Statement of Faith
The following is the new Statement of Faith adopted at the EFCA Conference on June 26, 2008. Bridges Community Church recently went through a series entitled Basic Elements discussing each of the ten articles in preparation for adopting the newly revised Statement of Faith.
We encourage you to review this very exciting and important updated revision to the way we state our core beliefs. To help you understand the changes, we have made available the supporting EFCA teaching notes for each article as well as an introduction to why this change was made. Click here for the introduction.
The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united around these theological convictions:
Article 1 – 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.
EFCA teaching notes on Article 1
Article 2 – The Bible
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.
EFCA teaching notes on Article 2
Article 3 – The Human Condition
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.
EFCA teaching notes on Article 3
Article 4 – 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.
EFCA teaching notes on Article 4
Article 5 – 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.
EFCA teaching notes on Article 5
Article 6 – 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.
EFCA teaching notes on Article 6
Article 7 – 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.
EFCA teaching notes on Article 7
Article 8 – Christian Living
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.
EFCA teaching notes on Article 8
Article 9 – Christ's Return
We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of
our Lord Jesus Christ. The 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.
EFCA teaching notes on Article 9
Article 10 – Response and Eternal Destiny
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.
EFCA teaching notes on Article 10