What we believe - The Message of Jesus

The Bible is the word of God (Ephesians 2:20; 2 Timothy 3:16: 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19)
- The Old Testament is the word of God (Matthew 23:1-3; Mark 7:10,13; John 5:39; 10:35; Romans 3:2; 1 Peter 1:11)
- The New Testament is the word of God (John 14:10,26; 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 14:37-38; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:15)
The Bible is infallible, inerrant and without any errors, even when it talks about historical or scientific issues (Numbers 23:19; Luke 1:4; 1 Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; 2 Peter 1:16).

God is eternal (Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalm 90:2).
God is immutable (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 102:27; James 1:17).
God is all-mighty (Genesis 18:14; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Isaiah 43:13; Mark 10:27).
God is all-knowing (Psalm 139:1-14; Isaiah 40:28; Hebrews 4:13).
God is everywhere (1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 139:7-10; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Acts 17:27-28).
God has created everything else, but is himself not created (Isaiah 40:13-14; 44:24; John 5:26; Acts 17:25).
God is a loving and a holy God. He hates sin and evil, but love righteousness and goodness (Leviticus 11:44; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; Psalm 42:8; Jeremiah 31:3; John 3:16: Romans 5:8).

The Holy Spirit is God (Psalm 139:7; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
The Holy Spirit is a person (Luke 12:11-12; 13:2; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 12:11).
The Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).
The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus (John 16:14).
The Holy Spirit has inspired the biblical authors to write down the books in the Bible (John 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:11-12).
The Holy Spirit is living in every man or woman who believe in Jesus (Romans 8:9,11; Ephesians 1:13).
The Holy Spirit leads the Christian believer to pray to God (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:26-27).

Jesus is the Son of God, the Father.
Jesus is eternal (John 8:58; Colossians 1:17; Revelation 1:17-18).
Jesus is God (Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 23:6; John 1:1; John 20:28-29; Hebrews 1:3-13)
Jesus became man and lived here on earth (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7; John 1:14; 1 John 2:22).
Jesus lived a sinless life (John 8:29,46; Acts 3:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus was crucified, killed, but raised again from the dead (Acts 2:22-24; 1 Corinthians 15:3-11; 1 Timothy 3:16).

God has created everything else: The Universe, light, the stars, the planets, the earth and everything on earth (Acts 17:24).
Every created being belongs to God and is responsible for honoring and glorifying him (Nehemiah 9:5-6; Acts 17:26-28; Colossians 1:16).

All human beings have been created by God and belong to him (Revelation 4:11).
All human beings have sinned against God (Romans 3:23).
All human beings need salvation from God (Isaiah 55:7; Matthew 5:20,26; John 3:16).
All human beings will one day be judged by God and be responsible to him (Matthew 25:31-46).

The only way to get saved is by believing in Jesus Christ as your savior and by getting baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38).
Salvation is by faith – not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Christian life is by grace and can only be lived by walking in the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:4).
Every Christian needs to be regularly nourished by God’s word (the Bible), prayer, and the Lord’s supper (Acts 2:46).

Baptism is instituted by Jesus himself (Matthew 28:19-20).
Baptism is part of the Gospel, not the Law (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21). To be baptized is not something we do in order to get saved. On the contrary, it is something we receive as a gift and part of the Gospel.
Baptism is not an act (or work) done by the person who is baptized. In baptism the believer is being baptized by someone else, ultimately by Jesus himself (Matthew 3:11).
Baptism is only for people who believe in Jesus Christ. Without true belief in Jesus Christ baptism will not save anyone (1 Corinthians 10:1-5).
Baptism is for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-39; Galatians 3:26-27).
- Faith means to receive Jesus Christ as savior (Mark 10:15; John 1:12; Acts 2:41).
- God can create faith in children (Matthew 18:6; 21:16; Mark 10:15; Luke 1:15,41,44; 10:21; 1 Peter 2:2).
- Baptism is never, in the Word of God, restricted to people of a certain age or intelligence.
- Therefore, baptism is for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, no matter if it is an adult or a small child (Acts 2:38-39).

The Lord’s supper (holy communion, breaking the bread) is instituted by Jesus himself (Matthew 26:26-29 and parallels).
The Lord’s supper is God’s word, the Gospel, together with bread and wine (1. Corinthians 11,23-26).
The Lord’s supper is not bread and wine transformed into the physical body and blood of Jesus.
The Lord’s supper is not just a symbolic ritual, but offers every true believer Jesus himself, his body and his blood, and his saving work (Matthew 26:28).
The Lord’s supper must be received by faith in Jesus and his salvation. If someone eats the Lord’s supper in an unworthy way, it will be a reason for judgement (1. Corinthians 11,27-31).

Jesus will return to this earth to judge evil and save those who belong to him (Matthew 24:29-31; Acts 1:11).
Those who have not believed in Jesus here on earth will be condemned forever in hell (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41,46; John 5:28-29).
Those who have believed in Jesus will live forever with him in glory (Matthew 13:43; 25:46; Ephesians 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44,49,53-55).

Classic Christian confessions

I think the essence of what I believe is described in the old, Christian confessions:

These confessions are not, in themselves, authoritative. But they list, interpret and describe some of the basic Christian beliefs.