|
WHAT WE BELIEVE
IN ESSENTIALS
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. Eph. 4:4-6
IN NON-ESSENTIALS 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
OUR ESSENTIAL BELIEFS
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 form 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.
4. 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.
5. About Human Beings
People are created 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.
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 the penalty of sin. 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.
7. About Eternal Security
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 self-effort
of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that
gives us this security.
8. About Eternity
People are created to exist forever. Each person 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.
|