Build Yourself UpBuild Yourself Up

Jude 20-21Jude 20-21

Recall the Big PictureRecall the Big Picture

• CreationCreation

• FallFall

• SalvationSalvation

• Process and TriumphProcess and Triumph

Remember the Need ofRemember the Need ofCommunityCommunity

• Jude is written to churchesJude is written to churches

• v. 12v. 12

• We are called to live this out in a community We are called to live this out in a community that lives together and dies together—we that lives together and dies together—we have a responsibilityhave a responsibility

Concord DeclarationConcord Declaration(Working Draft)(Working Draft)

• We believe before anything existed there was God We believe before anything existed there was God who from eternity existed in a fellowship of love who from eternity existed in a fellowship of love among the Persons of the Trinity—the Father, Son among the Persons of the Trinity—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.and Holy Spirit.

• We believe this personal God by His unlimited We believe this personal God by His unlimited power spoke into existence all space, time and power spoke into existence all space, time and matter, and shaped the universe to support life on matter, and shaped the universe to support life on planet Earth.planet Earth.

• We believe He created all life and that the crown of We believe He created all life and that the crown of His creation is humanity—human beings made in His creation is humanity—human beings made in His image. Therefore all humans are valuable and His image. Therefore all humans are valuable and human life is sacred.human life is sacred.

• We believe that while created perfect and sinless We believe that while created perfect and sinless that our ancestors rebelled against God and that our ancestors rebelled against God and plunged the world into darkness and chaos. plunged the world into darkness and chaos. Humans are therefore now subject to death, bent Humans are therefore now subject to death, bent toward evil, and the whole creation has been toward evil, and the whole creation has been twisted from its original beautiful purpose.twisted from its original beautiful purpose.

• We believe fallen humanity lives out his rebellion in We believe fallen humanity lives out his rebellion in many different ways that leads to brokenness, many different ways that leads to brokenness, sorrow, degradation and death. This rebellion is sorrow, degradation and death. This rebellion is even expressed in religions and disguised in human even expressed in religions and disguised in human philosophies that lead to violence, exploitation and philosophies that lead to violence, exploitation and human oppression.human oppression.

• We believe that while God could have left us in our We believe that while God could have left us in our brokenness and sin, that He is a God of love and brokenness and sin, that He is a God of love and mercy who has chosen to save out of the human mercy who has chosen to save out of the human race a people for Himself. He chose to do so race a people for Himself. He chose to do so through the Person of Jesus Christ. through the Person of Jesus Christ.

• We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who took on human flesh 2,000 years ago, being who took on human flesh 2,000 years ago, being born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, and He died for our sins, as our substitute on the cross. He died for our sins, as our substitute on the cross. He received the wrath of God our sins deserved. He He received the wrath of God our sins deserved. He was buried and rose bodily on the third day. All was buried and rose bodily on the third day. All who repent of their sin and trust in Him receive who repent of their sin and trust in Him receive forgiveness and eternal life as a gift. Christ's perfect forgiveness and eternal life as a gift. Christ's perfect righteousness is credited to all who trust in Him and righteousness is credited to all who trust in Him and thus we are eternally now acceptable to God to live thus we are eternally now acceptable to God to live in fellowship with Him.in fellowship with Him.

• We believe that God is patient to let the world We believe that God is patient to let the world continue while He saves His people through the continue while He saves His people through the spread of the gospel message. While this means spread of the gospel message. While this means that evil and darkness will continue momentarily, that evil and darkness will continue momentarily, that God is in the process of making things new. He that God is in the process of making things new. He restrains evil from being worse through His Spirit restrains evil from being worse through His Spirit and the influence of His people, yet the world is and the influence of His people, yet the world is broken and evil will exist until Christ returns.broken and evil will exist until Christ returns.

• We believe God is calling His new people to Himself We believe God is calling His new people to Himself in salvation and gathering those new people into in salvation and gathering those new people into His church all over the earth. His church exists as His church all over the earth. His church exists as salt and light in the world and has the task of salt and light in the world and has the task of spreading the message of salvation through spreading the message of salvation through proclamation as she lives lovingly and peacefully proclamation as she lives lovingly and peacefully among her neighbors. As Christians die their spirits among her neighbors. As Christians die their spirits go to be with Christ while their bodies await go to be with Christ while their bodies await resurrection.resurrection.

• We believe that Christ will return someday. He will We believe that Christ will return someday. He will gather His people body and spirit to a glorious new gather His people body and spirit to a glorious new heaven and earth where there will be no sorrow, heaven and earth where there will be no sorrow, sin or death. All evil shall be judged and humanity sin or death. All evil shall be judged and humanity apart from Christ will experience everlasting apart from Christ will experience everlasting judgment and separation from God in hell.judgment and separation from God in hell.

• We believe God has revealed Himself to us and all We believe God has revealed Himself to us and all that is above through the Bible.that is above through the Bible.