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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.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2
Corinthians 13:14.
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Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus
lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice
for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead
after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended
to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King
of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15;
1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15;
Titus 2:13. |
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The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of 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. He gives every believer a spiritual gift
when he or she is saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control
daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12,
3:16;
Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18. |
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The Bible is God’s Word to us. Human authors, under the supernatural
guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth
for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the
truth without any mixture of error for its matter and therefore it is
totally true and trustworthy.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160,
12:6;
Proverbs 30:5. |
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People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in
character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every
person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by a state
of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This state of disobedience called
sin separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2. |
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Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. 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 anyone be saved from sin’s
penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith
we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ
into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26;
Romans 5:1. |
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Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer
is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely
saved, you cannot “lose” that salvation. Salvation is maintained by the
grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the
grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.
John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5. |
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People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally
separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and
salvation. To be eternally separated from God is to face the wrath of God
in Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and
Hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1
Cor. 2:7-9. |
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The New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous (not
controlled by outside groups or a denomination) local congregation of
baptized believers; associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of
the gospel revealed in the Holy Scriptures; observing the two ordinances
of Christ; operating under the Lordship of Christ and deriving its
purposes from the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:15-19; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:22-23;
2:19-22; Colossians 1:15-20. |
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The two ordinances given to the church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
They are symbolic and have no saving power.
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 Christ as well as a public testimony of one’s faith in
Christ.
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of remembrance that is performed in
obedience to our Lord where believers partake of the bread and the juice
remembering the death of Christ and anticipating His second coming.
Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; Acts 2:41-42; Romans 6:3-5;
1 Corinthians 10: 16, 21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12. |
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