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What We Believe
1.
GOD
There is
only one, true God, eternally existing in three distinct
personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These
three are one God, having the same nature, attributes, and
perfections, and are therefore worthy of the same worship and
obedience. God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the
universe.
(Genesis 1:1, 26-27;
Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 2:5; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1
Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 13:14)
2.
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus
Christ is the Son of God, meaning He is co-equal with the
Father. He is the expressed image of the invisible God and
Creator of all things. He became a man, being born of the Virgin
Mary, and lived a sinless life. Consequently, Jesus offered
Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by
dying on a cross. He rose bodily from the dead after three days,
demonstrating His victory over sin and death. He ascended to
heaven, is seated in authority, and will return again to earth
to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
(John
1:1-5,14, 5:18; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3, 4:14-15;
Philippians 2:5-11; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians
15:3-4; Acts 1:9-10)
3.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy
Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is Creator,
and is present in the world to convict people of their sin and
make them aware of their need for the Savior-Jesus Christ.
People are regenerated (born again) by the Holy Spirit, and He
lives in believers to manifest the character of Christ. He
provides believers with power for holy living, understanding of
spiritual truth, and guidance for life. He also gives Christians
spiritual gifts, so they might serve the church and the world in
a manner that surpasses their own natural abilities and
limitations. The victorious Christian life must be lived under
His daily control.
(Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4, John
14:16-17, 16:7-13; Acts 1:8, 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14,
12:3-11; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians
1:13, 5:18)
4.
PEOPLE
People
are created in the image of God, and are designed to reflect His
character. People are the supreme object of God's creation and
love. Through willful transgression and disobedience, people
have fallen from their originally created state of
righteousness, peace, and joy into a state of separation from
God. Being separated from the source of life, love, and joy has
resulted in bondage and death. People are unable to deliver
themselves from their sinful condition, but are totally
dependent upon the power of God as presented in the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
(Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm
8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; 5:12-21)
5.
SALVATION
Because
people are unable to save themselves from their sinful
condition, salvation is altogether the work of God. Neither good
works nor self-improvement can make up for our sin. Salvation is
the free gift of God. However, like any gift it must be
received. This gift is received by faith, or by believing and
trusting in Jesus Christ who died as our substitute that we
might live. Through repentance from sin and faith toward God, we
turn from our self-ruled life to trust in Jesus as Lord and
Savior.
(John 1:12; 14:6; Romans 5:6-21, 6:23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians
2:8-9; Titus 3:5)
6.
THE CHURCH
The
church is composed of all who have experienced, through faith in
Christ, the new birth into the family of God. All true believers
are then members of the universal church, the body of Christ.
Since the New Testament exhorts believers to gather for such
purposes as worship, prayer, fellowship, sharing the Lord's
Supper, teaching of the Word, ministry to fellow Christians, and
evangelism, the local church is an indispensable part of God's
plan for His people and the world. The local church is God's
chosen instrument for both the nurture of Christians and world
evangelism. We believe in the spiritual unity of all true
believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and in cooperating with one
another for the causes of evangelism, social action, and
missions.
(Matthew 16:16-18; Romans
12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:4-6, 9-16)
7.
ETERNAL DESTINY
God created
people to exist forever. We will either exist eternally
separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through
forgiveness and salvation. Eternal separation from God is Hell.
Eternal fellowship and union with God is eternal life. Heaven
and Hell are real places of eternal existence. (John
3:16; Matthew 25:31-46, 19:29; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation
20:11-15)
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