The Bible is God’s word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”(2 Timothy 3:16) John 20:31; Revelation 22:18; Luke 1:1; 1 John 1:1; Matthew 12:40
God is bigger, better &closer than we can imagine.
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
“Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, You are God.” (Psalm 90:2) Genesis 1:1,26,27; 2:7; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalms 19:1-3; 90:2; Isaiah 43:3; Matthew 6:9; 23:9; Mark 1:9-11; John 16:6-13; Romans 8:14-15; Ephesians 4:6; 1 John 5:7
Jesus is God showing Himself to us.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the father. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men 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 to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.
“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15) Genesis 3:15; Psalms 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; 28:1-6; John 1:1-18 and 14:7-11; Romans 8:1-3;1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 4:7-10; Colossians 1:13-22; 1 John 1:7-9; Revelation 12:10-11, 19:6
Through the Holy Spirit, God lives in us and through us now.
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as 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. The Christian should seek to live under His control daily.
“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians 5:25) Genesis 1:2; Psalms 139:7; Isaiah 61:1-3; Matthew 12:28-32; Luke 1:35; 12:12; John 14:16-17; 16:7-14; Acts 2:1-4; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 12; 2 Corinthians 3:17; ; Galatians 5:22-25; and Ephesians 1:13-14
Every human shares a common problem.
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. As a result of Adam’s personal disobedience to God, we are all sinful in both nature and practice. This sinfulness separates man from God and subjects us to His judgment. Within ourselves, we have no possible means of salvation. Genesis 1:26-30; Romans 1:19-32, 3:10-18 and 3:23; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; Ephesians 2:1-22; and Colossians 1:21-22 and 3:9-11
Only by God’s grace through faith can we solve our problem through a relationship with God.
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty, and enter into a personal relationship with God. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—“ (John 1:12) John 14:6; Romans 3:23-24, 5:1-21, 6:15-16, 6:23, 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5
Heaven and Hell are real places. Death is a beginning not the end.
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. Matthew 25:31-46; John 3:16; 14:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15
Jesus is Coming Again.
The Second Coming of Christ will be a literal, physical and visible return, for which we must be ever watchful. No one knows the actual date and time of His return other than it is always imminent. Upon His return, those who are dead but who accepted Christ when they were alive, will be resurrected, i.e., they will be literally raised from the graves. Those who are still living and believe in Christ will be "translated," i.e., they will be literally removed from the Earth. Those left behind on Earth will be the unbelievers who will be judged by Christ. Afterwards, Christ will descend with His Church to establish His kingdom over all the nations for a thousand years. Daniel 12:1-3; John 14:1-3; Romans 4:21-25 and 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and 14-17; and Revelation
Good Works Are The Result of Salvation
Living a moral life, praying, going to church, giving to the poor and other good deeds is honorable and to be respected. But, according to God, it will not guarantee eternal life because we are still, by nature, imperfect. A person must first accept God's gift of salvation, i.e., belief in Christ's sacrificial death on the cross as payment for one's sins. The result of salvation, however, is that the sinner becomes a "new creation." This new creation is a life lived in obedience to God's Word which is evidenced not only by good deeds, but an effort to tell others about God's gift of salvation.Ephesians 2:8-10; and James 2:26
Satan Exists And Is A Literal Being
God created Satan, but like Adam, Satan rebelled against God through prideful disobedience. Becoming depraved in character, Satan is the great adversary of God and His people, the leader of all other evil angels and spirits, the ultimate deceiver and the "god" of this present world. Satan's powers are vast, but strictly limited by the permissive will of God. Satan was essentially defeated and judged at the moment Christ died on the cross to pay for our sin, so his final doom is certain. In the meantime, we can only resist and overcome Satan through the power of the Holy Spirit, which we can only receive after we have accepted God's gift (i.e., the forgiveness of our sins as a result of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross). Isaiah 14:12-14; Job 1:17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6; and Revelation 2:20
All Believers Are In A "Priesthood"
Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every born-again person has direct access to God without the need of a human priest. The believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Bible guided by the Holy Spirit.Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:1, 7:11-28, 8:1-5, 9:7-28, 10:1-25 and 13:9-14; and 1 Peter 2:1-10
The Lordship Of Jesus Christ
Christ alone is the Head of all true believers who, together, form the vast membership of Christians known as the "Body of Christ." All members of this one spiritual body should assemble and identify themselves in local churches. Colossians 1:13-22; Hebrews 7:14-18; and Revelation 12:10-11 and 19:6
The Local Church Is Of Utmost Importance
The church is a local assembly of born again baptized believers united in organization to practice New Testament ordinances, to meet together for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, and a united testimony. Through the local church, believers are to actively engage in carrying out the "Great Commission," i.e., spreading the "Good News" about God's gift of salvation. Matthew 16:15-19; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; Ephesians 1:22-23 and 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 3:1-15; and 1 Peter 5:1-4
The Local Church Should Be Independent
Each New Testament church is free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference and should cooperate with other New Testament churches as the Holy Spirit leads. We have a responsibility to follow the pattern of the New Testament church and to be directly accountable to God.
Baptism and "Communion" Must Be Observed
The local church is responsible for administering Baptism and "Communion" (i.e., The Lord's Supper). Believers are baptized by total immersion in the water. Baptism is not a method by which one can get to Heaven. It is simply an act of obedience to God that symbolizes Christ's death (standing in the water), burial (total immersion in the water), and resurrection (being raised from the water). In obedience to God, believers must also participate in the bread and cup of the Lord's Supper -- again, not as a way to get to Heaven but as as memorial of the broken body and shed blood of Christ.Matthew 3:13-17, 26:26-30 and 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; and 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-29
Come