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· About God· We believe in the one ever-living, eternal God: infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purpose; and possessing absolute, indivisible deity. This one God has revealed Himself as Father, in creation; through His Son, in redemption; and as the Holy Spirit, by emanation. 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; 2 Cor. 5:19; Joel 2:28 · About Jesus Christ· The one true God, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, took upon Himself the form of man, and as the Son of man, was born of the Virgin Mary. As Paul says, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1 Timothy 3:16).· "He came unto his own, and his own received him not" (John 1:11). This one true God was manifest in the flesh, that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself..." (2 Cor. 5:19)· We believe that, "in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). "For it pleased the Father that in him should all the fullness dwell" (Colossians 1:19). Therefore, Jesus in His humanity was man; in his deith was and is God. His flesh was the lamb, or the sacrifice of God. He is the only mediator between God and man. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).· Jesus on His Father's side was divine, on His mother's side, human; thus, He was known as the Son of God and also the Son of man, or the God-man. · About the Holy Spirit· The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the one true God. He lives in every Christian from the moment he or she receives it. The terms "baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire," "filled with the Holy Spirit," and the "gift of the Holy Ghost" are synonymous terms used interchangeably in the Bible. It is scriptural to expect all who receive the gift, filling, or baptism of the Holy Spirit to receive the same physical, initial sign of speaking with other tongues. The Holy Spirit provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. It provides believers with spiritual gifts when they are saved, as well as the Fruit of the Spirit. As Christians, we seek to live under the control of the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:18; Acts 2:4, 33; Matt. 3:11 · 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. It is the inspired, infallible, inerrant word of God. 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:13; Ps. 12:6, 119:105, 160; Prov. 30:5 · 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. Gen. 1:27; Ps. 8:3-6; Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:23; Isa. 59:1-2 · About Salvation· We are saved by grace through Faith. The grace of God makes salvation available to us through the cross of Calvary and it is a free gift. Before you can obey the Gospel, you must first believe the Gospel. This is where faith begins to work. However, the Bible indicates that having saving faith is more than just believing that Jesus died and rose again. True faith will cause you to follow and obey the Lord. Romans 10:16 declares the Gospel is to be obeyed. The Bible standard for salvation is repentance, baptism in water by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking with tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. John 3:3-5; Acts 2:4, 38; Rom. 10:10-16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4 · About Grace· "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12). Grace is the agent that brought salvation to us. Some have misinterpreted grace as a license to live like you want to and still be saved. This is simply not the truth. Saving grace will grant you salvation while you are still lost, undone, and imperfect, because Salvation is a free gift and not of works. However, saving grace refuses to let you continue to live a sinful life. A Christian must walk with God and keep himself in the love of God and in the grace of God. When a person sins against God and does not repent, he will eventually be lost. But God's grace gives us the power to be saved and stay saved. 1 Pet. 1:3-5; John 1:17; Eph. 2:8-9; Jude 21 · 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. |
