WHAT WE BELIEVE
I. Biblical Authority
II. The Godhead
III. Human Life
IV. The Person & Works of Jesus Christ
V. The Person & Works of the Holy Spirit
VI. The Biblical Doctrine of Salvation
VII. The People of God — The Church
VIII. The End Times
This document is intended to explain these doctrines in the pages to follow. It is not intended to exhaust all that could be said under these doctrinal headings.
BIBLICAL CONTEXT
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is inspired of God....”
Background Reading:
Psalm 119:1-16
Psalm 19:7
Isaiah 55:10-11
Matthew 5:18
John 17:17
Romans 15:4
2 Peter 1:19-21
Revelation 22:19
STATEMENT
We believe the historic Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to be God’s truth revealed to humanity; these Divinely inspired words comprise God’s unchangeable and everlasting authority in all matters of Christian faith and morality.
THEOLOGICAL DEFINITION
The “historic Bible” means the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. These 66 books were not chosen by the Early Church, but recognized as from God and henceforth have ultimate authority in the Church. Revealed means that even though God has made the knowledge of Himself clear in every corner of Creation, humanity cannot know God intimately unless He reveals Himself and His plan. Without a revelation this knowledge would be beyond any human’s grasp.
BIBLICAL CONTEXT
Genesis 1:1
Genesis 1:26
Matthew 28:19-20
Matthew 6:9
John 20:28
Acts 5:3-4
STATEMENT
We believe in one God, Creator of all; eternally existing in Three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
THEOLOGICAL DEFINITION
Because the three persons of the Trinity are all referred to as God in the New Testament, and have the same corresponding under- standing in the Old Testament, the Early Church accepted the paradox of one God in three persons.
BIBLICAL CONTEXT
Genesis 2:6-7
Genesis 2:18-25
Genesis 3:1-24
Romans 3:23
Romans 5:12
Ephesians 2:8-9
STATEMENT
We believe God created human life, male and female, in His image. By deliberate choice humanity disobeyed God and fell into sin. By the grace of God redemption is possible through faith in Jesus Christ.
THEOLOGICAL DEFINITION
Sin means three things in Scripture:
(1) It is a trespass on God’s
authority and position;
(2) It is a violation of the Law; and
(3) It is missing the mark of holy perfection that God created the human race to enjoy. Grace is the unmerited favor given to a sinner who cannot do anything to save himself/herself, or other- wise return to the holy perfection that God created the human race to enjoy. Redemption is the fact that God paid the price to restore the human race ... from its slavery to sin ... to its rightful place of freedom in Him- self. The price paid was the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary
BIBLICAL CONTEXT
Matthew 1:18-25
John 1
Philippians 2:5-11
John 19 & 10
Acts 1:1-11
Hebrews 9 & 10
Isaiah 53
Leviticus 17:11
STATEMENT
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the Cross a blood sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. He rose bodily from the dead, ascended into Heaven, where at the right hand of God He is now our High Priest and Advocate.
THEOLOGICAL DEFINITION
Jesus is the New Testament version of the Old Testament Joshua, meaning “He who saves.” Christ means “anointed One” (O.T. Messiah) referring to God’s Chosen One who would establish His Kingdom. Blood sacrifice means that in God’s Kingdom only blood can reconcile a man’s soul to God providing the basis for forgiveness and cleansing.
BIBLICAL CONTEXT
Matthew 16:17-18
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Ephesians 4:1-16
1 Timothy 3
STATEMENT
The Church is the living manifestation of Jesus Christ in the world. She is comprised solely of those who through faith in Christ’s death on the Cross for our sins and His resurrection from the dead are born again and reconciled with God. Jesus calls His Church together to bear witness of Himself and to make disciples who follow Him, learning of Him and loving as He loved.
THEOLOGICAL DEFINITION
Church means simply those who are called together by Christ. There is a true Church that Jesus calls “My Church.” And there is a false church that is evident by its rejection of Biblical, Apostolic authority.
The word “disciple” means a student who submits to the authority of the Master, and obeys His teaching by practicing in daily life what the Lord Jesus imparts.
BIBLICAL CONTEXT
John 3
Romans 3:23
Romans 5:12
Romans 6:23
Romans 8:1 & 2
Romans 10:9-10
Ephesians 2:8-9
STATEMENT
We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for salvation for those who believe, and only such as receive Jesus Christ are born again and thus become children of God.
THEOLOGICAL DEFINITION
Salvation means to be rescued from the consequences of sin, which is death and all its attending evil, to walk in fellowship with Almighty God. Born again is Christ’s own term for those made alive by the Spirit.
BIBLICAL CONTEXT
Matthew 16:17-18
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Ephesians 4:1-16
1 Timothy 3
STATEMENT
The Church is the living manifestation of Jesus Christ in the world. She is comprised solely of those who through faith in Christ’s death on the Cross for our sins and His resurrection from the dead are born again and reconciled with God. Jesus calls His Church together to bear witness of Himself and to make disciples who follow Him, learning of Him and loving as He loved.
THEOLOGICAL DEFINITION
Church means simply those who are called together by Christ. There is a true Church that Jesus calls “My Church.” And there is a false church that is evident by its rejection of Biblical, Apostolic authority. The word “disciple” means a student who submits to the authority of the Master, and obeys His teaching by practicing in daily life what the Lord Jesus imparts.
BIBLICAL CONTEXT
Matthew 24:1
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
John 14:1-3
Revelation 19-22
STATEMENT
We believe that God will fulfill human history according to His plan. At the end, Christ will return; He will call His faithful to Himself and establish His rule over Creation forever; all the living and the dead will be raised to face God’s perfect justice. We believe that this blessed hope has a vital bearing on how the Christian lives.
THEOLOGICAL DEFINITION
End Times refers to a host of Biblical prophecies that affirm that God is in control of human history and destiny. To “call His Faithful to Himself” is the promise of the Rapture. “His rule over Creation forever,” includes His Kingdom on earth where He will provide a perfect government, and the consummation of physical reality when He will transform the heavens and the earth into a New Heaven and New Earth. Judgment will not be made on the basis of what each person felt was right or good, but on what God has made plain to the human heart and mind to be right and good through nature and by the revelation of His Word.