Thanksgiving English Fellowship, Shanghai Doctrinal Statement
The Bible
We believe all sixty six books of the Bible are the verbally inspired Word of God, without error and infallible in the original manuscripts. We believe the Bible is the final authority in faith and life (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20; Psalm 19:7-9).
God
We believe there is one God, existing eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and possessing the same attributes and perfections (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God (John 10:33). We believe in: His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:34-35); His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15,7:26); His miracles (John 2:11); His vicarious and atoning death (1 Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:9); His resurrection (John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:4); His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19); His personal return to earth in power and glory (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16).
The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, dwells in every true believer (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16). We believe that the Holy Spirit seals and indwells all believers making them God’s possession, spiritually uniting them with one another. (Ephesians
1:13; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:26-28). We believe the Holy Spirit enables the trusting, obedient believer to live a godly life (Romans 8:13-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18) and continues to endow believers with spiritual gifts for the purpose of building up the body, for the common good, just as He wills (1 Corinthians l2: 4-11).
The Condition of Man
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, in innocence, and without sin. In Adam’s sin humanity fell, inherited a sinful nature, became spiritually dead and alienated from God. We believe that, within himself, man is incapable of redeeming himself from his lost
and depraved condition (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 3:10-18, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).
The Work of Christ
We believe that God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ, became man, without ceasing to be God, in order to reveal God and redeem sinful man. We believe Christ voluntarily offered Himself as our sacrificial substitute on the cross, satisfying God’s righteous judgment against sin. We believe God’s only provision for our sin is Christ’s death on our behalf, through which God reconciles us to Himself (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Salvation
We believe that salvation from the penalty of sin is a gift of God’s grace. It cannot be gained by any work, and it is provided on the single ground of faith in Christ’s completed work on the cross alone. All who trust Christ in this way are forgiven of their sins and born into God’s family by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:16-19; Romans 3:23; 5:1-9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).
The Church
We believe that the church, called in Scripture the Body of Christ, is a spiritual organism and that every true believer is a member of His Body. We also believe that Scripture affirms the establishment and continuation of local churches, which are groups of Christian believers called together for worship, instruction, fellowship, service, and evangelism (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:42, 13:1).
Eternal State
We believe that at the moment of death, the souls of all who trust in Christ for salvation immediately enter Christ’s presence, awaiting the resurrection of life. However, the souls of all who do not trust Christ for salvation immediately enter into conscious separation from God, awaiting the resurrection of condemnation, the eternal consequence of unbelief (Luke 16:19-26; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15).
Last Things
We believe the visible and bodily return of Christ for the redeemed, who will reign with Him for all eternity (Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 20:1-6).
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