1. What we believe about the Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to all men. 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.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” ~ 2 Peter 1:20-21
See also: 2 Timothy 1:13, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:160, Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 30:5
2. What we believe about God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
~ Genesis 1:1
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” ~ Genesis 1:26-27
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Matthew 28:19
See also: Psalm 90:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2
3. What we believe about Jesus Christ
A. The absolute deity of Jesus Christ.Jesus was not just a great moral leader, He was and is God in the flesh.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” ~ John 1:1,14
“If you really knew Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” ~ John 14:7
See also: John 8:58, John 19:7, Romans 9:5, Acts 20:28, Philippians 2:5-6
God is a trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Matthew 28:19
See also Luke 3:21-22; John 14:10; and 2 Corinthians 13:14.
B. The virgin birth of Christ.“Therefore the Lord Himself with give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.” ~ Isaiah 7:14
“’How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’” ~ Luke 1:34
C. The substitutionary death of Christ.“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
~ Isaiah 53:6
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”
~ 1 Corinthians 15:3
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” ~ 1 Peter 3:18
D. The bodily resurrection of Christ.“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
~ Luke 24:39
“For to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you.” ~ 2 Corinthians 13:4
E. The literal return of Christ.“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take You to be with me that you also may be where I am.” ~ John 14:3
“For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
“while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” ~ Titus 2:13
4. What we believe about the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their 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. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
“‘I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.’” ~ John 16:12-13
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” ~ 2 Corinthians 3:17
See also: Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 5:18
5. What we believe about man
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates man from God.
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet…” ~ Psalm 8:3-6
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
~ Romans 3:23
See also: Genesis 1:7, Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 59:1-2
6. What we believe about salvation
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” ~ John 14:6
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” ~ Ephesians 2:8-9
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” ~ Romans 5:1
See also: John 1:12, Galatians 3:26, Titus 3:5, Romans 6:23
7. What we believe about eternity
Man was created to exist forever. He will 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. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ~ John 3:16
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 6:23
See also: 1 John 2:25, 1 John 5:11-13, Revelation 20:15