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Our Beliefs
Holy Bible:
The Holy Bible is the authoritative Word of God. The Holy Scriptures
alone are the final authority for determining all doctrinal truths. In
its original writing, the Bible is inspired, infallible and inerrant
(see Prov. 30:5; Rom. 16:25,26; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20,21).
Trinity: There is one God, eternally existent in three
persons: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal
and co-eternal (see Gen. 1:26; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:19; Luke
1:35; Heb. 3:7-11; 1 John 5:7).
Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second
person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100 percent God and 100
percent man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He
was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on
the cross for humankind and, thus, atoned for our sins through the
shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according
to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will
return again in power and glory (see Isa. 9:6; John 1:1,14; 20:28; Phil.
2:5,6; 1 Tim. 2:5; 3:16).
Virgin Birth: Jesus Christ was conceived by God the
Father, through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the
virgin Mary's womb; therefore, He is the Son of God (see Isa. 7:14;
Matt. 1:18,23-25; Luke 1:27-35).
Redemption: Humanity was created good and upright, but
by voluntary transgression, it fell. Humanity's only hope for redemption
is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (see Gen. 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Rom.
5:12-21).
Regeneration: For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is
absolutely essential (see John 6:44,65).
Salvation: We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus
Christ: His death, burial and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from
God, not a result of our good works or of any human effort (see Rom.
10:9,10; Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:16; 3:8; Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Heb. 9:22).
Repentance: Repentance is the commitment to turn away
from sin in every area of our lives and to follow Christ, which allows
us to receive His redemption and to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness of sins and appropriate
salvation (see Acts 2:21; 3:19; 1 John 1:9).
Sanctification: Sanctification is the ongoing process
of yielding to God's Word and His Spirit in order to complete the
development of Christ's character in us. It is through the present
ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is
enabled to live a godly life (see Rom. 8:29; 12:1,2; 2 Cor. 3:18;
6:14-18; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:1-3; Heb. 2:11).
Jesus' Blood: The blood that Jesus Christ shed on the
cross of Calvary was sinless and is 100 percent sufficient to cleanse
humankind from all sin. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both
our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free
from the penalty of sin, which is death (see John 1:29; Rom. 3:10-12,23;
5:9; Col. 1:20; 1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 5:9).
Jesus Christ Indwells All Believers: Christians are
people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live inside
them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives
over to Him, thus making Jesus the Lord of their lives as well as
Savior. They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He
died, was buried and rose again from the dead (see John 1:12; 14:17,23;
15:4; Rom. 8:11; Rev. 3:20).
The Holy Spirit:
At the moment of
regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He
cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the
spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church.
He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, Comforter and Guide.
He was sent by Jesus
after His Ascension to empower the Church to preach the gospel
throughout the whole earth (see Joel 2:28,29; Matt. 3:11; Mark 16:17;
Acts 1:5; 2:1-4,17,38,39; 8:14-17; 10:38,44-47; 11:15-17; 19:1-6).
The Church: The Church is the Body of Christ, the
habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the
fulfillment of Jesus' Great Commission. Every person born of the Spirit
is an integral part of the Church as a member of the Body of believers.
There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ
(see John 17:11,20-23; Eph. 1:22; 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23).
Two Sacraments:
Water Baptism: Following faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized
in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit (see Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38).
The Lord's Supper: A unique time of communion in the
presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the body and
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus'
sacrifice on the cross. (See Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 16:16; Acts
8:12,36-38; 10:47,48; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-26).
The Lord’s Commandments:
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two superlative
commandments to the body of believers:
1. To love God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength.
2. To love their neighbor as they love themselves.
Healing of the Sick: Healing of the sick is illustrated
in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of
Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign that is to follow
believers. It is also a part of Jesus' work on the cross and one of the
gifts of the Spirit (see Ps. 103:2,3; Isa. 53:5; Matt. 8:16,17; Mark
16:17,18; Acts 8:6,7; Rom. 11:29; 1 Cor. 12:9,28; Jas. 5:14-16).
Resurrection: Jesus Christ was physically resurrected
from the dead in his body, glorified, three days after His death on the
cross. As a result, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected-they
that are saved to the resurrection of life, and they that are lost to
the resurrection of eternal condemnation (see Luke 24:16,36,39; John
2:19-21; 20:26-28; 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:42,44; Phil. 1:21-23;
3:21).
Heaven: Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all
believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Matt. 5:3,12,20; 6:20;
19:21; 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:16; 1 Pet. 1:4).
Hell: After living one life on earth, the unbelievers
will be judged by God and sent to hell where they will be eternally
condemned with the devil and the fallen angels (see Matt. 25:41; Mark
9:43-48; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:12-15; 21:8).
Second Coming: Jesus Christ will physically and visibly
return to earth for the second time to establish His kingdom. This will
occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures (see Matt. 24:30;
26:63,64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17; 2 Thess. 1:7,8; Rev. 1:7).
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