This overview of our beliefs will help you gather an understanding of what we believe here at Bible Phoenix.
Christianity in 2 Minutes
Humanity is separated from God by our sinful nature. (Rm 3:23)
No human effort can earn salvation. God gave His law to Moses, but perfection under the law is impossible–it was not given to save us but to point to our need for a Redeemer. (Rm 5:20-21)
Christ came to reconcile humanity with God. (Rm 3:24; Jn 3:16; He 9:15)
By believing in Christ as our savior and repenting from our sins, we can be reconciled to God and enjoy eternal life. (Jn 1:16-17; Jn 3:17; Rm 6:14; He 4:16)
Christ’s death redeems and justifies us. (Ti 2:14; Rm 3:21-26)
Christ’s resurrection shows His triumph over sin and death, a triumph God has always planned for the faithful to take part in. This offer is made to all who receive Christ as savior, placing their trust in Hi. (Rm 6:23; Jn 12:32)
On Scripture
On the matter of Scripture:
- We hold to the doctrines of inspiration and preservation of Scripture.
- We grant Scripture a role as the highest authority for Christian life.
- We do not adhere to the idea of a “perfect” text. Multiple textual traditions and translations dutifully preserve the perfect text of Scripture so that there are multiple trustworthy, faithful, and life-giving sources for Scripture today.
Further, we affirm the following:
V. THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES FOR SALVATION.
The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church. The names of the canonical books are—
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, The First Book of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book of Chronicles, The Book of Ezra, The Book of Nehemiah, The Book of Esther, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or the Preacher, Cantica or Songs of Solomon, Four Prophets the greater, Twelve Prophets the less.
All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account canonical.
VI. OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and man. Wherefore they are not to be heard who feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses, as touching ceremonies and rites, doth not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of necessity be received in any commonwealth, yet, notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.
Methodist Articles of Religion (AD 1784)
While this site may cover content beyond the core Protestant canon of Scripture (e.g. the Deuterocanon, apocrypha, and pseudepigrapha) we do not receive them as divinely inspired.
On Orthodoxy
At Bible Phoenix, we make our judgments of Christian orthodoxy by looking at movements which affirm the three core creeds of historical Christianity: the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed (included below).
Although some individuals within Christian traditions may erroneously teach contrary to these creeds, we consider all denominations which uphold these creeds Christian brethren and extend grace where possible.
We consider traditions and their adherents which reject the orthodox creeds to fall outside the Christian faith. We will generally not feature their content.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary;
Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into Hell;
The third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almigthy;
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.I believe in the Holy Ghost:
The Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins:
The resurrection of the body:
And the life everlasting. Amen.
Nicene Creed
We believe (I believe) in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages. (God of God) light of light, true God of true God. Begotten not made, consubstantial to the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And was incarnate of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary and was made man; was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried; and the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end. And (I believe) in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son), who together with the Father and the Son is to be adored and glorified, who spoke by the Prophets. And one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We confess (I confess) one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for (I look for) the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.”
The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed as received by Western churches, Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)
Athanasian Creed
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic [universal] faith. Which faith unless every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person [of the Trinity] by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the Catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance [Essence] of the Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Substance [Essence] of his Mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood. Who although he is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ. One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by assumption of the Manhood into God. One altogether; not by confusion of Substance [Essence]; but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man; so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies; And shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic faith; which except a man believe truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.