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WHAT WE BELIEVE
God’s solution

Reuben Pauls

Articles 3 and 4 of the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith describe humanity’s problem – sin, alienation from God, and bondage to evil. Article 5 describes God’s solution.

At first glance, what hits the reader in Article 5 is the use of the present tense. Compared to the previous articles, which speak about how “humans yielded”, “fell into sin”, etc. (in the past tense), when we speak of salvation, we acknowledge the ongoing work of God among us. True, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are past events, but salvation is more than just an act of God in the past isolated from present-day life. God’s presence in everyday life here and now is a reality – and a great encouragement to us when we are facing difficult circumstances.

This emphasis on God’s presence relates back to the first Article, where we stated that we worship God up close, not as a remote personality. The Article also links the Holy Spirit and His continuing work to salvation. As Mennonite Brethren, we believe that closeness with God through His indwelling Spirit is vital to our daily life. Others may choose to see God as distant, but we see Him in everyday occurrences as His Spirit fills us daily.

A major emphasis in this Article is on all that God does – He forgives, He delivers, He makes us new creatures, He empowers and He seals. All are gifts of grace. All are undeserved, yet granted to those who accept God’s ultimate gift, Jesus! A lifelong “thank you” would not be enough to show our appreciation. Unfortunately, many take these gifts for granted. We should be grateful to the One who has given us salvation.

Another significant part of salvation, as we see it, is the call to be a people or community. God’s desire has been not just to save individuals but to call them to join in community. As part of this community, we stand in continuity with God’s people from the beginning of time. This allows us to identify with both the original fall of humanity and God’s subsequent acts of deliverance. Jesus’ sacrifice and vindication by God (His death and resurrection) are the peak of God’s saving acts. Yet, the salvation process continues for our benefit.

As Mennonite Brethren, our identification with the people of God shows itself in our understanding of church life. To say we are saved and then to be absent from the body of Christ, “lone rangers”, is unthinkable. Our salvation must be anchored in the community of faith or we will be orphaned at the point of coming to salvation. This was not God’s intent when He formed the church as a covenant community. Let us not lose the significance of community as the place for celebrating God’s saving work.

Reuben Pauls is pastor of River of Life Church in Sorrento, B.C. and former executive minister for the Canadian MB Conference.

CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN CONFERENCES OF MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCHES Article 5

Salvation God’s Initiative We believe that God is at work to accomplish deliverance and healing, redemption and restoration in a world dominated by sin. From the beginning, God’s purpose has been to create for Himself a people, to dwell among them and to bless them. Creation and all of humanity are without hope of salvation except through God’s love and grace. God’s love is fully demonstrated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s Plan Throughout history, God has acted mightily to deliver people from bondage and draw them into a covenant relationship. Through the prophets God prepared the way of salvation until finally God reconciled the world to Himself by the atoning blood of Jesus. As people place their trust in Christ, they are saved by grace through faith, not of their own doing, but as a gift of God. God forgives them, delivers them from sin’s bondage, makes them new creatures in Christ, empowers them by the Holy Spirit and seals them for eternal life. When sin and death are finally abolished and the redeemed are gathered in the new heaven and the new earth, God will have completed the plan of salvation. Humanity’s Response Though Jesus entered a world ruled by sin, He chose not to submit to its allure and broke its domination. Through His obedient life, His death on the cross and His glorious resurrection, Christ triumphed over Satan and the powers of sin and death, opening the way for all people to follow. Convicted by the Holy Spirit, people turn from sin, entrust their lives to God, confess Jesus Christ as Lord and join the family of God. All who receive Christ are born again, and have peace with God, and are called to love one another and live at peace with their neighbor. Those whom God is saving no longer live for themselves for they have been set free from sin and called to newness of life. Exodus 6:1-8; Exodus 15:2; Exodus 20:2; Psalm 68:19-20; Isaiah 43:1; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 10:45; John 1:12; John 3:1-21; John 13:34-35; John 16:8-11; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 5:8; Romans 12-21; Romans 8:18-25; Romans 10:9-10; I Corinthians 1:18; II Corinthians 5:14-21; Ephesians 1:5-10; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 1:13-14; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:12; Hebrews 5:7-9; Hebrews 9:15-28; Hebrews 11:6; I John 4:7-11; Revelation 5:9-10; Revelation 21:1-4. View complete Confession of Faith

 
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Last modified January 8, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
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