A resting place between rigid dogma and relative truth (IV) Non-negotiable Christian essentials

Forged in the furnace of interdenominational dialogue,  the following are the belief statements of the  International Fellowship of Evangelical students. 

    •    The unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Godhead.

    •    The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgement.

    •    The divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of Holy Scripture,  and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

    •    The universal sinfulness and guilt of all people since the fall, rendering them subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.

    •    Redemption from the guilt, penalty, dominion and pollution of sin, solely through the sacrificial death (as our representative and substitute) of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.

    •    The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and his ascension to the right hand of God the Father.

    •    The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration.

    •    Justification is by the grace of God through faith alone.

    •    The indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer.

    •    The one holy universal Church, which is  the body of Christ to which all true believers belong.

    •    The expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since we should not be always learning and never arriving at the truth (2 Timothy 3:7)  we need a place to stand and I believe these statement form an excellent place for this, and a solid basis for   unity.   We do need to keep learning however since "If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Corinthians 8:2).

Father, give us humility, wisdom and balance in these things in Jesus Name Amen