| “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” - James 3: 1-2, KJV |
What We Believe
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Evangelical Free Church of Canada is an association of
autonomous churches united in a common commitment to God’s
evangel–the gospel of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to give
us eternal life. To God’s glory, the gospel is the power of God for
the salvation of everyone who believes. Our essential theological
convictions are vitally connected to this gospel.
God’s gospel originates in and expresses
the wondrous perfections of the eternal, triune God.
1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely
perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally
divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having
limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed
from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things
new for His own glory.
God’s gospel is authoritatively revealed
in the Scriptures.
2. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and
New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally
inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original
writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the
ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and
endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all
that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all
that it promises.
God’s gospel alone addresses our deepest
need.
3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they
sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are
sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His
wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be
rescued, reconciled and renewed.
God’s gospel is made known supremely in
the Person of Jesus Christ.
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and
fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel’s promised
Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin
Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the
right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
God’s gospel is accomplished through the
work of Christ.
5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and
substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect,
all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and
victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.
God’s gospel is applied by the power of
the Holy Spirit.
6. We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies
the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He
regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with
Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells,
illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like
living and service.
God’s gospel is now embodied in the new
community called the church.
7. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been
justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They
are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is
the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose
membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus
mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which
visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the
means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith,
these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
God’s gospel compels us to Christ-like
living and witness to the world.
8. We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from
His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him
supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with
care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the
oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power and fervent prayer in
Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In
obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all
people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
God’s gospel will be brought to
fulfillment by the Lord Himself at the end of this age.
9. We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our
Lord Jesus Christ with His holy angels when He will bring His
kingdom to fulfillment and exercise His role as Judge of all. This
coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant
expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly
living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
God’s gospel requires a response that has
eternal consequences.
10. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the
gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus
Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the
world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal
conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy
with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of
His glorious grace. Amen.
EFCC CHARACTER AND CALLING DOCUMENT
OUR CHARACTER
The Kingdom of God is His eternal possession, and is present in part
but not fullness in the world today. By God’s decree, under His
direction, and empowered by His grace, the universal Church is
responsible for the care and expansion of that Kingdom. Every local
church, denomination, and ministry organization is a part of that
Kingdom and carries some responsibility in the work of the Kingdom.
As a part of that Body of Christ the Evangelical Free Church of
Canada (EFCC) desires to understand and fulfill its particular
calling in the work of the Kingdom. The EFCC will seek to live out
our calling to be a New Community in Christ, reflecting the fullness
of His vision for the Kingdom of God “on earth as it is in heaven.”
We will do this by putting aside the prevailing values of our time
and replacing them with the radical demands of the gospel of God’s
grace.
OUR CALLING
IN ESSENTIALS UNITY; IN NON-ESSENTIALS CHARITY; IN ALL THINGS JESUS
CHRIST. The calling and spirit of the EFCC is summed up well in this
famous motto of Rupertus Meldenius. We both define our call and
express our aspirations for this 21st Century through this early
quote.
IN ESSENTIALS UNITY…
- Essential Truths: We are called to embody and proclaim the essential truths of Christianity as articulated in the Word of God, expressed through the centuries in the great creeds of the church and defined for us in our Statement of Faith. We continue in the tradition of our EFCC forefathers who said; “Where stands it written?” These truths have led us to Jesus Christ who said “he is truth” and that the “truth would set us free.”
- Spiritual Unity: This calling is to a spirit of unity in Jesus Christ, with an affirmation of the priesthood and ministry of all believers, congregational government in the local church where He is Head, meaningful involvement within our fellowship of churches, and cooperation with all who share our call to these essential truths.
IN NON-ESSENTIALS CHARITY…
- Generosity of Spirit: We are called to a generosity of spirit that frees us to embrace a wide variety of Christian brothers and sisters — “simply believers” — some with whom we will not agree in matters that are outside our Statement of Faith. Our spirit is one of warm welcome to all believers who share our commitment to our Statement of Faith and who seek to follow Jesus’ command to love God and love our neighbour as ourselves.
- Kingdom Minded: This generous spirit encourages us to joyfully work with those outside our own denomination, those of “like precious faith” who endeavour to expand the kingdom of heaven.
IN ALL THINGS JESUS CHRIST
- The Great Command and Great Commission: We are called to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the Lord God. Through His grace and through His Spirit we seek to fulfill His command to love our neighbour by loving each and every person, especially the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed. We seek to fulfill His great commission by making followers of Him from all people groups.
- Godly Living: From the practice and teachings of Jesus, from the present ministry of the Holy Spirit working within us, and from the pietistic model of our forefathers, has grown a spirit that hungers for a closer relationship with Jesus Christ that will transform our hearts, our heads, our hands, and will reveal itself in a Christ-inspired value system and a holy lifestyle.
Evangelical Free Church of Canada Website
If you would like a more in-depth look at what we believe, feel free to visit our denomination's official website: