Confession of Allegiance

Confession of Allegiance

A Statement of Christian Essentials

What follows is a fresh presentation of the ancient rule of faith, that simple summary of the gospel by which the church distinguishes Christian faith from its counterfeits. Its spine is the Apostles' Creed. It is a statement of essentials: what a Christian must confess to be received into fellowship. It is not the fuller teaching any church will rightly hold besides, and it does not settle the questions on which faithful Christians differ. The case for it is set out in An Appeal.

The Christ Hymn

May this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6–11 · BSB

Article One

The Holy Scriptures

We gratefully receive the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, given by God through the prophets and apostles for our instruction and encouragement, and faithfully preserved by our forbears in Christ.

We believe that the Scriptures are God-breathed and are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. They are the supreme authority for faith and practice in the life of the believer and in the life of the Church.

Article Two

God and the Gospel

We believe in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of all that is, both seen and unseen.

We believe in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord, given in love for our salvation, truly God and truly man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He embodied the Kingdom of God: calling disciples, proclaiming good news, healing the sick, forgiving sins, casting out demons, and confronting the powers.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose from the dead, triumphing over sin, death, and the powers. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, where He reigns and intercedes. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, given to the Church, who convicts, regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers the people of God.

Article Three

The Church, Forgiveness, and Hope

We believe in one holy universal Church, the communion of saints, gathered by the Spirit — the whole company of God's people, of every time and place, made one by their shared life in Christ. This one Church is enacted locally wherever believers gather in Christ's name under His lordship, yet universal in reach, uniting every such gathering into the one body it makes visible.

We receive baptism in water upon profession of faith, ordained by Christ, in which believers are buried with Him and raised to new life.

We believe in the forgiveness of sins, received through faith in Christ as we turn from sin, and lived out in a life of ongoing trust and repentance.

We believe in the resurrection of the body, and the life of the age to come, when heaven and earth are made one, God dwells with His people, and His glory fills all things.

Article Four

Allegiance to King and Kingdom

Therefore, we pledge our allegiance to the Kingdom of God and to Jesus Christ, our King. We commit ourselves to follow Him in faith, love, and obedience, trusting in His reign, submitting to His word, and bearing witness to His Kingdom in the world.

To Him be glory in the Church, now and forever.

Amen.

A project of Basic Christianity.org