高潔林華人播道會
Coquitlam Chinese Evangelical Free Church
加拿大播道會信仰宣言
加拿大播道會是由不同的地方教會,因著有共同的信念組合而成,這信念是傳揚福音 – 耶 穌基督的福音 – 祂從死裡復活,賜我們有永生。這福音本是神的大能,要救一切相信的 人,是神的榮耀。我們的神學理念,就是基礎於確信這福音。加拿大播道會所持有的教義立場被總結成十個主要的信仰宣言。
1. 上帝的福音源於,亦彰顯出奇妙完美的永恆三一真神。
我們相信獨一的上帝,萬物的創造者,是聖潔、絕對完美、永存永在,在愛中契合、同 尊同榮、三位一體:聖父、聖子、聖靈的上帝。祂擁有無窮的知識,和至高的能力,上帝 從亙古就有仁厚的目的,定意要因祂自己救贖世人,並因自己的榮耀把萬物更新。
2. 上帝的福音在聖經裏滿有權威地顯明出來。
我們相信上帝透過新舊約聖經向人說話,聖經是藉人手記錄的,是上帝的默示,原文是 無謬誤的,是上帝對人救贖計劃的完全啟示,是人類世界知識和行為之終極判斷準則。因 此,必須相信聖經所有的教導,服從聖經所有的要求,並信靠聖經所有的應許。
3. 上帝的福音本身就能滿足我們最深層的需要。
我們相信上帝按祂的形象創造亞當和夏娃,但他們被撒但引誘犯罪。在亞當裡,世人在 本性上和人性的抉擇上都是罪人,與神隔離,在祂的震怒下。惟有透過上帝在耶穌基督裡 的拯救,我們才可以得蒙拯救、和好、更新。
4. 上帝的福音藉耶穌基督本身可以全然明白。
我們相信耶穌基督是上帝道成了肉身,是完全的上帝、也是完全的人,一個位格有兩個 本性。耶穌 – 上帝應許以色列的彌賽亞 – 從聖靈感孕,為童貞女馬利亞所生。祂一生無 罪,在本丟彼拉多手下被釘於十字架,從死裡肉身復活,升到天上、坐在天父上帝的右 邊,作我們的大祭司和中保。
5. 上帝的福音是藉著基督的工作而成就。
我們相信耶穌基督成了我們罪的承擔者和替代者,在十架上流出寶血,成了完美、全備的祭品。祂因贖罪的捨命和得勝的復活成了救贖的唯一根基。
6. 上帝的福音是藉聖靈的大能而施行
我們相信聖靈所作的一切工作是要榮耀主耶穌基督。祂叫世人知罪。祂使罪人重生,並 且在祂裏面,罪人接受洗禮是與基督聯合,並且被收納成為上帝家中的後嗣。祂也住在信 徒心中、光照、引導、裝備、及賦與信徒能力,叫他們活出基督的樣式,侍奉上帝也服務 他人。
7. 上帝的福音如今在稱為教會的新群體當中具體表現出來。
我們相信真正的教會是由那些在上帝的恩典下,單單在基督裏藉著純一的信心,被稱義 的信徒所組成。他們被聖靈連合成為基督的身體,聯於元首基督。在各地方教會,因其會 友都是由信徒組成,真正的教會就在此顯明了。主耶穌設立了兩個禮儀,洗禮和聖餐,都 是具體地表達了福音的意義。這等禮儀並不能使人得救,然而,教會因真誠的信心施行這 等禮儀時,就可以鞏固和培育信徒。
8. 上帝的福音囑咐我們要活出基督的樣式並向世人作見證。
我們相信上帝稱義的恩典,是不會與祂叫人成聖的大能和目的分開的。上帝命令我們用 至高的愛去愛祂,又用犧牲捨己的愛去愛別人,同時以彼此關顧去活出我們的信仰,對貧 窮人施憐憫,為受逼迫者行公平。我們要以上帝的話語,聖靈的能力,並奉基督之名懇切 的祈禱,與邪靈勢力爭戰。我們要遵行基督的大使命,使萬民作主的門徒,要經常以言以 行見證福音。
9. 上帝的福音要由主基督自己在末世的時候全然成就
我們相信主耶穌基督會親自以肉身榮耀地再臨。在祂的聖天使陪同下,祂的國度全然成 就,祂要審判全世界。基督何時再臨,只有上帝知曉,然而信徒必須時刻期待,讓這榮耀 的盼望激勵我們過敬虔的生活,作捨己的侍奉,及積極地承擔使命。
10. 上帝的福音要一個願意承受永恆後果的回應
我們相信上帝吩咐全地的人都要相信福音,藉著認罪悔改和接受主耶穌基 督,歸回上帝。我們相信上帝會使死人的身體復活,並審判世界,確定不信的人接受判罪 和永遠有知覺的刑罰,又確定信徒在新天新地中與主同享永恆的福樂,使祂榮耀的恩典得 著稱讚。阿們。
THE EFCC’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Evangelical Free Church of Canada is an association of autonomous churches united in a common commitment to God’s evangel–the gospel of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to give us eternal life. To God’s glory, the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Our essential theological convictions are vitally connected to this gospel.
1. God’s gospel originates in and expresses the wondrous perfections of the eternal, triune God.
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.
2. God’s gospel is authoritatively revealed in the Scriptures.
We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavour should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
3. God’s gospel alone addresses our deepest need.
We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.
4. God’s gospel is made known supremely in the Person of Jesus Christ.
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
5. God’s gospel is accomplished through the work of Christ.
We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.
6. God’s gospel is applied by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
7. God’s gospel is now embodied in the new community called the church.
We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
8. God’s gospel compels us to Christ-like living and witness to the world.
We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
9. God’s gospel will be brought to fulfillment by the Lord Himself at the end of this age.
We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ with His holy angels when He will bring His kingdom to fulfillment and exercise His role as Judge of all. This coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
10. God’s gospel requires a response that has eternal consequences.
We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.