It’s customary for those who operate a Christian site to include a Statement of Faith. Here at Study Driven Faith, we want to provide an environment where the various contributors, commenters, and visitors feel comfortable engaging in discussions on a variety of topics that affect the Christian faith and how it’s lived. We encourage the natural freedom and flexibility that results from open discussions. And we believe strong Christians are able to consider other points of view, and if necessary, challenge and refute them, just as Jesus, Paul, and many others in the Bible did. We each have the responsibility to study the Bible and grow in our understanding of how to apply it in our lives.
II Timothy 2:15 (ESV)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Acts 17:11 (ESV)
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Colossians 1:9-11 (ESV)
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,
Notwithstanding this, there are elements of the Christian faith that are truly universal. The most important element is a belief in God and in the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we are saved:
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Here are other important universal principles of Christianity:
- God has unified all Christians in Christ (Ephesians 4:3;Galatians 3:28; I Corinthians 12:27).
- Each member of the Body of Christ has an important role to play (I Corinthians 12:12-30).
- Each Christian is to practice righteousness and submit to the authority of the lordship of Jesus Christ through their actions (II Corinthians 5:17; I Peter 1:15-16; Ephesians 5:1-21; Colossians 3:1-17).
- Each Christian is to be an example of God’s love to others and win others to Him (I John 4:7-17; John 13:34-35; II Corinthians 5:20; Matthew 28:19-20).
- Each Christian is to fulfill the law of Christ by loving God and his neighbor as himself (Galatians 6:2; Matthew 22:36-40).
- Each Christian has received the holy spirit, the down payment of the inheritance, and can walk with power and love because of that spiritual connection with God (Romans 8; I Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 1).
With a humble spirit and a meek heart, we invite you to join this community as we search the Scriptures daily. May the words of the psalmist ring clearly for those who visit this site:
Psalms 119:1-5 (ESV)
Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD!Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!