Our Core Beliefs Deeper

The Trinity

 

It is the testimony of both the Old and New Testaments and of the Christian Church that God is both One and Triune. The biblical revelation testifies that there is only one God and that He is eternally existent in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

God the Father is the creator and sustainer of all things, and He created the universe in love. He created man in His own image for fellowship and called man back to Himself through Christ after the rebellion and fall of man.

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Jesus Christ is eternally God. He was together with the Father and the Holy Spirit from the beginning, and through Him all things were made. For man’s redemption, He left heaven and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary; henceforth, He is forever one Christ with two natures – God and man – in one person.

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The Holy Spirit is God, the Lord and giver of life, who is active in the Old Testament and given to the Church in fullness at Pentecost. He empowers the saints for service and witness, cleanses man from the old nature and conforms us to the image of Christ. The baptism in the Holy Spirit, subsequent to conversion, releases the fullness of the Spirit and is evidenced by the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 

Scripture

 

We affirm that the Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, is alone the only infallible, inspired Word of God, and that its authority is ultimate, final and eternal. It cannot be added to, subtracted from or superseded in any regard. The Bible is the source of all doctrine, instruction, correction and reproof. It contains all that is needed for guidance in godliness and practical Christian conduct.

 

Salvation

 

The Word of God declares clearly that salvation is a free gift of God, based on the merits of the death of His Son, and is appropriated by faith. Salvation is affected by personal repentance, belief in the Lord Jesus (justification) and personal acceptance of Him into one’s life as Lord and Savior (regeneration). The new life in Christ includes the privileges of adoption and inheritance in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son.

 

Atonement

 

Christ’s vicarious death on the cross paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world, but its benefits are only applicable to those who receive Jesus as personal Savior. Healing – body, soul and spirit – and all of God’s provisions for His saints are provided for in the atonement, but these must be appropriated.

 

Christian Life

 

We believe that the Scriptures portray the life of the saint in this world to be one of balance between what is imputed to us as Christians and what is imparted to us according to our faith and maturity. Hence, God’s provision for His children is total, and the promises are final and forever. The shortcomings of the individual and of the Church are because of the still-progressing maturing work of God. The Christian life is filled with trials, tests and warfare against a spiritual enemy. For those abiding in Christ until their deaths or His return, the promises of eternal blessing in the presence of God are assured. To remain faithful through all circumstances of life requires dependence upon the Holy Spirit and a willingness to die to personal desires and passions.

 

The Church

 

We believe that the church consists of all those who truly believe in Jesus Christ and His atoning death and who trust in Him as their Lord and Savior. We believe that the local church is the vehicle of God working in the earth to extend and establish His Kingdom.

 

Spiritual Gifts

 

We believe that the spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament are available to the Church today. These gifts (charismata) are manifestations of the Holy Spirit, given to strengthen, comfort, and encourage the Church. These manifestations are mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 1 Peter 4:10-11, and Romans 12:6-8. These lists are not exhaustive, meaning the Holy Spirit’s manifest presence is not limited to them.

 

Baptism/Communion

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The Word of God enjoins on the Church two perpetual ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ, reserved for those who are believers.

 

Baptism is the outward sign of what God had already done in the individual’s life and is a testimony to all that the person now belongs to Jesus. It is identification with Jesus and is affected in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

 

Communion is a commemoration of the death of the Lord and is done in remembrance of Him until He comes again; it is a sign of our participation in Him.

 

Statement of Marriage, Sexuality & Gender

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Singleness, practiced in celibacy, is an honored calling in the church, practiced by Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, and many other faithful men and woman of God.

 

According to God's design and intent, sex difference (male and female) is an intrinsic part of what marriage is.  While same-sex marriage is legal in some countries, it does not represent a historical, Christian view of marriage.

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God designed sexual relations to take place within the covenant bond of marriage.

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The Fall has corrupted God's original intent for human sexuality in all persons; therefore, all people - straight or non-straight - experience corruption in their sexuality.

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Simply experiencing attraction to the same sex (or being gay) is not in itself a morally culpable sin. 

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God desires all people to embrace their biological sex as part of their human identity. 

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All forms of abuse, slander, dehumanization, or oppression toward fellow humans is an affront against God's sacred image, which has been stamped upon all people.

 

Final Judgment & Reward

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We affirm the bodily, personal, second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the saints, the millennium and the final judgment. The final judgment will determine the eternal status of both the saints and the unbelievers, determined by their relationship to Jesus Christ. We affirm with the Bible the final state of the new heavens and the new earth.