THE Charis COmmitment to a Common Identity

This is a globally approved document by the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches and The Charis Alliance
The Center
We declare that Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, as revealed in the Bible, the written Word of God, is the only Savior and Lord.
This reality, the Word of God both incarnate and written, forms the center of our shared experience of true biblical unity. Therefore, we identify with all who share this common center in Jesus Christ and the Bible.

The Evangelical Core
We, believers in The Lord Jesus Christ associating as the movement of Charis International, have historically shared our commitment to these core truths of the Bible with other genuine believers in Jesus.
We seek to understand the Bible according to its own intent, as it was written, therefore we acknowledge that this declaration does not claim to have any particular authority distinct from the Holy Scriptures, which remain the unique and ultimate reference.

We therefore declare our commitment to these core biblical truths:

1. The One True God—There is one, and only one, true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the Creator and Lord of all that is, existing eternally in three persons, never less and never more - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. The Lord Jesus Christ—Jesus Christ is God Himself, existing from eternity. Everything was created by Him and for Him. His incarnation took place in the womb of a virgin. He is fully human, and experienced humanity, but never sinned. He died a substitutionary death to atone for sin, resurrected bodily, and ascended into heaven where He is presently ministering until He will come again.
3. The Holy Spirit—The Holy Spirit is fully God and as such is personal. He was involved in Creation and the inspiration of Scripture. His works of convicting and regenerating are essential to the believers salvation. Believers are entitled to the benefit and joy of being filled and walking in the Spirit for empowerment in Christian life, service, and mission.
4. The Bible—The sixty-six books, and only these, known as the Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God. God’s inspiration and superintendence of the writing of every word of the Bible guarantees that what was written is His Word and therefore authoritative, true, and without error. God’s Word is powerful and effective to accomplish His purpose of salvation among all nations. God’s Spirit illumines the minds of believers in every culture to understand, apply, and disclose the unchanging truth of Scripture in fresh and relevant ways for the benefit of the whole Body of Christ.
5. Humanity—God created the universe and all that is, including man and woman in His Own image, therefore all people are bearers of that image. However, Adam’s subsequent sin resulted in a condition of spiritual death which all people since Adam have experienced, marring the beauty of God’s image in them in every facet of life. This condition of spiritual death has rendered all people unable to save themselves, therefore the new birth is a necessity for salvation.
6. Salvation—The salvation brought by God is a complete and eternal salvation by His grace alone, received as the free gift of God through personal faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work.
7. Church—There exists one true church, which is called the Household of God, the Body of Christ, and the Temple of the Holy Spirit. It is comprised of all true disciples of Jesus Christ, and is created by the action of the Holy Spirit. Tangible expressions of this true Church are found in local churches.
8. Christian Life—While the believer is justified by faith alone, the faith that justifies is expected to result in the evidence of obedience and good works which are the products of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The dimensions of biblical ethics are both individual and social, and extend to every facet of life. God faithfully continues to finish the work of sanctification which He has begun in the life of each believer with the goal of Christ-likeness.
9. Angels, Satan, Demons—God created a multitude of spiritual beings called “angels”. Righteous angels continue to serve God and work both in the heavenly sphere and on earth. By his disobedience, Satan, a fallen angel, became the adversary of God and God’s people, carrying with him a procession of demons. Jesus Christ has overcome Satan so that the final judgment and doom of Satan and demons is certain.
10. Future Life—The dead will have a conscious existence in eternity and their bodies will be resurrected. Unbelievers, already under condemnation, will be sentenced and suffer eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. Believers, already having been granted eternal life, will be judged and rewarded according to their works, and experience glorified bliss forever in the presence of the Lord.

For more information about the Charis Commitment, click on this link.