23. Summary of the Christian System of Facts

God alone is self-existent and eternal. Before the earth and time were created, He acted through His Word and His Spirit. God, the Word of God, and the Spirit of God, participants of one and the same nature, are the foundations of Nature, Providence, and Redemption. In Nature and Providence, it is God, the Word, and the Spirit. In Grace, it is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All creation, providence, and redemptive arrangements show us the cooperation of three divine participants, of one self-existent, independent, incommunicable nature. These are fundamental concepts of all the revelations and developments of the Divinity, and essential to all rational and sanctifying views of religion.

In the Law and in the Gospel, these sacred and mysterious relationships and personal manifestations of God are assumed as the basis of the whole process. "God created all things by Jesus Christ, and for him." "The Word was in the beginning with God," "before all things," and "by him all things consist." "God created man upright." Man sinned: all became mortal: our nature became susceptible to evil. In this respect, it is fallen and depraved. "There is none righteous — no, not one." God the Father has chosen people in Christ for salvation "through the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus;" and "promised," to such, "eternal life before the foundation of the world."

Therefore, in "the fullness of time" — "in due time, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman" — for "the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw his glory, the glory as of an only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." "He showed us the Father." He died as a sin offering — was buried, rose again on the third day — ascended to heaven — presented his offering in the true Holy Place — made atonement for our sins — "forever sat down at the right hand of the Supreme Majesty in the heavens" — sent down his Holy Spirit — inspired his Apostles, who "preached with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven" — convinced many Jews and Gentiles that he was made "the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him." He commanded faith, repentance, and baptism to be preached in his name for the forgiveness of sins to every nation and people under heaven.

All who "believe in him are justified from all things;" because this faith is living, active, effective, and perfected by "obeying from the heart that pattern of doctrine delivered to us." Therefore, such people repent of their sins and obey the gospel. They receive the Spirit of God and the promise of eternal life — walk in the Spirit, are sanctified to God, and made heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. They will be raised from the dead incorruptible, immortal, and will live forever with the Lord; while those "who do not know God, and do not obey the gospel of his Son, will perish with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power."