WHAT WE BELIEVE
GOD
God as Trinity
God is the uncreated Creator and ruler of the universe. There is one God. God has eternally existed in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and each fully God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2
God’s Characteristics: God is Holy, All Knowing, All Powerful, Ever Present, Just, Loving, Eternal and Good. * Exodus 34:6,7; Psalm 25:8; 139; Isaiah 6:3 *This list is not complete. However all other attributes can be derived from this list.
THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s word to all people. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error in its original forms.
Psalm 12:6; 119:10; Proverbs 30:5; 2Timothy 1:13; 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21
HUMANS
Humans are made in the spiritual image of God, which is to have all of God’s characteristics in a limited form. Man is both physical and spiritual. We are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although we have tremendous potential for good, we are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. This attitude separates us from God.
Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; 59:1,2; Romans 3:23
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is the incarnation of the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God and thus the final prophet displaying God perfectly. He is the Jewish Messiah and lived a sinless human life. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross as our high priest. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Isaiah 9:6;Matthew 1:22,23; John 1:1-5,14,18; 14:10-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3,4; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; 1Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:14,15
SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God to us. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ into our life by faith. God will conform us into his image through the Holy Spirit until we are completed at our glorification.
John 1:12; 14:6; Romans 5:1; 6:23;8:28-30; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5
ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God that gives this security.
John 10:28,29; Ephesians4:30; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make us aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is right. He also transforms the Christian into the Image of Christ. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
John 14:16,17; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians5:25; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
ORDINANCES (BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER)
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.
ETERNITY
We were created to exist forever. We will be resurrected in the end to either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. The New Heaven/New Earth and hell are places of eternal existence.
Matthew 18:8; 25:44,46; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13;Revelation 20:4,15
