As A New Testament Church We Emphasize . . .

Essential #1 About The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. 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 the truth without any mixture of error.

Essential #2 About God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

Essential #3 About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people 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 someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Essential #4 About The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of 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 daily guidance in doing what is right. His power and gifts are available to believers today.

Essential #5 About Human Beings
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called ‘sin’. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.

Essential #6 About Salvation
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. 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.

Essential #7 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.

BELIEFS

I. THE SCRIPTURES ARE INSPIRED
The BIBLE (Old and New Testaments) is God's infallible, inerrant Word to us. 1 Peter 1:23-25; Hebrews 4:12

II. THE ONE TRUE GOD
God has revealed Himself to be one God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 28:19

III. THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God as declared in the scriptures.
His virgin birth
Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35
His sinless life
Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22
His miracles
Acts 2:22; 10:38
His substitutionary work on the cross
1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21
His bodily resurrection from the dead
Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4
His exaltation to the right hand of God
Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Heb. 1-3

IV. THE FALL OF MAN
Man was created good, but by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death (separation from God forever). Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17, 3:6; Romans 5:12-19

V. THE SALVATION OF MAN
Man's only hope of salvation is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Salvation is God's free gift to us but we must accept it. We cannot 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 lives and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11, 3:5-7

VI. THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
a. Water Baptism - Baptism by immersion is commanded in the scriptures. Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4
b. Holy Communion - The Lord's supper, consisting of the elements - bread and fruit of the vine. 2 Peter 1:4; 1Corinthians 11:26

VII. HOLY SPIRIT
Holy Spirit is present in the world today to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing right. We believe in the present day ministry of Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all the Biblical spiritual gifts and as Christians we seek to live under His control daily. John 14-16; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

VIII. THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is referred to as such in all 4 Gospels can be experienced by all believers. Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16, 24:49; John 1:32-33, 7:39; Acts 1:4-8, 2:4,38, 42-43, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9, 19:2,6

IX. SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. It is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of the union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. As a believer our spirit has been saved, our soul (emotions, will, intellect) is being saved, and our bodies will one day be saved. Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1 John 2:6; Romans 8:3-4

X. THE CHURCH
The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23

XI. THE MINISTRY
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for a two fold purpose:
a. The evangelism of the world.
b. The preparation and equipping of the Body of Christ.
Mark 16:15,20; Ephesians 4:11-13

XII. DIVINE HEALING
Divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement and is the privilege of all believers. Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:18; John 5:14

XIII. ETERNITY AND THE BLESSED HOPE
People were created to exist forever. We will 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. 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 18; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

XIV. THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope; followed by the visible return of Christ and His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years. 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:17; Romans 11:25, 27

XV. THE FINAL JUDGEMENT
There will be a final judgement where the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. Revelation 19:20, 20:10-15

XVI. THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH      "...we according to His promise, look for new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness." - 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22

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