Confession of Faith: Salvation

Mennonites believe through "the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God offers salvation from sin and a new way of life to all people."  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord, Master, and Savior, and we repent of our sin, we are saved by grace through faith.  God worked with grace and mercy through redeeming Israel through wonders and signs, giving Jesus Christ for the healing and forgiveness of our sins, dying on a cross to pave the way for salvation, rising from the dead to conquer sin and death for us, living to show us the way, saving through grace.  The Holy Spirit works in us through this process, to move us to accept salvation, to partner with us in repentance, to share grace and forgiveness in the midst of our sin.

In today's culture, there tends to be some polarized tendencies regarding salvation.  We are either saved by the blood of the cross (no more need be done than say, "I believe and accept Jesus as my Lord and savior!") or that we are saved through being "good people" using Jesus as a moral template for life, but denying the power of the cross and resurrection.

We declare instead that Jesus is indeed savior and Lord through the cross and resurrection, completing the work of conquering sin and death.  However, Jesus also taught a specific way to live, one that requires us to repent (or turn away from) our sins and live instead for God (if we declare Jesus Lord then obedience is implied...we are no longer our own, but Jesus'.  We may have a history as U.S. Americans with the concept, but following Jesus is not a democracy, but a monarchy with Jesus as King and Lord).  When we fail we receive mercy and grace; yet we strive for living like God.  We are transformed by the Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus through discipleship, a journey that is a process, not a moment; and so we rely on God's grace and forgiveness. 

It's the best sort of tension and paradox: salvation is being saved by grace through faith, and the fruits of salvation appear as we strive for the Kingdom of God and rely on Jesus' works forgiveness, mercy, and grace.   Salvation is the work of God, yet we work out our salvation with fear and trembling..."for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).

Want to learn more? Here is Article 8 of the Mennonite Confession of faith:   http://www.mennoniteusa.org/about/confession-of-faith-in-a-mennonite-perspective-1995/confession-of-faith-%E2%80%94-article-8/