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St. Johns Scriptural Stance for Dismissal

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St. Johns Scriptural Stance for Dismissal St. Johns Scriptural Stance for Dismissal Our Mission Statement: Connect with Christ, Church and Community In order to fulfill this mission, we are guided by: The Great Commandment: Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart . soul . and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40) The Great Commission: Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) St. Johns Core Values: Biblically-Based We believe the Bible is God's Word and the final authority for all matters of faith and practice. We strive to understand it and stand under it, in all aspects of our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Mark 12:29-30; John 14:21) Devotion We believe that the pursuit of full devotion to Christ and His cause is normal for every believer. (Philippians 2:3-5; 2 Corinthians 8:7; Philippians 3:12-14) Prayer We believe in the importance of prayer as the provision God gives us for knowing Him and participating in the work of His kingdom. (1 John 5:14-15; John 15:7) Biblical, Spirit-led We believe that biblical, Spirit-led teaching is a primary catalyst for Teaching changing lives. (2 Timothy 2:16-17; James 1:25) Distinguished by We believe Christians are to be distinguished by our love, endeavoring Love to guard the sanctity of every human life and to love one another as Christ loves us. (Mark 12:31; John 13:34-35; Exodus 20:13) Small Groups We believe that significant life change happens in the context of biblically-based small groups. (Luke 6:13; 2 Timothy 2:2; Philippians 4:9) Every Member is a We believe that God gifts and prepares every believer for ministry and Minister expects every believer to serve Him. (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-6a); Joel 2:28-29; Acts 13:1) A Healing Station We believe our church is to be a catalyst for bringing healing in our broken society. (James 1:27; Matthew 25:35-40) Unity We believe our church should actively seek to bring unity in Christ across racial, denominational, and cultural boundaries while remaining biblically faithful. (John 17:20-21) Penetration of the We believe our church and every believer must strive to understand Culture our times and uncompromisingly strive to establish Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in all aspects of life. (1 Chronicles 12:32; 1 Corinthians 9:19- 22; 10:31; Colossians 3:17,23; Proverbs 21:3) Evangelism We believe that lost people matter to God. Therefore, we believe the responsibility of every Christian is to reach the people God has placed within that Christian's sphere of influence. (Luke 5:30-32; Matthew 18:12-24) Understanding the differences between PC(USA) and St. Johns While different viewpoints can help challenge us to grow in our faith walk, PC(USA) has taken a series of steps which caused us, as a church, to reflect on moving to a different Presbyterian denomination to more effectively pursue ministry. In the following pages, you will see some of the significant areas in which St. Johns differs from the PC(USA). These areas include the person and work of Jesus Christ, the state of Israel, the sanctity of marriage, and abortion. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ Biblical references that relate to The Person and Work of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 14:1-7 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him." Acts 4:10-12 …then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Romans 5:1-8 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 10:9-13 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 1 Timothy 2:1-7 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose, I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying— and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. Ephesians 2:1-10 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. PC(USA)’s stance on: The Person and Work of Jesus Christ 1647 Westminster The only Mediator of the covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Catechism Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Father, in the fullness of time became man, and so was and continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and one person, forever.
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