(ABP) — The National Association of Evangelicals and Christian researcher George Barna offer two definitions of the term "evangelical."
The National Association of Evangelicals has a seven-point statement of faith. Members affirm they believe:
• The Bible is the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative word of God.
• There is one God, eternally existent in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• In the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in his virgin birth, in his sinless life, in his miracles, in his vicarious and atoning death through his shed blood, in his bodily resurrection, in his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in his personal return in power and glory.
• For the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
• In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost—they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
• In the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Source: www.nae.net
Christian researcher George Barna defines evangelicals according to nine questions.
By Barna’s criteria, an evangelical is someone who:
• Has made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in his or her life today.
• Believes he or she will go to heaven based on confession of sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior.
• Believes faith is very important in his or her life today.
• Believes he or she has a personal responsibility to share religious beliefs about Christ with non-Christians.
• Believes Satan exists.
• Believes eternal life is possible only through grace, not works.
• Believes Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
• Asserts the Bible is accurate in all it teaches.
• Describes God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect Deity who created the universe and still rules it today.
Source: www.barna.org
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