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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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