Doctrinal Foundations

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To be accepted as a Council Representative, York Christian, at its discretion, can choose a member of leadership from another and have them sign to agreement of these Doctrinal Foundations.

That person then becomes a representative and is held to believe these truths and act them out in their lives.

These points were created with Ecumenical intentions, though with clear limits to guard our scriptural integrity and essentials of the faith.

We have borrowed from a variety of Christian statements of faith in our crafting of this document.

The Gospel

Paul refers to the singularity of ‘a’ gospel that was preached. This gospel is and has been under attack by corrupt figures. As said in Galatians I, “6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!”

We need to believe and accept the good news that:

For us and our salvation; Jesus Christ came down from heaven, and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried. On the third day, He rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.

We believe we cannot be righteous/justified before God by our own strength, merits, or works, but we are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when we believe that we are received into God’s favour and that our sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who, by His sinless life and innocent death, has made atonement for our sins.

Our personal understanding of the Gospel is central to our relationship with God. We live by faith that Jesus has saved us from our sins, and we thus are capable of living lives dead to our sin. When we believe in Christ, we do not perish, but we have eternal life in Him.

[Galatians 1:6-8; 1 Thess 5:9; Rom 13:14; John 3:16; John 6:38; Gal 4:4-7; Titus 2:11-14; John 8:28-29; Phil 2:8; Heb 5:8: 3; 3 Mark 10:45; 1 Tim 2:6; 2 Cor 5:21; Rom 4:22-25; 5:19; 6:4-5; Matt 16:21; Luke 24:5-7; 1 Cor 15:3-4; Heb 7:24-28; Rom 10:9; 1John 1:9; Eph 2:8-9, 13-16; Col 1:13-14, 19-20; 1 Peter 1:3; Rom 3:23-28; Matt 1:21; Psalm 32:1; 2 Cor 5:17; etc.]

The Trinity/God

There is one God, the creator, who exists eternally in unity as three equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The triune God is loving, holy, infinite, just, and worthy of all worship.

God is three in one. The Godhead includes three co-eternal persons, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. No one has ever seen God the Father. He is Spirit. Christ Jesus was born of a virgin, fully man and fully God. The Holy Spirit, also known as the Holy Ghost indwells Christians through faith. Scripture describes the Holy Spirit as being behind the inspiration of scripture and the power of the prophets. Now, He indwells Christians as we are temples of the Holy Spirit.

[John 1:1-5; Mathew 28:19-20; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Cor 8:4; Deut 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12; Rev 22:13; 1 Tim 1:17; John 1:14, 18; John 15:23; Gal 4:6, 1 Cor 6:19; 8:4, 6; Colossians 1:19-20]

The Holy Scriptures

The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the written revelation of God’s character and saving purposes for humanity and for all creation. As God’s revelation, the entire Bible is true and trustworthy and is the final authority for belief and conduct. The Holy Spirit guides us to interpret scripture and to live according to God’s word in His power.

[Psalm 119; John 20:30-31; Romans 15:4; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12; 2 Peter 1:16-21; John 16:13; 1 Cor 2:12-13]

The Great Commission

Before our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven he said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)

The good news of Christianity is for all peoples of all tribes, tongues, peoples and nations. Truth in Christ is not A truth among many but “THE Way THE Truth and THE life.” We Christians must pass on and spread the faith by making disciples. Our God is not distant but is one who will be with us even to the end of our lifelong journey to take part in this great commission.

“So then faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17)

[Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:50; John 14:6; Rom 10:17; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Rom 1:16-17; 2 Cor 5:20; 2 Tim 4:1-5; Phil 1:27]

Atonement

All have sinned and fallen short of God’s law. No one is righteous, we all deserve the wrath of God for our sins. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God earned by Christ’s work on the cross grants us the gift of eternal life and adoption as sons/daughters of God.

[Rom 6:23; Gal 4:4-5; Rom 3:10-12; Eph 5:5-6; Isaiah 53:5-6, 10-11; 2 Cor 5:2; Col 1:19-20; Rom 5:17; 1 Peter 2:24; John 1:29; Matt 1:21

Marriage

Marriage is a covenant instituted by God as a union between one man and one woman.

Jesus said: “6 at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ (Mark 10)

Sexual activity outside of the marital union constitutes inherently sinful acts and should not be condoned.

As Christians, our identity is found in Christ, not in our sin or inclinations.

[Mark 10:6-7; 1 Cor 6:10-11; ]