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| Foundational Beliefs |
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There is only one eternal God, manifest in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:26, Deut. 6:4, Matt. 28:19, John 15:26)
The original scriptures are God-inspired, absolute Truth, and we are commanded not to add to them or subtract from them. (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Rev. 22:18-19)
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| Beliefs for the Christian Life |
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Man willfully sinned against God (ushering sin - with the promised punishment of death - and corruption into the world), separating us from God. (Gen. 2:17; 3:6-19)
Jesus came to earth, fully God and fully man, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and provided Himself as the final sacrifice for our sins through death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, reuniting us with God through salvation from sin. (Matt. 1:18-23, 1 Peter 1:21-22)
Salvation from sin is a choice and adopted lifestyle for the believer: |
- Through belief and repentance, anyone can receive the gift of forgiveness (salvation from sin) Jesus provided. (Rom. 12:1-2, Titus 2:11-14; 3:3-7)
- Likewise, anyone can reject this gift (even after initial acceptance), receiving the punishment of eternal death - eternal separation from God. (Matt. 11:32-33, Luke 8:4-15, Rev. 3:5)
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All believers are commanded to love God with all of their heart (and worship Him), love their neighbor as themselves, evangelize the world (spread the Good News of salvation), and disciple new believers. (Matt. 22:37-40; 28:18-20, John 4:23-24, Acts 1:8)
Jesus established Water Baptism (commanded to be followed as a sign of the death of our sinful nature and our resurrection with Christ into eternal life) and Communion (the reminder of His sacrifice for us) for His church to follow. (Matt 28:19, Rom. 6:3-4, 1 Cor. 11:23-26)
The Holy Spirit baptism of Acts 2 (and subsequent gifts) is available to believers today, and is essential to a life of spiritual power - evidenced by the gifts and fruit of the Spirit. (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-8; 2:4, 1 Cor. 12-14, Gal. 5:22)
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| Beliefs for Our Future Hope |
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Jesus will return to earth for those who believe – both living and dead – after the great tribulation described in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 17 and 21. (Matt. 24:29-31, 1 Cor. 15:51-52, 1 Thes. 4:16-17, 2 Thes. 2:1-4)
Jesus will reign on earth for 1,000 years, establishing peace on earth. (Rev. 20:1-6)
Those who rejected Jesus’ gift of salvation will receive final judgment and be cast into the lake of fire with Satan and his angels, burning forever. (Rev. 20:11-15)
Those who remain, those recorded in the Book of Life, will live forever in the presence of God in a new heaven and new earth. (Rev. 21-22) |
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