Statement of faith

EFC of Japan hold fast to the following 12 statements as main base of understanding what we believe.

1. We believe that both Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired Word of God without error in the original writings. The Bible is the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority in all Christians’ life and faith.
2. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
3. We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross as sacrifice for our sins, as the Bible tells us. And He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
4. We believe that Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners. He also indwells, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
5. We believe that God created human beings in His image, but they sinned, are alienated from God and under His wrath. Only through spiritual re-birth by the work of Holy Spirit we can be given the salvation and spiritual life.
6. We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross and His resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation and justification for whoever believes. Only who accept Jesus Christ as his Savior is renewed by Holy Spirit and becomes a child of God.
7. We believe that baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the ordinances should be held in the churches of this era. Though they are not the means of salvation.
8. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been renewed by Holy Spirit through faith of salvation in Jesus Christ. They are united in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head.
9. We believe that only the member of the true church is entitled to have membership of a local church.
10. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and the Head of church. Therefore all local churches have right to decide own activities and administrative programs in Christ.
11. We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is imminent and, as our blessed hope, gives great meanings to believer’s personal life and faith.
12. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily. The believer will be assigned to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord and the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment