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WHAT WE BELIEVE
Holy Scriptures
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We believe the Bible is the inerrant, authoritative, verbal,
plenary, inspired, living word of God as represented in the original
manuscripts. [1,2,3,4,5,6] The Bible consists of 66 books written
by men through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. [2,3,5] God's
word is truth [7,8,9] 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] The truth in God's word is revealed
by the Holy Spirit, [5,10,11] not man's intellect. [12,13] Finally,
God's word is eternal. [14,15,16,17,18,] (Back to Top) |
[1] Matthew 5:18 [2] 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [3] 2 Peter 1:20-21 [4] Hebrews 4:12 [5] John 14:26 [6] Proverbs 30:5-6 [7] John 17:17 [8] 2 Timothy 2:15 [9] Isaiah 45:19 [10] John 16:12-13 [11] 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 [12] Luke 10:21 [13] Matthew 11:25-26 [14] Matthew 24:35 [15] Mark 13:31 [16] Luke 21:33 [17] Psalm 119:89 [18] Isaiah 40:8 [19] John 1:1 |
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God
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We believe that there is one living and true God,
[1,2,3] who is spirit in nature [4] existing eternally [5,6] in
three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit [7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15];
Creator of the universe, all creation [1] and Supreme Ruler thereof.
[16] (Back to Top) |
[1] Genesis 1:1-31 [2] Exodus 20:1-3 [3] Psalms 83:18 [4] John 4:24 [5] Psalms 90:2 [6] Revelation 22:13 [7] Matthew 28:19 [8] John 6:27 [9] Hebrews 1:8 [10] John 10:30 [11] John 15:26 [12] Ephesians 2:18 [13] Colossians 2:9 [14] Ephesians 4:6 [15] Acts 5:3-4 [16] Psalms 103:19 |
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God the Father
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| We believe that God the Father
is the first person of the Trinity [1] and is the Father of all men
by virtue of being their Creator. [2] He is Father of the nation of
Israel, [3] and the spiritual Father of all who believe in Christ.
[4] His prerogatives among the Godhead include authoring the plan
of God, [5] authoring the act of election, [6] sending the Son to
this world, [7,8] and disciplining His children. [9] We as believers
are to glorify Him both now and in eternity. [10,11] God the Father
will ultimately rule over all things after the Lord Jesus has abolished
all rule, authority, and power and delivered the Kingdom to the Father
at the close of the millennium. [12] (Back to Top) |
[1] Matthew 28:19 [2] Acts 17:29 [3] Exodus 4:22 [4] Galatians 3:26 [5] Psalms 33:10-11 [6] Ephesians 1:3-6 [7] John 5:37 [8] John 3:16-17 [9] Hebrews 12:7-11 [10] 1 Corinthians 6:20 [11] Psalms 86:12 [12] 1 Corinthians 15:24 |
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God the Son
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| We believe that Jesus Christ,
who is God's only begotten Son, [1] is the second Person of the Trinity.
[2] He is God [3,4,5,6] and is coequal, [3] cosubstantial, [6,7] and
coeternal [8] with the Father. He was virgin born, [9] God incarnate
who came to reveal God, [4,5] redeem men, [10] and rule over God's
kingdom. [8,11] He was crucified and died for our sins [12] and arose
from the dead bodily on the third day. [12,13,14] Our salvation is
made sure by His resurrection [12,13] and He is now ascended to the
right hand of the Father [15] where He is ministering as our Advocate
[16] and High Priest. [17] He will return to this planet to receive
His church, [14] which is His body, and will establish His kingdom
as its King. [11] He is the final Judge of all creation. [11,18,19,20]
(Back to Top) |
[1] John 3:16 [2] Matthew 28:19 [3] John 10:30 [4] Philippians 2:5-8 [5] John 1:1-3, 14 [6] Hebrews 1:3 [7] John 14:9 [8] Isaiah 9:6 [9] Matthew 1:20, 23, 25 [10] Galatians 4:4, 5 [11] Revelation 20:1-15 [12] Romans 4:25 [13] 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23 [14] 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 [15] Ephesians 1:20 [16] Hebrews 7:25 [17] Hebrews 9:24 [18] Matthew 25:32-46 [19] 2 Corinthians 5:10 [20] 2 Peter 3:10 |
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God the Holy Spirit
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| We believe that the Holy Spirit
is the third Person of the Trinity and is God. [1,2] He is coequal
and cosubstantial with the Father and with His Son. [1,3,4,5] We recognize
His sovereign activity in creation, [1] the incarnation, [6] the written
revelation, [7,8] and the work of salvation. [9] He was sent at Pentecost
to initiate the building of the body of Christ. [10,11] His divine
activity includes convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and
of judgment; [12] glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ, [13] and by His
continual filling, [14] transforming believers into Christ-likeness.
[15,16] He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ at the moment
of salvation; [17] indwelling, [8,18,19] sanctifying, [20,21] instructing,
[22,23] and empowering them for service; and sealing them unto the
day of redemption. [24,25] He administers spiritual gifts to the church,
[26] not to glorify Himself or the gifts, but to glorify Christ and
implement His work of redeeming the lost and building up believers
in the faith. (Back to Top) |
[1] Genesis 1:2 [2] Acts 5:3, 4 [3] Matthew 28:19 [4] Isaiah 6:9, 10 [5] Acts 28:25-27 [6] Matthew 1:18 [7] 2 Peter 1:20, 21 [8] John 14:16, 17, 26 [9] John 3:5-7 [10] Acts 1:8 [11] Acts 2:1-18 [12] John 16:7-11 [13] John 16:14 [14] Ephesians 5:18 [15] 2 Corinthians 3:18 [16] 2 Corinthians 3:6 [17] 1 Corinthians 12:13 [18] 1 Corinthians 6:19 [19] Romans 8:9 [20] 2 Thessalonians 2:13 [21] Romans 15:15-16 [22] John 16:13 [23] John 14:26 [24] Ephesians 1:13 [25] Ephesians 4:30 [26] 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 |
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Man
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| We believe that man was directly
and immediately created by God [1] in His image and likeness, [2]
with the intent that he should glorify God, [3,4,5] enjoy God's fellowship,
[6] and have dominion over the earth and all its creatures. [1,2]
Originally without sin, man did not have the knowledge of good and
evil. [1,7] However, through Adam's sin of disobedience, [7] man lost
his innocence, [8,9,10] incurred the penalty of physical and spiritual
death, [10,11,12] became children of wrath by nature, and became corrupt.
[8,9,13,14] Man is thus hopelessly lost apart from salvation, [12]
which is the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. [15] We believe
that apart from God's sovereign act of election, man will always choose
to reject God. [9,16] However, God's sovereign act of election does
not contradict nor negate the responsibility of man. [17] (Back to Top) |
[1] Genesis 2:7-25 [2] Genesis 1:26 [3] Matthew 5:16 [4] Psalm 86:12 [5] Philippians 2:10-11 [6] 1 John 1:3 [7] Genesis 3:6-24 [8] Romans 3:23 [9] Romans 3:9-18 [10] Romans 5:18 [11] Romans 6:23 [12] Ephesians 2:1-3 [13] Isaiah 64:6 [14] Jeremiah 17:9 [15] Romans 5:10-12 [16] John 12:37-49 [17] Romans 1:18-20 |
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Salvation and Election
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| We believe that salvation is
wholly of God by grace, [1,2] through the redemptive work of Jesus
Christ, by the merit of His shed blood, [3,4] not on the basis of
human merit, nor by works. [1,2,5] Salvation is a supernatural work
of the Holy Spirit [5] by which we receive eternal life and share
in the divine nature. [6] Repentance and faith in the substitutional
death of Christ are essential in it. [7,8,9] We believe that according
to God's sovereign act of election, every believer has been chosen
before the foundation of the world to receive salvation. [10,11,12,13,14]
God's choice is based entirely on the good pleasure of His will and
His mercy, not on any foreseen faith by us nor in any human quality
we may possess. [1,15,16,17] All whom the Father predestined and calls
to Himself will come in faith, receive eternal life, and be justified
and glorified. [10,18,19] On the basis of Christ's substitutionary
death, which provided propitiation for our sins, [20] God declares
us righteous (justified) in Christ, [5] having been reconciled to
God. [4,21] All the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power
and are secure in Christ forever. [22,23,24,25] The assurance of our
salvation is based solely upon the promise of God's word. [26] (Back to Top) |
[1] Ephesians 2:8-9 [2] 2 Timothy 1:9 [3] Ephesians 1:7 [4] Romans 5:9-10 [5] Titus 3:5-7 [6] 2 Peter 1:4 [7] Acts 2:38 [8] Mark 1:15 [9] John 3:3-18 [10] Ephesians 1:3-6 [11] 1 Peter 1:1-2 [12] Matthew 22:14 [13] Matthew 24:22, 24, 31 [14] 2 Thessalonians 2:13 [15] Romans 9:11-24 [16] Romans 11:5-6 [17] 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 [18] Romans 8:28-30 [19] Romans 11:29 [20] 1 John 2:2 [21] 2 Corinthians 5:19 [22] Ephesians 4:30 [23] Romans 8:31-39 [24] John 6:39 [25] John 10:27-30 [26] 1 John 5:12-13 |
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Sanctification
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| We believe that upon salvation, every believer
is regenerated, declared righteous (justified) and is declared sanctified
(set apart for sacred service) by the atoning work of the Lord Jesus
Christ. [1,2,3,4] However, a conflict exists between the new creation
in Christ and the sinful nature that continues throughout this earthly
life. [5,6] Sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit
works to purify believers [7,8] by bringing new life that leads to
good works [9] and by putting to death the lusts of the flesh. [10,11]
While sanctification is wholly a work of God, [12,13] the believer
has a responsibility to yield in reverence, obedience, and fear to
the Father's commandment to be holy. [14,15] Believers are to put
forth effort to work out their salvation [16,17,18] to the glory of
God [19] which is evidence of their salvation. [20,21] The process
of sanctification is completed when we are united with Christ at the
end of this earthly life. [22, 23] (Back to Top) |
[1] 2 Corinthians 5:17 [2] Romans 4:25 [3] Romans 5:18 [4] 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30 [5] Romans 7:21-25 [6] Galatians 5:16-18 [7] Ezekiel 36:26-27 [8] John 14:26 [9] 2 Corinthians 9:8 [10] Romans 8:2 [11] Romans 8:13 [12] 2 Thessalonians 2:13 [13] 1 Thessalonians 5:23 [14] 2 Corinthians 7:1 [15] 1 Peter 1:14-19 [16] Philippians 2:12-13 [17] Philippians 3:12-21 [18] James 2:14-26 [19] 1 Corinthians 10:31 [20] Matthew 7:16-20 [21] Hebrews 6:9-12 [22] 1 Thessalonians 4:17 [23] 1 Corinthians 13:10-12 |
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The Church
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| We believe that all who repent of their
sins and place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately baptized
by the Holy Spirit into one united body, [1,2,3] the Church, of which
Jesus Christ is the Head, [4,5] and which is His bride. [6,7,8] We
believe that the members of this one spiritual body are directed to
associate themselves together in local assemblies. [9,10] We believe
that the Head of the Church is Jesus Christ and those serving as leaders
in the Church over the assembly are elders (also called bishops and
pastors) who must fit the biblical qualifications of that office.
[11,12,13,14,15] Those who serve as deacons (who serve the physical
needs of the body) must also fit the qualifications of that office.
[16,17,18] We believe the purpose of the Church is to glorify God,
[19] and by the power of the Holy Spirit, build itself up in the faith,
by instruction in the Word, by prayer, [20] by fellowship, by keeping
the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, [9,21,22] and by
advancing and communicating the Gospel to the entire world. [23,24]
We believe that God has given gifted men to equip the saints to do
the work of the ministry. [25] God also has given each member of the
body of Christ spiritual gifts that are sovereignly bestowed. [22]
It is essential that every believer discover, develop, and employ
their gifts for the edification of the body and the accomplishment
of the work of Jesus Christ in the world. [26,27] (Back to Top) |
[1] Acts 2:38 [2] 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 [3] Ephesians 1:11-14 [4] Ephesians 1:22 [5] Ephesians 4:15 [6] Ephesians 5:23-32 [7] Revelation 3:12 [8] Revelation 21:2, 9, 10 [9] Acts 2:38-47 [10] Hebrews 10:25 [11] 1 Timothy 3:1-7 [12] Titus 1:5-9 [13] Acts 20:28 [14] 1 Peter 5:1-5 [15] Hebrews 13:7, 17 [16] 1 Timothy 3:8-13 [17] Philippians 1:1 [18] Acts 6:1-7 [19] Ephesians 3:10, 21 [20] Matthew 21:13 [21] Acts 2:1-21 [22] Romans 12:4-8 [23] Acts 1:8 [24] Matthew 28:19 [25] Ephesians 4:11-13 [26] 1 Peter 4:10, 11 [27] 1 Corinthians 12:4-12 |
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Baptism
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| We believe that Christian baptism is an
act of obedience following a person's salvation. [1,2,3,4] It is the
immersion of a believer in water that testifies of one's faith in
the crucified, buried and risen Savior, and union with Him in death
to sin, and resurrection to a new life. [5,6] It is also a sign of
fellowship and identification with the visible body of Christ. [1,7]
Baptism is not a saving act of grace nor is it necessary for salvation.
[8,9] The New Testament Biblical pattern is salvation, baptism, and
association with a local church body. [1,3,10,11] (Back to Top) |
[1] Acts 2:38-42 [2] Acts 8:30-39 [3] Acts 16:29-33 [4] Acts 10:44-48 [5] Romans 6:1-11 [6] Colossians 2:8-15 [7] Acts 19:1-7 [8] Luke 23:39-43 [9] Romans 3:23-26 [10] Acts 8:12 [11] Matthew 28:18-20 |
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The Lord's Supper
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| We believe that all believers are welcome
to share in the Lord's Supper. It is a time of commemoration, [1,2]
and proclamation of His death until He returns, [3] and should always
be preceded by solemn self-examination. [4] We also believe that the
elements of bread and wine are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ.
[5,6] The bread symbolizes His perfect life and the body in which
He actually bore our sins on the cross. [7] The wine represents His
blood which was shed for the remission of our sins, [8] and is also
a sign of the New Covenant of grace. [2] (Back to Top) |
[1] Matthew 26:26-29 [2] 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 [3] 1 Corinthians 11:26 [4] 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 [5] Luke 22:19-20 [6] Mark 14:22-24 [7] 1 Peter 2:24 [8] Matthew 26:28 |
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Angels
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| We believe that angels are created beings,
and therefore are not to be worshipped. [1,2,3,4] Although they are
a higher order of creation than man, [5,6] they are created to worship
and serve God [7,8,9] and to serve God's people. [10,11,12] We believe
that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. [13,14,15] He
incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator, involving
numerous angels in his fall, [13,14,16] and introducing sin into the
human race by his temptation of Eve. [17,18] We believe that Satan
is the open and declared enemy of God [13,14,19] and God's people,
[20,21] the prince of this world who was defeated through the death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, [22,23,24] and he shall be eternally
punished in the lake of fire. [25,26] (Back to Top) |
[1] Nehemiah 9:6 [2] Colossians 1:16 [3] Revelation 19:10 [4] Revelation 22:8-9 [5] Hebrews 2:6-7 [6] 2 Peter 2:11 [7] Luke 2:9-14 [8] Hebrews 1:6-7 [9] Revelation 5:11-14 [10] Daniel 6:22 [11] Luke 16:22 [12] Hebrews 1:14 [13] Isaiah 14:12-17 [14] Ezekiel 28:12-19 [15] 1 John 3:8 [16] 2 Peter 2:4 [17] Genesis 3:1-15 [18] John 8:44 [19] Matthew 4:1-11 [20] Ephesians 6:11-17 [21] 1 Peter 5:8 [22] Ephesians 2:2 [23] Romans 8:34-39 [24] Hebrews 2:14 [25] Matthew 25:41 [26] Revelation 20:10 |
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Death
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| We believe that physical death involves
no loss of our immaterial consciousness, [1,2,3] that the soul of
the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Jesus Christ,
[2,4] that there is a separation of soul and body, [1,3,5] and that
such separation will continue until the first resurrection, when our
soul will be united with our resurrected body to be glorified forever
with the Lord. [6,7,8,9] Until that time, the souls of the redeemed
in Christ remain in joyful fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
[2,4,10] We believe that the souls of the unsaved at death descend
immediately into Hell, [11] where they are kept under punishment and
torment until the second resurrection, [12,13] when the soul and a
resurrected body are united. [13,14] They shall appear at the Great
White Throne judgment and shall be cast into the lake of fire, cut
off from the presence of God forever. [12,15] (Back to Top) |
[1] Revelation 6:9-11 [2] Philippians 1:21-24 [3] 2 Corinthians 5:8 [4] Luke 23:43 [5] Matthew 10:28 [6] 1 Corinthians 15:5-54 [7] 1 Thessalonians 4:1-17 [8] 1 Corinthians 15:35-44 [9] 1 Corinthians 15:49 [10] Luke 16:22, 25 [11] Luke 16:19-26 [12] Revelation 20:10-15 [13] John 5:28-29 [14] Daniel 12:2 [15] 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 |
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The World to Come
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| We believe that the next great event in
the fulfillment of prophecy will be the false peace treaty (covenant)
between Israel and the antichrist. [1] This is the beginning of Daniel's
seventieth week (7 years), also known as the beginning of sorrows.
[2,3] The first 3½ years, also known as the beginning of sorrows,
will be characterized by world-wide wars, pestilence, famines, earthquakes,
and false-Christs, culminating in the defiling of the Jerusalem temple
by the antichrist. [1,3,4] During the remaining 3½ years, his
power will be greatly increased, and persecution of those who have
the seal of God will greatly intensify. [5,6] We believe the great
tribulation will be climaxed by the visible return of Christ in the
air, through the clouds, to receive to Himself all the dead in Christ
and all living believers at His coming. [7,8,9,10] All believers since
creation will receive their reward and their eternally glorified bodies,
being rescued from the wrath to come upon the world, which is the
first resurrection. [11,12,13,14] At that time, Christ with all His
hosts will visit judgment upon the unbelieving world, [15,16] defeat
and bind Satan, [17] restore Israel to her land, [18,19,20,21,22]
and establish His millennial kingdom on earth. [23] We believe that
at the close of the millennium, following the temporary release and
final defeat of Satan, [24] the unsaved will be judged at the Great
White Throne and cast into the lake of fire for eternity. [25] Satan,
death, and Hades will also be thrown into the lake of fire. [26] Then,
the present creation will be destroyed and a new heaven and a new
earth will come. At this time, all the saints will enter the New Jerusalem
and dwell there for eternity in the presence of God. [27] (Back to Top) |
[1] Daniel 9:27 [2] Daniel 9:20-27 [3] Matthew 24:3-8 [4] Matthew 24:15 [5] Daniel 12:7 [6] Matthew 24:15-22 [7] Matthew 24:29-31 [8] 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 [9] Matthew 26:64 [10] 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 [11] Matthew 16:27 [12] 1 Thessalonians 5:9 [13] Revelation 20:4-6 [14] Daniel 12:13 [15] Matthew 25:31-34 [16] Jude 14-15 [17] Revelation 20:2, 3 [18] Deuteronomy 30:1-10 [19] Isaiah 10:20-23 [20] Ezekiel 37:1-14 [21] Jeremiah 30:1-3 [22] Jeremiah 33:6-9 [23] Revelation 20:6 [24] Revelation 20:7-9 [25] Revelation 20:11-15 [26] Revelation 20:10, 14 [27] Revelation 21:1-27 |
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