The Scriptures in Front of Us
That we would commit ourselves to God’s word—the Bible—understanding that it is primary and necessary in understanding the true nature and character of God as we seek to know him, and that we must submit to its authority as the clear and final arbiter on all issues. And it is the expectation that through our commitment to the Scriptures, we will grow in our reading, knowledge, and application of God’s word, trusting that through them we are being transformed into the image of Jesus.
The Spirit Inside Us
That we would commit ourselves to “live by the Spirit” and to “keep in step” with he who is making Christ known in our hearts and empowering us to crucify the flesh along with its passions and desires. At the same time, he is awakening our hearts to the things of God, giving us gifts and producing in us fruit that will help fulfill Christ’s kingdom purposes “on earth as it is in Heaven.” And it is the expectation that through our commitment to the Spirit, we will grow in our affections for Jesus and that love will spill over in Christian charity manifesting in voluntary and sacrificial giving (of our resources, time, energy, and skills), in genuine care for the body, and in evangelistic hope for the lost.
The Saints Around Us
That we would commit ourselves to our fellow brethren in Christ, understanding that God has created and designed us, as humans, to flourish together, and that because of our devotion and love for our brothers and sisters, the world will know we belong to Jesus. And it is the expectation that through our commitment to the Saints, we will grow in our desire to gather (one with another) and in our desire to serve (one for another), trusting that as these desires and our obedience are increasing, we will “grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
