Our Statement of Faith
NAME - “Morden E.M.M.Church”,
affiliated with the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference of Canada.
MISSION - The mission of this congregation is to Advance the Church of Jesus Christ.
It shall seek to do this through:
(a) The public worship of God.
(b) The preaching and the teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ for the
salvation of the lost and the growth of believers.
(c) Consistent Christian living of its members.
(d) Our commitment to one another in the body of Jesus Christ
(e) Christian Missions.
(f) Christian Education.
(g) Administration of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
(h) Stewardship of possessions.
(i) Personal evangelism.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
1. THE BIBLE
We believe in the Divine Inspiration, infallibility and absolute authority of the Bible
as the Word of God and that it is the only reliable standard for our faith and life.
I Cor. 2:13; II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21
2. GOD
We believe:
(a) in one God manifested as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matt. 28:19; 3:16-17
(b) that God is eternal and self-existing. Exodus 3:14; Gen. 21:33; Isaiah 40:28
(c) that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Genesis 1 & 2; Col. 1:15-17
3. CHRIST
We believe:
(a) that Jesus Christ existed, and was God before creation.
John 17:5; John 1:1,2; Heb. 1:2-3
(b) that Jesus Christ was God incarnate.
John 17:5; John 1:1,2&4; Heb. 1:2-3; Phil 2:6-8
(c) that Jesus Christ had two natures, both fully human and fully divine.
Matt. 1:21; I Tim. 2:5; I John 5:20
(d) that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and was born of the
virgin Mary. Matt. 1:18; 2:12; Luke 1:30-39
(e) that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world and was buried.
I Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9; I John 2:2
(f) in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I Cor. 15:3-4; Luke 24:36-43; Acts 2:24; I Peter 1:21; I Cor. 6
that He rose from the dead for our justification Rom. 4:25; Rom
(h) that Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven as our High Priest.
Heb. 9:24-26; I John 2:12; Romans 8:34.
(i) in the personal imminent return of Jesus Christ.
Matt. 25:31-46; I Cor. 15; Matt. 16:27; John 14:3; I Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 22:12-20
4. HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit
(a) is the third person in the Trinity, revealing Himself as the Spirit of Truth
Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:17
(i) enables persons to know God and to serve Him.
Acts 1:3-4; John 16:12-13; I Cor. 2:12; I Cor. 12:4-11
(ii) convicts the world of sin. John 16:8
(iii) is an agent in regeneration. John 3:6-7; Titus 3:5
(iv) is an agent in sanctification. I Peter 1:1-2; Eph. 5:25-27; Romans 8:2-4
(v) seals believers unto the day of redemption. Eph. 1:13, 4:30; I Cor. 1:21-23
(vi) is an active force in the formation of the church. Acts 2:14-41,4
(b) indwells regenerate man and makes of him a possession of God through the
faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 1:1-4; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13-1
(c) We understand the term “baptism of the Spirit” as referring to the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit in the believer at the time of conversion and placing the
believer into the universal body of Christ.
Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:13, 3:16-17, 6:19-20
5. MAN
We believe:
(a) that man by a definite act of God was created in His image and likeness.
Gen. 1:26-27; I Cor. 11:7; Gen. 5:1
(b) that man is dependent and accountable to his Creator.
John 15:1-5; Rom. 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:10
(c) that man is a living being, comprised of body, soul and spirit.
Gen. 2:7; I Thess. 5:23; Heb. 4:12
(d) that since Adam, every person is born with a sinful nature and is a sinner in
thought, word, and deed.
Rom. 5:12; Gen. 3:1-8; I Tim. 2:13-14; Rom. 5:12-19; I Cor. 15:21-22
(e) that man stands under the just condemnation of God and is unable to save
himself or to present deeds worthy of merit before God.
Rom. 4:13-19; Eph. 2:8-9
6. SATAN
We believe:
(a) that evil originated with the fall of some angels in Heaven.
Jude 6; II Pet. 2:4; Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:17
(b) in evil satanic spiritual forces which try to lead men astray.
Eph. 6:12; II Cor. 2:11, 11:14-15
(c) that Satan is a personal being who is the arch enemy of God and seeks
the eternal destruction of man.
Job 1:6-12; John 8:44; II Cor. 11:133-15; Eph. 6:12-16; Rev. 20:1-3
(d) that Satan’s activity is limited by the sovereign rule of God.
Job 1:6-12; Rev. 20:10
(e) that Satan was judged and defeated at the cross and reserved for him is eternity
in a lake of fire, which is his full and final judgment.
Col. 2:14-15; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10
7. SIN
We believe:
(a) that all mankind has sinned and are in need of God’s forgiveness.
Ecc. 7:20; Rom. 3:23; I John 1:8-10
(b) that original sin is conveyed from our first parents, Adam and Eve
unto the posterity by natural generation so that all who proceed from them in
that way are conceived and born in sin. Rom. 3:10; 5:12, 17-19
(c) that sin is an act or attitude by which man estranges himself from God.
Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 14:23
8. SALVATION
We believe:
(a) that the shed blood of Jesus Christ, His resurrection and His ascension
constitute the only basis of salvation.
I Peter 1:18-19; Heb. 9:2, 22-28; Rom. 4:25, 6:4-5, 5:9-10
(b) that genuine faith in atoning work of Jesus Christ (which includes
repentance) is the only means of salvation and that a gift of God.
Rom. 10:9, 6:23; Acts 2:21, 11:18; Eph. 2:8; II Cor. 5:21; John 3:16
(c) in positional sanctification. The scriptures teach that the moment a
person believes in Christ, he is sanctified (set apart).
I Cor. 1:2; Col. 1:2; Heb. 10:10
(d) in progressive sanctification of the believer which refers to the walk of the
Christian and continues through life.
John 17:17; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 5:25-27; I John 1:7-9
(e) in the assurance of possessing eternal life in Christ by faith. I John 5:13
(f) that the believer is kept by the power of God through abiding faith.
I John 3:14, 5:13; II Cor. 12:9; Jude 24 & 25; Rom. 8:16, 16:26-27; Gal. 3:11;
I Peter 1:5
9. CHURCH
We believe:
(a) that the Church is the body of Jesus Christ composed of all those who have
been born again of the Spirit of God.
John 1:13, 3:23-32; I Cor. 12:12-27; Col. 1:18-24; Eph. 1:22
(b) that the Church has and should be organized in local congregations.
Acts 2:17, 8:1, 11:22, 13:1
(c) that the Church meets together in Christ’s name for worship, fellowship, prayer,
communion, and Christian growth, to the glory of God.
Heb. 10:25; Phil. 4:15-16; Acts 12:12
(d) that at an assembly of believers everything must be done in order and not in
confusion. I Cor. 14:33, 40; James 3:16-18
10. ORDINANCES
We believe that BAPTISM:
(a) is commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ Mark 16:15-16
(b) is to be preceded by a genuine conversion experience. Acts 2:38
(c) is an outward testimony of an inward spirit experience. Acts 8:12
(d) is a public identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, resurrection, and
new life. Rom. 6
(e) is a covenant with God and the people of God. Acts 2:41-42
(f) is to be administered in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Matt. 28:19
We believe that COMMUNION:
(a) is commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ. Matt. 26:26-29
(b) is a memorial feast in which we remember Christ’s bodily sufferings and His
shed blood given as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Is. 53:5; I Cor. 11:23-26
(c) may be observed by all who have made a commitment to Jesus Christ as
personal Saviour and Lord.
(d) should be preceded by an honest self-examination, lest one participate
unworthy. I Cor. 11:27-28
11. DISCIPLESHIP
We believe discipleship is an essential ingredient for the growth of the Church of
Jesus Christ. Christians are to be “disciples” of Christ which includes:
(a) Following the example of Christ in all aspects of life including that of ones
personal, vocational, social life, etc.
I Peter 2:21; Eph. 5:1-2; Luke 9:23; Rom. 12:1,2
(b) Growing in maturity and Christlikeness through personal devotions and study
and the edification ministry of local church which involves teaching, worship and
fellowship. II Peter 3:18; I Peter 1:2-11; Eph. 4:11-16; I John 3:17-18
(c) Sharing the truth of the Gospel with the unsaved through the process of
evangelism making disciples who in turn will follow Christ, grow in faith and
share their new life with others. Matt. 29:19; Acts 2:41-47; II Tim. 2:2
12. THE FUTURE STATE
We believe:
(a) in the rapture of the saints. I Thess. 4:16-17; John 14:3
(b) in the physical resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust.
I Thess. 4:13-18; John 11:25-26; I Cor. 15:53; John 5:29; Acts 24:15
(c) in heaven, the eternal bliss of the righteous and in a literal hell, the eternal
punishment of the unrighteous.
Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:11-15, 21:8, 21:22; I Cor. 15:23-24
(d) in the judgment of nations. Matt. 25:31-46; II Thess. 1:7-10
(e) in the establishment of a Kingdom where Christ will rule.
Acts 1:6-7; Rev. 11:15; Isaiah 2:1-4; Dan. 2:44
13. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
We believe:
(a) that marriage is instituted by God and should be viewed as a sacred bond,
a permanent covenant relationship between one man and one woman. Matt. 19:4-6
In the New Testament teachings, a marriage relationship may be broken as a
result of infidelity or desertion by an unbelieving partner.
Matt. 19:7-9; I Cor. 7:10-16
Remarriage while the partner is still alive is an act of adultery. Mark 10:11-12;
Matt. 5:32 The church needs to deal redemptively towards those who have
fallen into the sin of breaking the marriage covenant. Gal. 6:1-2
(b) that those who marry should share a common Christian faith; it is unscriptural for a
believer to unite with an unbeliever in the bond of marriage.
II Cor. 6:14; Duet. 7:2-4; Neh. 13:25-27
(c) that marriage should be solemnized by an ordained minister of the Gospel or
such person as may be sanctioned by the E.M.M.C.
(d) God’s ideal for the make-up of a family is two people of the opposite sex that are
married to each other, living together and providing mutual support and
encouragement for their children. Matt. 19:4-6; Duet. 6:5-7; Prov. 22:6
(e) We recognize the fetus as human life from the time of conception. We believe
that abortion is sin and violates the Biblical sanctity and value of human life.
Gen. 1:26-27; Ps. 139:13-15; Luke 1:41-44; Job 33:4; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 49:1;
Jeremiah 1:5
14. DIVINE HEALING
We believe in the Divine Healing of the body and mind, as the Lord wills. However, if
Divine bodily healing does not take place, it does not put our salvation in doubt.
Eph. 2:8-9; I Peter 2:24; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:21; I Peter 2:24; I Peter 3:18;
Rom. 12:2; I Cor. 12:7-10 Believers may call on the elders of the church to pray for
physical healing and spiritual restoration. James 5:13-16
15. NON-RESISTANCE AND THE STATE
We believe:
(a) Christians must exemplify Christ and His teachings in all our relationships,
including those with civil governments
(b) in the Biblical teaching of non-resistance. Matt. 5:38-47; 7:12; Acts 5:29
(c) that Christians should live by the law of love and practice the forgiveness of
enemies as exemplified by the Lord Jesus. Matt. 5:17-28, 38-47; Isaiah 53:7
(d) that Christ, the Prince of Peace, is the answer to human need, enmity and
violence Isaiah 9:6; Matt. 5:8-45
(e) that the Christian seeks to practice Christ’s law of love in all relationships,
and in all situations, including those involving social upheaval and international
tensions. Ex. 20:1-10; Matt. 5:38-47; Isaiah 53:7
(f) that it is not God’s will that Christians take up arms in the military service but that,
where possible, they perform alternate service to reduce strife, alleviate suffering
and bear witness to the love of Christ. Rom.12:19-21, 13:8-10; I Peter 2:19-22
(g) In the affirmation of the truth in place of swearing of oaths.
Matt. 5:34-37; James 5:12
(h) that the state is instituted by God to maintain law and order. Christians should
respect and pray for those in authority, exercise social responsibility, witness
against corruption, discrimination and injustice, pay taxes and obey all laws
that do not conflict with the Word of God.
Acts 4:19; Matt. 22:17-21; Rom. 13:1-7; I Tim. 2:1-3; I Peter 2:13-14
