Evangelical Movement of Wales (EMW) Statement of Faith
- The Infallible Word Of God (1)
- The Holy Trinity (2)
We believe the Holy Scriptures, as originally given, to be the infallible Word of God, of divine inspiration and therefore, we accept them as our sole authority in all matters of faith and practice.
God is! That is a fact. God stamped upon creation evidence of his existence, power and eternity. Since the disobedience of our first parents, sin inclines us to suppress this evidence (Rom. 1:19-25; 2:14-16) but there is no excuse.
All humans are wired to a God-awareness by a conscience registering right and wrong regarding his law. God unveiled these basic facts in general revelation in love. The triune God is relational: Father, Son and Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal, enjoying intimate love and unity in their intra-trinitarian relationship so we are the objects of incredible love. While viewing the grandeur of creation, people may be filled with awe and a God-awareness, leading them to search like Job: ‘Oh that I may know where I might find him…’ (Job 23:3). However, God is wholly other than us, unreachable by reason or any other means: ‘Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!’ (Rom. 11:33).
Amazingly, the Three-in-One came to our rescue in great love unveiling more of his character, including his wonderful purpose to save us in Christ. God pulled back the curtain sufficiently for us to see his holy character, revealing the only way we can know him and be forgiven. This is special revelation, found in the Bible alone. Without this, we could never know God as Creator or Redeemer. The Bible is unique. Here is Truth – objective, reliable, unchanging and accessible; this is treasure, the means of bringing people to know God’s grace and life in Christ.
The Bible is divine
The Bible is God’s self-revelation of himself and his purposes in his Son Jesus Christ. What the Bible says, God says. Our questions concerning God, life, death, personal identity, purpose and peace are all answered in God’s book.
How did God do this? Some key texts answer the question. In 2 Timothy 3:16, we read: ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…’. The key word, ‘inspiration’, is not a sudden flash of brilliance or achievement on our part. Rather it refers to these Bible truths ‘breathed out by God’. This is God’s activity alone by the Holy Spirit influencing and directing the thinking and writing of those used in the writing of the Old and New Testaments. In this sense, the Bible is ‘inspired’.
Another key text is 2 Peter 1:21: ‘…for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.’ In context, Peter confirms the truth of what he had taught concerning Jesus Christ by referring to the Lord’s transfiguration which he had witnessed. He added that his testimony is backed up infallibly by what God spoke through the prophets and others who were not giving their own ideas. Rather, these ‘holy men of God’ spoke as they were moved (literally, carried along) by the Holy Spirit. When God therefore breathed out details concerning himself and his purpose, the Holy Spirit superintended the process throughout the writing of the Old and New Testaments. Therefore, the Bible is infallible, (completely trustworthy) and inerrant (true in word and teaching).
The Bible is dependable
Despite the claims of critics, there is compelling evidence that the Bible is free from error. The God ‘who cannot lie’ (Tit. 1:2) would never breathe out errors and deceive people. The prophets were unable to change or add to the words God gave them. The Holy Spirit guaranteed the truth and accuracy of the Bible (John 16:13), as Jesus promised. The Lord himself believed in the historicity of creation, including Adam and Eve (Matt. 19:4-5), the universal flood under Noah (Matt. 24:37-39) and Jonah’s experience in the belly of a large fish (Matt. 2:40). The Lord Jesus claimed the entire Old Testament pointed to and found fulfilment in himself (Luke 4:16-21; 24:25-27, 44-47). Like our Saviour, we can safely depend upon the veracity of the Bible.
The Bible is dynamic
The Bible relates the progressive ‘unfolding drama’ of God’s loving initiative to save sinners. At the heart of this initiative is Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, whose obedience and substitutionary death for sinners is the only way we can be reconciled to God as we trust Christ. His resurrection, ascension and enthronement in heaven as Lord overall, guarantees the salvation of the elect and completion of the divine plan when the Saviour will return personally in glory. This cosmic, Christo-centric purpose is personalised in bringing unworthy, sinful unbelievers to trust Christ for salvation and then to enjoy inestimable privileges and blessings in Christ, now and eternally. You can read this dynamic story in the Bible. Exciting!
Further, God uses the Bible through the Holy Spirit when it is read, preached or shared so ‘faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God…’ (Rom. 10:17). Miracles occur under the Word as lives are changed, believers are comforted and experience the Lord’s reality and love. Read the Bible and enjoy the Lord in this wonderful book!
The Bible is demanding
God makes demands upon us in his Word. What the Bible says, God says, so the Bible ought to have supreme authority in all that we believe and do. The Lord Jesus is an example in this respect. Early in his ministry, when the devil tempted Jesus three times, he appealed to the authority of God’s Word on each occasion saying, ‘It is written’ (Matt. 4:4-10). The Lord used the phrase ‘it is written’ on a further fifteen occasions, especially when answering people’s questions. God’s Word alone should determine what we believe and how we live. Truth is not something we feel good about or imagine; rather it is objective in the Bible, carrying the supreme authority of God. His Word should control our thinking and lives.
The Bible is desirable
God created us to please and enjoy him forever. Without this, we are lost. C. S. Lewis wrote:
We are… fooling about… when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday by the sea.
Is this your response to God’s book? Neglect it at your peril.
Wonderfully, as Thomas Charles wrote, the Bible is ‘a friend to all who love him’ and a ‘treasury of all profitable and necessary information you need.’ Desire, therefore, ‘the pure milk of the Word that you may grow thereby, if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious’ (1 Pet. 2:2-3). Enjoy and love him in his Word!
