The Scriptures
We believe that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of
God." (2 Timothy
3:16) We understand this to mean that the whole Bible is inspired in
that
holy men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21)
to write the
very words of Scripture. We believe that this divine inspiration extends
equally and fully to all parts of Scripture as it appeared in the
original
manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible in the originals is
therefore
without error. We believe that all the Scriptures center about the Lord
Jesus Christ in His person and work, in His first and Second Coming, and
hence that no portion, even of the Old Testament, is properly read or
understood until it leads to Him. We also believe that all Scripture was
designed for our practical instruction.
(Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy
3:16)
The Triune Godhead
We believe in the one true and living God, the Creator, Redeemer,
Sustainer,
and Ruler of all things. He is infinite, eternal, unchangeable, and is
revealed to us as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God The Father: God, as Father, reigns over all of His universe with
providential care. He is all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing, and
all-wise. He is fatherly in attitude toward all men but is Father,
indeed,
to those who have become children of God through Jesus Christ, who will
deliver them into the Father's hands.
(Genesis 1:1; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 6:9; Acts 1:7;
Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 4:6)
God The Son: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of
God,
became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy
Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and
redeem
sinful man. This redemption He accomplished by voluntarily giving
Himself as
a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying
God's
righteous judgment against sin. After substantiating the accomplishment
of
that redemption and justification by His bodily resurrection from the
grave,
He ascended to the right hand of His Father, where He intercedes on
behalf
of those who trust Him.
(Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1, 2, 14, 18; Romans 3:24-26, 8:34)
God The Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine
Person
who convicts the world of sin (righteousness and judgment), that He
alone
brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He baptizes (or
places) all believers into the one true Church, which is the Body of
Christ;
that He indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of final
redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, fills (controls) those
who
are yielding to Him. Every believer is called to life so in the power of
the
indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but
will
bear fruit to the glory of God.
(John 3:3-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 13; Ephesians
4:30;
5:18)
Creation
We believe that man was created directly by and in the image of God. We
believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life,
by
direct act.
(Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17)
Man
Although man was created in the image of God, he fell into sin and is
lost.
This is true of all men, and except a man be born again by the Holy
Spirit,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
(Genesis 1:26-27; John 3:3; Romans 3:10, 23)
The Devil - Satan
We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin, and the reason of
the
fall of man, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal punishment in
the
lake of fire.
(Matthew 4:1-3; Acts 5:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10)
Atonement For Sin
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe on
Him
are redeemed by His shed blood. We believe in the resurrection of the
crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His ascension into
heaven; He
is our High Priest and Advocate.
(John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; 1 John 2:2)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is the gift of God's grace. It cannot be
gained or
made more secure by meritorious works, but is freely bestowed upon all
who
put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary. All who
so
trust the Savior are forgiven of their sins and born into the family of
God
by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
(John 1:12; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9)
The Christian Walk
We believe that we are called with a holy calling to walk not after the
flesh but after the Spirit, and so to live in the power of the
indwelling
Spirit that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But the flesh is
never eradicated in this life, and the individual chooses to keep the
flesh
in subjection to Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit or it
will surely manifest its presence in our lives to the dishonor of our
Lord.
(Romans 6:11-13; 8:2, 4, 12-13; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 4:22-24;
Colossians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 1:4-7; 3:5-9)
The Great Commission
Until the return of Christ, it is the Christian's duty and privilege to
seek
the fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission and to minister in His name
to
a needy world. We are to be instruments of Jesus Christ as the Holy
Spirit
ministers redemption and reconciliation in the world.
(Matthew 25:31-46; 28:18-20) |