Bill Samuel's Affirmations of Faith

I am moved to affirm certain truths to which I have been led. These are some of the foundations for my life and ministry.

I affirm Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I affirm Jesus as both fully human and fully divine. I affirm his virgin birth, his earthly ministry, his death upon the cross in propitiation of our sins, and his resurrection in victory over sin and death.

I affirm that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). I affirm that salvation is a gift of God, not something we can earn through human effort. I affirm that salvation is available for all.

I affirm that "unless a man [or woman] be born again, he [or she] cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) I affirm that "if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

I affirm Christ Jesus as living and present Teacher, guiding and sustaining us.

I affirm that "love is the fulfilling of the law." (Romans 13:10)

I affirm the unity of the Body of Christ as the one true Church beyond all human divisions, of which Christ himself is the head.

I affirm that we are called to worship God "in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24) I affirm that this worship is not a matter of any particular forms or the absence of forms, but rather of the spirit in which we worship.

I affirm that the scriptures are "useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). I affirm that they point us to the living Word of God, Christ Jesus.

I affirm the power of prayer in the name of Jesus. I affirm that we are called to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:18) I affirm that if we abide in Christ, we may "ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7)

I affirm the Great Commission, our calling to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all corners of the earth.

I affirm Jesus Christ as the Lord of all, making no distinctions on the basis of race, gender, class, wealth, cultural background, or other human divisions.

I affirm that God calls us to fight in the Lamb's War with spiritual weapons, and not in human wars with carnal weapons.

[slightly modified excerpt from the final reflections paper written by Bill Samuel as part of the 1993-94 School of the Spirit Spiritual Nurture Program]