About Columbus First United Brethren in Christ Church
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What We Believe
OUR DOCTRINAL BELIEFS
Next to the Bible, the Confession of Faith is the most important United Brethren document. It was adopted in 1815, and contains the key beliefs which all United Brethren members must accept. For clarification purposes, the wording below has been revised without changing any of the meaning. Consult the Discipline (available at ub.org) for the official wording.
The Triune God
We believe in the only true God — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. These three are one—the Father in the Son, the Son in the Father, and the Holy Ghost equal in essence or being with both. This triune God not only created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, but sustains, governs, protects, and supports it all.
Jesus Christ, the Son
We believe that Jesus Christ is both God and man. He became a man by the power of the Holy Ghost in the Virgin Mary and was born of her. He is the Savior and mediator of the whole human race, if they accept with full faith in Christ the grace offered in him.
We believe that Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us, was buried, arose again on the third day, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God interceding for us. He will come again at the last day to judge the living and the dead.
The Holy Spirit, Comforter and Guide
We believe that the Holy Ghost is equal in being with the Father and the Son. He comforts the faithful and guides them into all truth.
The Church
We believe in the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body, and eternal life.
The Holy Bible and Salvation
We believe that the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God. It contains the only true way of salvation. Every true Christian is bound to acknowledge and receive it, with the influence of the Spirit of God, as the only rule and guide.
We believe that without faith in Jesus Christ, true repentance, forgiveness of sins, and following after Christ, no one can be a true Christian.
The Salvation Message
We also believe that what is contained in the Bible — the fall in Adam and redemption through Jesus Christ — should be preached throughout the world.
The Christian Ordinances
We believe that the ordinances — baptism, and the remembrance of the sufferings and death of Christ — are to be used and practiced by all Christian churches.
We also believe that all of God's children are to practice these ordinances, but that the manner in which they practice them should always be left to the judgment and understanding of the individual. Whether or not to practice footwashing is also to be left to the individual.
No ministers should, either in public or in private, criticize any of their brethren whose judgment and understanding in these respects differs from their own. Whoever does shall be considered a traducer of his brethren, and shall be answerable for it.
