One challenge facing the Christian communities all over the world is that of maintaining unity (which is clearly Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21-24) in the midst of various Christian doctrines and biblical interpretations. There is a well-known quote: “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity”. The challenge is how we define the essentials of the Gospel and the non-essentials of the Christian faith and biblical doctrines. In the real world of today, true Christians might even disagree on what are the essentials. Yet as per Jesus’ prayer, we are called and commanded to be united.
The Christian English School of Torino has developed a proposed “Statement of Faith”. This statement of faith includes the essential elements of the faith in the context of our current world and culture. Some items (such as statements on marriage and sexuality) may not be essential to the Gospel, but are deemed to be very important for a biblically-oriented Christian school in today’s culture, and are, therefore, included in our Statement of Faith.
The CES-to’s “Statement of Faith” defines the core biblical doctrines and standards of the school. CES-to is by choice a non-denominational school with desires to attract families from many different Christian churches, enrolling students and hiring faculty and staff of varied Christian denominations. We affirm that the responsibility for instructing students in denominational differences which are outside the Statement of Faith, resides primarily with their parents, and secondarily with their local church.
Statement of Faith
The Bible
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God. Since we believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, the Bible is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21).
God
We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30).
Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 10:33); His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35); His sinless life (Hebrews 4:15, 7:26); His miracles (John 2:11); His vicarious and atoning death (I Corinthians 15:3; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:9); His resurrection (John 11:25; I Corinthians 15:4); His ascension to the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19; Ephesians 1:20); and His personal return in power and glory (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-13).
Human Condition
We believe in the absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and that men are justified on the single ground of personal faith in Jesus Christ based on His all-sufficient sacrificial death for our sins. It is only by God’s grace through faith alone that we are saved (John 3:16-19, 5:24; Romans 3:23, 5:8, 9; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5).
Life after Death
We believe 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 (John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 3:11-15; Revelation 20:11-15).
The Unity of Believers
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12, 13; Galatians 3:26-28).
Sanctity of Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are, therefore, called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalms 139:13-16).
Human Sexuality and Marriage
We believe that God has uniquely created us male and female, and we affirm that God’s plan and benevolent intentions for human sexuality are found within the context of marriage between one man and one woman. We affirm the goodness of sexuality in the context of marriage, the importance of purity, fidelity, and the sacredness of marriage (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-5; Mark 10:6-9).
Christian Living
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling, the Christian is enabled to live a godly life (Romans 8:13-14; I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18).