The Bible is God’s Word to all of mankind for all generations. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because the Bible is inspired by God, it is absolute truth in it’s original text and is without error. Its timeless truth is practical and completely relevant to our daily lives.
God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He exists as one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. From the Bible we learn of His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles that He performed, His substitutionary work on the cross, His bodily resurrection from the dead, and His exaltation to the right hand of God.
Man was created good and upright, but Adam and Eve voluntarily gave into sin in the Garden of Eden and thereby incurred both spiritual and physical death as a result. This spiritual death caused separation from God. Jesus came to this earth, as a sinless sacrifice, to restore all of mankind to God. This would happen through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. This is man’s only hope of being redeemed. The outward evidence is a life of righteousness and true holiness.
The Holy Spirit’s presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be pursued but must be exercised in an orderly way in the context of God’s mission to reach people.
Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God, a person goes to a place called Hell. To be eternally in union with Him, a person goes to heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places that people will spend eternity.
Man is made in the image of God and is the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have relationship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it on God’s terms. 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.
Water baptism by immersion is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is commanded in the Scriptures for people who have repented and believed on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Once we have given our life to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, baptism is a way for us to publicly declare our new life in Christ and identify with His Church. It is a first step of obedience based on God’s commands and allows us to follow the example of Jesus, who submitted himself to baptism.
Communion, or The Lord’s Supper, consists of the elements of bread and fruit of the vine. It is done periodically as a symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are commanded to do this in remembrance of what He has done for us.
The local church is God’s hope for the world. It’s through our love for one another and our diligence to fulfill His mission that we bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to our community and the world. The local church needs to model a loving community of devoted Christ followers.
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for us in what Jesus did on the cross, and is for all believers.