Revised EFCC Statement of Faith Currently Active Since July 2008
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.
1. 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.
2. 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 endeavor 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.
3. 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.
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one
Person in two natures. Jesus—
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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
Former Statement of Faith Currently Replaced With the statement above
What We Believe:
The doctrinal position of the Evangelical Free Church is summed up in a 12-article Statement of Faith.
WE BELIEVE:
- The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the Divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.
- In one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- That Jesus Christ is the true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.
- That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service.
- That man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore lost and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
- That the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God.
- That water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.
- That the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ of which He is the Head.
- That only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.
- That Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs.
- In the personal, premillennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this "Blessed Hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.
- In the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord; of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.