I felt it was time to share what I believe in regards to Christianity, because as the owner of Interviews & Reviews my beliefs will dictate what kinds of books I will promote and/or review on this website. If you disagree with my beliefs that is okay. You don't have to promote your books here, nor do you have to review them. I do not and will not take down books (as someone requested of me once) because your beliefs are different than mine. We all have differing beliefs, but my beliefs are Bible based and I am cautious of promoting false doctrine. So as long as you can accept Biblical Christianity and your books do not stray from that, then you are welcome to promote them here. I will not knowingly promote false doctrine, therefore you will never see books by Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer or Kenneth Copeland (for example) being promoted on this website. If I feel that a book submitted for review has questionable material within it, I will personally read it first to determine if it is something I would promote here. The following are my basic beliefs:
I believe in Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and Saviour. I believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe they make up the Godhead and are not three separate entities but one person, based on Deuteronomy 6:4 and Mark 12:29. Therefore, I believe in the Holy Trinity.
I believe that God came to earth in the form of a baby, born to a virgin named Mary. This baby was named Jesus or Emmanuel (God with us). I believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Saviour sent to redeem mankind. I believe God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son so that all who believe in Him would not perish but have enternal life. (John 3:16). I believe that Jesus was crucified, died, was buried and rose again on the third day.
I believe that I am a sinner saved by grace. That Jesus died so that I might live forever with Him. I believe that my sins have been covered by His blood and I have been washed clean. I believe that Jesus died for everyone, but that it takes more than head knowledge of what He did for me to be saved. Only repentant sinners are in the proper condition to accept divine forgiveness. Without repentance there can be no forgiveness of sins. I cannot be good enough to get into heaven. No one can. If we could, there would have been no need for Jesus' death. No amount of good works will get me into heaven if I do not have a repentant heart. I believe therefore, that I must acknowledge what Jesus did for me, confess my sins to him and repent of them in order to receive the Holy Spirit, who is promised to all who believe in and follow Jesus. I believe that I do not have to make myself right with God first before I come to Him, because Romans 5:8 says that He died for me knowing I was a sinner. I come to Him, a sinner, looking for forgiveness and cleansing. I believe the Holy Spirit enters me at the time of my conversion to Jesus. It is with the Holy Spirit's guidance that I grow more and more to be like Jesus. I believe that I am still capable of sin even after acknowledging Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I am forgiven of my sins, but my sin nature still resides within me. And so I must choose to be obedient unto God and not abuse God's grace. I believe that Jesus is my Saviour, Lord and my friend.
I believe that baptism says to the world that I am turning my life over to Christ, following his example of baptism and announcing to the world that I will follow Him. I do not believe baptism will save me. It is purely symbolic of my devotion to God and a testimony to the world that I belong to Him. Only Jesus' shed blood can save me and only Jesus can forgive me of my sins. I believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit happened when I first believed and confessed Christ as my Lord and Saviour and I was sealed for redemption in Jesus by His Holy Spirit. I do not believe speaking in tongues is necessary to show you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit.
I believe that there is no other way to salvation because Jesus said, He was the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6).
I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible and in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe one day soon Jesus will return and that the "dead in Christ" will rise up to meet him in the air and those of us who are left will follow.