Love for All God’s People Ephesians 1:15-16

Ephesians 1:15-16 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Distinguishing God’s People share in the common experience of being born again. love God’s Word. hold to a certain set of beliefs regarding Jesus Christ. strive to live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. want to see the message of Christ go to every unbeliever in the world. Telltale Signs

1st Century Articulations Romans 10:9 - . . . if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Ephesians 4:4-6 - There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 1 Timothy 3:16 - He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

Statements of Faith to Distinguish True Christians from Non-Christians and Heretics 1st century – creedal statements in New Testament 3rd century – Apostle’s Creed 4th century – Nicene Creed 20th century – The Fundamentals NAE Statement of Faith

NAE Statement of Faith We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative word of God. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.

5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Differences Among True Christians What is the role of God’s sovereignty and free will in terms of our salvation? Can believers lose their salvation? Is spiritual growth progressive or does it require a second work of grace? Do God want believers today to speak in tongues? Can we baptize infants or only believers? How should a church be governed? Is it OK to ordain women? How will the prophetic future unfold? Etc.

Baptist Understandings of Scripture The autonomy of the local church Congregational church government The security of the believer A regenerate church membership. Believers baptism by immersion. The symbolic nature of baptism and the Lord’s supper.

Converge Statement Church Cooperation “We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. . . Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.”

John 17:20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”