Looking for editorial reviews

[Poimen]

I'm writing some material for our church concerning doctrinal distinctives and positions. I'm not finished, of course (Scripture references will be added later). But I do have some of the basic content that I would like to get some feedback on.

Jude 2 would be a great place to solicit responses, I think. You guys know me, you come from the same or similar backgrounds, and there is a decent crosscut of various Christian churches and traditions represented here.

Now, I'm not looking for debate, argument, agreement or disagreement. I'm looking for help in refining and/or perhaps more clearly stating the content shared.

I'm not scared of theological terminology. In fact, since this concerns our positions and distinctives I intend to use such. But, I don't want to be overly complicated or wordy either.

I'm asking any who are willing to help me look over this in an editorial fashion, both for content and grammatical purposes.

[Poimen]

Our Distinctives

I. Conversion & Works of Grace
We believe conversion to be that work of God on behalf of the sinner which brings him to repentance and saving faith in the person and atoning work of Christ. Thereby the sinner passes from death to life, is pardoned of their sins, is set apart from the former life being transformed from sinner to saint, is made a new creature, becomes a joint heir with our Lord Jesus, and is made a partaker of the divine nature. Wherefore we may now be called children of God.

1. Repentance and Conversion
Repentance is absolutely essential to conversion, without which the sinner must eternally perish. Repentance involves both the confessing and forsaking of sins by turning to God. It includes, and is induced by, the realization of our sinful condition before a holy and just God, and of our need for the Savior. Further, it carries the idea of commitment to God, implying admittance and reform throughout the Christian life from any errors which may not be known or understood at the time of conversion.


2. Justification, Sanctification, & Regeneration
We believe that these works of grace (among others) are part of the total work of conversion, and are made available in the finished work of Christ on the Cross. These works, performed in the heart of the convert, are complete in as much as they render the believer into a state of actually being justified, sanctified, and regenerated. The later two however have an ongoing work in the maturity and progression of the new convert as well. Yet the fullness of these works will not be known until the resurrection.

Where others draw sharp lines of distinction about just when and how these works are performed, or in what manner they relate to each other, we do not. It is not that we do not have ideas on the details. Rather, it is that we feel experiencing these works of grace are more important than understanding them or of compelling uniformity in the details thereof. After all, Christ is made all of these things to us. If one understands Christ enough to trust in Him as Lord and Savior they automatically receive “in Him” what His atoning work provided on our behalf.


3. Free Will & Eternal Security
Much of modern Christianity is divided between those who believe in the free moral agency of man and those who believe that our depravity prevents us from even believing on God. Likewise many are equally divided over whether one can upon being saved by grace ever again become lost, or if once in grace a person is always in grace so that they are eternally secure and never can become unsaved. Here at Christway our teaching is overwhelmingly in favor of the free-will of man, and admits to the possibility of turning from Christ. However, we do not make it a divisive issue. We permit those among us to hold it, accepting them as believers not so much because of doctrinal conformity, bur rather because of faith in Christ as Lord and Savior.

These divergent positions are in many ways more semantics and perspective than they are real differences. Even then, what differences there are do not truly invalidate the power of the gospel or the faith of fellow believers who are “across the aisle” so to speak. Both agree that among other things holiness is the end and aim of conversion. Both agree that those who are truly converted do not continue practicing sin. Both deny the erroneous belief that how a person lives is inconsequential to salvation so long as they have professed belief in Christ.


4. Holiness & Grace
There is no question that salvation is wholly the work of God, and is received solely on the merit of Christ and His sacrifice. We are saved by grace. Such grace brings one into a holy status before God, consecrating and enabling us to live righteously, soberly, and godly in this present world. The believer, though freed from sin, still lives in a fallen world with a mortal body. He is at war, even with His own passions, due to the sinfulness that pervades the realm of creation. He is not above temptation, nor above yielding to it. Nevertheless, He is not enslaved or helpless to its lures and enticements. The believer is called to holiness. It is God’s standard, ideal, and expectation of those who are counted as His children.

Grace is not a license to go on sinning. The believer can sin, but does not have to sin. It is not normal or permissible for the truly converted to continue or knowingly sin. However, if we do sin (“if”, not “when), all is not lost. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. We can confess our sins and rest assured that the merit of Christ will cover our offense, blotting out any record of wrong, and permitting us to continue sharing in His life and in fellowship with God.


5. Faith & Works
We are saved by grace, but through faith. It is not of ourselves, we are told, but it is the gift of God. Since without faith it is impossible to please Him, and those who come to Him must believe then faith is required on the part of the convert. However, placing saving faith in God does not itself save us. Grace saves us, through faith. We cannot do anything to earn or merit right standing with God. Therefore we cannot, indeed are not saved by works. Salvation then is wholly the work of God. Attempts to earn salvation are works of self righteousness and are tainted by the sinfulness of our existence.

Nevertheless, real faith in God is a productive faith. Since only by having the righteousness of Christ imputed to our behalf we can be reconciled to God, likewise, only by having the righteousness of Christ imparted in us, His life being manifest through us, can we then live righteously before God. Works do not save. However, complementary works will accompany saving faith.


6. The Reception & Gifts of the Spirit
Only converts are eligible to receive the Spirit of God and to partake in His present ministry in and through the church. However, there is varied opinion on just when the Spirit of God indwells the believer. It is commonly held that the believer is either automatically indwelt, simultaneous with and as part of conversion, or that this indwelling is a distinct work and is often experienced post-conversion. We respect both as honest Biblical interpretations, and place more emphasis on the fact of the experience than we it’s when.

Likewise, we do not insist on any supernatural manifestation or specific spiritual gift as proof of this reception. All would equally be an evidence of such. However, in as much as we recognize the present (hence ongoing) ministry of the Holy Spirit we fully expect the continued operation and manifestation of spiritual gifts or supernatural wonders in the lives and ministries of Spirit enabled believers. We caution that though the believer is to be zealous of spiritual gifts, and none should ever quench the Spirit of God, that without the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in the lives of believers the manifestations of seemingly the gifts of the Spirit are of no real value. Godly love will seek to edify.