ABOUT GOD
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.
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was and continues to be, fully
God and fully man; and is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a
sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for
sin by dying on the cross. He rose from the dead after three days
to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven's
glory where He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords and will
return again someday to earth as Judge of the living and the dead.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. 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. He gives every
believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek
to live under His control daily.
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God's Word. It was written by human authors, under 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
the truth without any mixture of error.
ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS
Adam and Eve were created by God to glorify Him and fellowship with
Him. They possessed the ability to please God and abstain from sin.
But upon their sinning in the Garden of Eden, fellowship with God
was broken an their nature was polluted in such a way as to touch
every aspect of their being so that they were inclined toward evil
and condemned to both physical and spiritual death. Because Adam was
our representative Head, all subsequent human beings have inherited
the same "fallen nature" and too are born "objects
of wrath" separated from God. While we are all inclined toward
evil and unable to please God, we are not as wicked as we possibly
could be. We still bear the image of God and thus, have value above
all other of God's creatures.
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is God's free gift to us. We can never make up for our sin
by self-improvement or good works. Salvation may only be received
by trusting in Jesus Christ as the One who has received in His body
God's just punishment for sin; and in His resurrection from the dead
to overcome sin and death on our behalf. Just as Adam was our representative
Head with regard to sin and the Fall, Jesus Christ is our representative
Head with regard to God's justice and reconciliation. 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.
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ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY AND
ASSURANCE
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the
true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If
you have been genuinely saved, you cannot "lose"
it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God,
not by the effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping
power of God that gives us this security.
Many Christians tend to use the phrases "eternal security"
and "assurance of salvation" synonymously. But this
is not the case. Eternal security refers to the certainty
of the salvation of God's people. Assurance of salvation refers
to the personal confidence that one may have that they are,
indeed, among those who are being saved. This assurance comes
from three sources: the truthfulness of God's promises in
His Word; the fruit (evidence) of God's Spirit showing forth
"good works" in our life; and the testimony of God's
Spirit in our heart that we are His child. The truth of both
of these ideas taken together leads to the conclusion that
not only is authentic salvation "secure", it will
demonstrate itself by a perseverance of faith in the life
of God's children.
ABOUT ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist
eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally 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 real places of eternal existence.
IN ESSENTIAL BELIEFS —
WE HAVE UNITY
"There is one Body and one Spirit … there is
one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of
us all …" Ephesians 4:4-6
IN NON-ESSENTIAL BELIEFS —
WE HAVE LIBERTY
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing
judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge
someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls…
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God…
So whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself
and God." Romans 14:1,4,12,22
IN
ALL OUR BELIEFS — WE SHOW CHARITY
"…If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge,
but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith
that can move mountains — but have no love, I amount
to nothing at all." I Corinthians 13:2
PAMPHLETS
Vison and Core Values |
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