Christian Leaders Institute
 

Statement of Faith

The Bible is God's inerrant Word, the only final authority for faith and life. (Proverbs 30:56, Isaiah 8:20, John 10:35, 2 Timothy 3:16,17, 2 Peter 1:21)
God is Trinity, an eternal, loving unity of three divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, John 14:26, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
God sovereignly created the universe ex nihilo, from nothing, and made all things very good. (Genesis 12, Exodus 20:11, Hebrews 11:3)
God created humanity to glorify and enjoy God and to be stewards of creation. (Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 8, Isaiah 43:7, Revelation 4:11, Psalm 37:4)
Humanity has fallen into sin, and we are totally unable to save ourselves. (Genesis 3, Romans 3:12, 23, Romans 5:12)
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. (Matthew 1:21,23, John 1:1, 14, 20:28, Hebrews 1:14, 2:14)
Jesus was born of a virgin, obeyed God perfectly, worked great miracles, died on a cross, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and reigns over all things. (Luke 1:26-35, Hebrews 4:15, John 14:11, Luke 23-24, Ephesians 1:20,23)
Salvation is merited only by Jesus' perfect obedience and substitutionary atonement. (Isaiah 53, Hebrews 7:26-27,
2 Corinthians 5:21, Acts 4:12)
Salvation is entirely God's gift, not our achievement, and is received by faith alone, but never faith that is alone. (John 3:16, Romans 1:16-17, Galatians 2:16-21)
The Holy Spirit gives new birth, unites us to Christ, equips us with His gifts, and empowers us to be His ambassadors. (John 3:38, Romans 8:9-11, Ephesians 3:16-21, 1 Corinthians 12? Acts 1:8)
The church is the one body of God's people throughout all generations and from all nations. (Romans 12:5, Galatians 3:26-29, Ephesians 1:22,23, Revelation 7:9)
Christ gives two signs and seals of his grace: baptism and the Lord's Supper. (John 4:1, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Matthew 28:19, Mark 14:22-24, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
God’s holy angels defend and help God’s people. (Psalm 34:7, 91:11, Matthew 18:10, Hebrews 1:14)
Satan and other fallen angels are dangerous but doomed. Christ is victor. (Ephesians 6:10-18, Colossians 2:15, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 12:10-12)
Christ will return visibly to rule the world and to make all things new. (Matthew 24:30, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Revelation 21:15)
God's people will rejoice forever in the new creation. God's enemies will suffer forever in hell. (Daniel 12:23,
Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 22:15, 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
God's covenant addresses not only individuals but also their families. (Genesis 17:7, 18:19, Deuteronomy 7:9, Joshua 24:15, Psalm 103:17, Acts 11:14, 16:15,31)
As individuals, as couples, and as families, we need daily conversation with God through Bible reading and prayer. (Psalm 1, Daniel 6:10, Deuteronomy 6:49, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
We are called to a life of love, as depicted in the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:1-17, Mark 12:30-31,
John 14:15, Romans 13:8-10, 1 Corinthians 13)
We are called to spread the gospel to people who don't yet follow Christ. (Psalm 96:3, Matthew 5:14, 28:18-20, 1 Peter 3:15)
We are called to a worldview and way of life which seeks to honor Christ in every area of thought and action. (Psalm 24:1, Colossians 3:17, 2 Corinthians 10:5)