CIG VIENNA
WHAT WE BELIEVE IN
Our Statement of Faith
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”
St. Augustine
“… in humility, show tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. For there is one body and one Spirit…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all…”
Ephesians 4:2-6
“Who are you to judge the servant of another?… Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind… The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God.”
Romans 14:4,5,22
“If I have the gift of prophesy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2
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THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible is God’s Word for everyone. It was written by people who were under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, and is the source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. It has the power and ability to transform our thinking and our lives.
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GOD
We believe in one God – Creator and Ruler of the universe. He exists eternally as three persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
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JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and therefore fully God and fully man. Jesus lived a sinless life, yet experienced the full range of being human. According to God´s eternal purpose, Jesus was crucified on a cross, died in our place for our sins, so that we might be reconciled to God. After three days Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. He then ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father.
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HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, equal in essence with God the Father and God the Son. After Jesus ascended to His Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin and its need for forgiveness. Once a person places their trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, Jesus gives them the gift of Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then resides within the believer to lead, teach, illuminate, convict, comfort, heal, and empower them to live a life pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit also works through believers, giving each of us one or more spiritual gifts for the purpose of serving others.
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HUMANITY
We believe that God created both men and women in His own image, i.e. we are very much like Him. Out of love God created us to be His family. Although humanity has a tremendous potential for good, we are all marred by a downward propensity to live selfishly and independently of God. This innate propensity is the result of the fall of man, and is the reason God provides salvation through Jesus Christ. As true Christians, the Holy Spirit reveals to our hearts that we truly are God´s children.
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SALVATION
We believe salvation is God´s free gift of eternal life, received through a personal, living faith in Jesus Christ, who was crucified on our behalf as payment for our sins. Eternal life therefore, cannot be bought or merited through any amount of religious efforts or good works. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Good works that please God are works that result from Salvation, rather than works which attempt to acquire Salvation.
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THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is the community of Christians, supernaturally connected by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The church is Christ´s body, called to be His eyes and ears, His hands and feet to one another, as well as to a lost and hurting world. The church is also referred to as the Bride of Christ.
Church Ordinances
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BAPTISM
We believe that baptism is an outward symbol (and public declaration) of the inward reality that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.
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THE LORD’S SUPPER
We believe that the Lord´s Supper was given to us by Jesus as a continual reminder and commemoration of His physical death and shed blood upon the cross for us. The partaking of the bread and wine are to be celebrated by all believers in an attitude of humility, self-examination and thankfulness until the Lord returns.
About Church Ordinances
We believe church ordinances include baptism and the Lord’s Supper, neither of which is required for salvation.