We
believe in God, the only true God, the Creator and Ruler of
human beings and all things. He is the Lord of history and of
the world. He judges and saves. His Son Jesus Christ, the
Saviour of humankind, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born a
man of the Virgin Mary and became our brother. Through His
suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection He manifested
God's love and justice, and through Him we are reconciled to
God. His Spirit, which is the Holy Spirit, dwells among us, and
grants us power, so that we may bear witness among all peoples
until the Lord comes again.
We
believe that the Bible is revealed by God, the record of His
redemption and the norm of our faith and life.
We
believe that the Church is the fellowship of God's people,
called to proclaim the salvation of Jesus Christ and to be
ambassador of reconciliation. It is both universal and rooted in
this land, identifying with all its inhabitants, and through
love and suffering becoming the sign of hope. We believe that
through the grace of God, human beings are brought to
repentance, their sin forgiven, that they may glorify God
through lives of devotion, love and dedication.
We
believe that God has given human beings dignity, talents and a
homeland, so that they may share in God's creation, and have
responsibility with Him for taking care of the world. Therefore,
they have social, political and economic systems, arts and
sciences, and a spirit which seeks after the true God. But human
beings have sinned, and they misuse these gifts, destroying the
relationship between themselves, all creatures, and God.
Therefore, they must depend on the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
He will deliver humankind from sin, will set the oppressed free
and make them equal, that all may become new creatures in
Christ, and the world His Kingdom, full of justice, peace and
joy.
This
translation, based on the original Romanized Taiwanese text
authorized by the 32nd General Assembly, was officially adopted
by the General Assembly Faith and Order Committee on10 January
1986.
