substitutionary sacrifice,⁽⁷⁾ and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.⁽⁸⁾ He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures.⁽⁹⁾ He is now at the right hand of Majesty on high as our great High Priest.⁽¹⁰⁾ He will come again to establish His kingdom, righteousness and peace.⁽¹¹⁾

The Holy Spirit is a divine person,⁽¹²⁾ sent to indwell, guide, teach, empower the believer,⁽¹³⁾ and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.⁽¹⁴⁾

The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.⁽¹⁵⁾

Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God:⁽¹⁶⁾ he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature,⁽¹⁷⁾ are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ.⁽¹⁸⁾ The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment;⁽¹⁹⁾ and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss.⁽²⁰⁾

Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God.⁽²¹⁾

It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly,⁽²²⁾ being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service.⁽²³⁾ This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.⁽²⁴⁾

Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body.⁽²⁵⁾ Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age.⁽²⁶⁾

The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, ⁽²⁷⁾ which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations.⁽²⁸⁾ The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.⁽²⁹⁾

There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life;⁽³⁰⁾ for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment.⁽³¹⁾

The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent⁽³²⁾ and will be personal, visible, and premillennial.⁽³³⁾ This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.⁽³⁴⁾

[1] Deuteronomy 6:4, [2] Matthew 5:48, [3] Matthew 28:19, [4] Philippians 2:6–11, [5] Luke 1:34–38, [6] 1 Peter 3:18, [7] Hebrews 2:9, [8] Romans 5:9, [9] Acts 2:23–24, [10] Hebrews 8:1, [11] Matthew 26:64, [12] John 14:15–18, [13] John 16:13;  Acts 1:8, [14] John 16:7–11, [15] 2 Peter 1:20–21;  2 Timothy 3:15–16, [16] Genesis 1:27, [17] Romans 3:23, [18] 1 Corinthians15:20–23, [19] Revelation 21:8, [20] Revelation 21:1–4, [21] Titus 3:4–7, [22] 1 Thessalonians 5:23, [23] Acts 1:8, [24] Romans 6:1–14, [25] Matthew 8:16–17, [26] James 5:13–16, [27] Ephesians 1:22–23, [28]Matthew 28:19–20, [29] Acts 2:41–47, [30] 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, [31] John 5:28–29, [32] Hebrews 10:37, [33] Luke 21:27, [34] Titus 2:11–14

The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice. → 2 Timothy 3:15–16, 

There is one God, who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. → Deuteronomy 6:4, 

Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age. → Matthew 8:16–17 and James 5:13–16, 

Jesus Christ is the true God and the true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of Majesty on high as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His kingdom, righteousness and peace. → Philippians 2:6–11, 

Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God. → Titus 3:4–7, 

The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations. The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. → Ephesians 1:22–23 and Matthew 28:19–20, 

The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal, visible, and premillennial. This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service. → Hebrews 10:37 and Titus 2:11–14, 

There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life; for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment. → 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, 

Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God: he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment; and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss. → Romans 3:23, 

The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. → John 14:15–18, 

It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly, being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion. → 1 Thessalonians 5:23