The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men who were inspired
by the Holy Spirit, and it is the record of God's revelation of Himself to
man. It has God for its author, salvation as its goal, and truth,
without any mixture of error, for its content. It reveals the standards
and principles by which God judges us.
The Bible is the supreme standard by which all human conduct
and religious opinions should be tried. The key by which the Bible
is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.
God
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent,
spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and
Ruler of the universe. There is no limit to His holiness, knowledge,
power, love, wisdom, and mercy. To Him we owe the highest love,
reverence, and obedience.
He has had no beginning and will have no end; He is eternal.
He reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; His is One
Being with three distinct aspects:
God The Father
God as Father reigns over His universe, His
creations, and the flow of human history in keeping with His own
ultimate purposes.
He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise.
God is the Creator and Lover of all mankind, but He is Father in
truth to those who become His children through faith in
Jesus Christ. (John 1:12)
God The Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God.
His life on earth began as the child of a virgin named Mary, who
had become pregnant by a miracle of the Holy Spirit working within her.
As Jesus the man lived, He perfectly revealed and did the will
of God. He took upon Himself the struggles of human nature and
identified Himself completely with mankind; yet He never sinned.
When He died on the cross, Jesus made it possible for everyone
to be forgiven and released from the penalty of sin.
Three days later He was raised from the dead and appeared to
His disciples as proof of the resurrection.
He went up into heaven as the disciples watched, and is now
exalted at the right hand of God, restored to the position of glory
He held before His birth in Bethlehem.
In keeping with His promise, however, Jesus Christ will someday
return to this earth personally and visibly, in power and in judgment.
The dead will be raised, and Christ will judge all men, not by humanity's
standards of acceptable conduct but by His own standards of truth
and righteousness.
Those who fail on the day of judgment, because
they have not sought forgiveness for their sins through repentance
and faith in Christ, will be cast into Hell, the place for eternal
punishment.
Those who have put their trust in Christ as Savior, asking Him
into their heart, will live forever in heaven with their Lord.
God The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He is of exactly
the same essence and nature as the Father and the Son operating
in the world today.
He inspired the writers of the Bible, giving them God's truth in words
men and women could understand. Today, He assists men and women
in understanding the truth in Scripture.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He makes clear and drives home
the truth about sin, the truth about God's Standards of righteousness,
and the truth about the certain judgment of sin.
He will always be at work making Jesus prominent. He puts a hunger
in the hearts of men for Christ. He draws them to Christ and then turns
those who receive Christ as Savior and Lord into new creations from
the inside out.
The Holy Spirit also comforts believers in their times of heartache and need.
He gives spiritual gifts to the members of the Church to build up
and equip the Body of Christ to evangelize and to disciple.
The Holy Spirit marks the believer forever as God's own possession.
All true believers endure to the end. They may fall into sin for awhile,
but the Spirit will not abandon them. He will be grieved, but He will not
leave. He will convict them of their sin, bring discipline upon them if
necessary, and eventually bring them back into fellowship with God and
His people through one means or another. The severity of the means the
Spirit uses to bring a wandering child of God back will often depend on the
severity of his rebellion.
The Holy Spirit is the energizing force who empowers the believer and
the Church to exalt Jesus in worship and praise, in evangelism, and in
every area of ministry performed, both within the Church to its members
and through the Church to touch the world.
Man
Man was created by a miraculous act of God, in His own image,
and is the crowning work of His creation.
In the beginning, man was innocent of sin and was given by His
Creator the ability and the freedom to choose between right and wrong.
By their free choice, Adam and Eve broke God's law, sinned against
God, and brought sin into the human race. From Adam and Eve, all
mankind has inherited a nature and an environment bent toward sin
and against God's law.
All men and women eventually give in to their inherited sin nature
and commit sins. They stand in violation of God's law and under the
penalty and power of their sins.
Regardless of their sin all human beings are worthy of respect and
Christian love because they have each been created in the image of God.
Salvation
Salvation involves the saving and rescuing of the whole person
(body, soul, and spirit) from the power and penalty of sin, and is
offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord
and Savior.
Scripture teaches that all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and that where
there is unforgiven sin there must also be death. The wages of sin is
death (Romans 6:23).
The death referred to means eternal separation from God, who is
the Giver of life in its highest and best sense. It means existing forever
and ever after this life, with none of the evidences of God's goodness,
kindness, and mercy anywhere in sight.
Salvation means being rescued from such a terrible fate (Hell,
separation from God) through the only means available, a true
commitment and belief in Jesus Christ as Savior. Salvation includes
other aspects as well:
Regeneration
Regeneration, or being born again, is a work of God's grace through
which believers become a new creation the moment Christ comes to
live within them. His entrance into their lives occurs when they are
burdened by the Holy Spirit to genuinely turn away from their sins
(repent of their sins) and put their trust in Jesus Christ alone, to save
them from the penalty and power of their sins.
Justification
Justification is God's total removal of the charges against a sinner once
he trusts Christ as his Savior. Justification means that since God has
forgiven the believer, it is "just -as-if-I'd-never-sinned", as far as
the Heavenly Father is concerned. The slate is clean; the record is clear;
the pardoned sinner can start over again, new and fresh. (although man
will be held accountable for his actions in the courts of man)
Sanctification
Sanctification is the process that begins when the sinner is born again,
through which he is "set apart" for God's purpose all the days of his
life, no longer to live for himself, but totally for his Lord.
Sanctification also means that by the power of the indwelling
Holy Spirit the believer is now set on a course that is designed to move
him daily toward the goal of moral and spiritual perfection. The goal will
not be fully accomplished until the believer stands in heaven with Christ,
stripped of his fallen, sinful nature. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit steadily
works to separate the believer in this life farther and farther from the
influence of the world and its ways, and closer and closer to the Lord
and His ways.
Glorification
Glorification is the end of the process of being saved. It means that
body, soul, and spirit will someday be brought into the presence of
Almighty God in His heaven to share forever in His Glory.
The Church
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local group
of baptized believers who are bound together by a common commitment
to Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives, who are dedicated to the living
out of His instructions, who are exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges
given them by His Word, and who are seeking to extend the gospel to
the ends of the earth.
Scripture established the leaders of the local church as being pastors
(elders) and deacons.
The pastors or elders are to oversee the total ministry of the church
in the light of Biblical instructions, and the deacons are to serve under
the leadership of the pastors, tending to the tangible, material needs in
the fellowship. Pastors and deacons must also be deeply committed to
and actively involved in sharing the gospel. The New Testament, in
addition to its teaching regarding the local church, also speaks of the
church as 'The body of Christ," which includes all of the believers in Christ
throughout all the ages.
Baptism
Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the
Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing
the believer's faith in Jesus Christ, a crucified, buried, and risen Savior.
It also is symbolic of the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life,
and a resurrection with power to live a new life through Christ.
The Lord's Supper (Communion)
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of
the church, as they eat the bread and drink of "the fruit of the vine,"
(Matt.26:26-28) remember the death of their Savior and look forward
to His second coming.
Evangelism and Missions
It is the assignment and privilege of every follower of Jesus and of every
church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all
nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win
the lost. His love for them and his attempts to reach them will be proof
that he is indeed indwelt by Jesus Christ whose passion was "to seek
and to save that which is lost."
Stewardship
According to the Scriptures, Christians should recognize that everything
we have is entrusted to us to use for the glory of God and for helping
others. Believers should give of themselves and of their finances
cheerfully, regularly. and generously for the advancement of the cause
of Christ.
Scripture tells us that the first ten percent of all moneys we earn
belong to God. Offerings are above and beyond the tithe.
"Not equal gifts but equal sacrifice" is a truth that when practiced,
blesses our Lord and binds the members of the church closer to one
another.
The Purity of the Fellowship
When a believer falls into sin and remains in it, not only is he being hurt,
but the entire body of Christ is to some degree affected. Worst of all,
the Savior is grieved and the reputation of His church is damaged.
Diligence must be given to keeping the fellowship pure (I Corinthians 5).
The Unity of the Fellowship
Few things are any more wonderful for a believer than to be a part of
a congregation that is of the heart and mind, accomplishing together
in gladness and joy the will of the Father. Their unity is a key to their
spiritual power, and is a treasure worth protecting at all costs.
Paul instructed Titus, a pastor, to, "Reject a factious man after a
first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and
is sinning, being self-condemned." (Titus 3:10-11)
The seriousness of the sin of sowing discord among the brethren
caused Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, to make such a strong statement.
The desire for restoration is obvious: rejection should come only after
a first and second warning. Then, if the warnings went unheeded,
there was to be a severing of the bonds of fellowship between the
church and the individual - permanently, if he refused to repent
of his sin, or temporarily, it may be assumed, if repentance developed
in his heart.
The Scriptures
Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:1-2; 17-19; Josh. 8:34; Psalm 19:7-10; 119:11, 89,
105, 140; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jer. 15:16: Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33;
24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:1315, 17:17; Acts 2:16 ff.; 17:11; Rom. 15:4;
16:25-26; 11 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; I Peter 1:25; 11 Peter
1:19-21.
God
God The Father
Gen. 1.i, 2:7; Ex. 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11 ff.; 20:1 ff.; Lev. 22:2; Deut.
6:4; 32:6; 1 Chron. 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isa. 43:3, 15; 64:8;
Jer. 10:10; 17:13; Matt. 6:9 ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11;
John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1.7, Rom. 8:14-15; 1 Cor. 8:6;
Gal. 4:6; Eph. 4:6; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17;
1 John 5:7
God The Son
Gen. 18:1 ff.; Psalm 2:7 ff.; 110:1 ff.; Isa. 7:14; 53; Matt. 1:18-23;
\3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16, 27; 17:5, 27; 28:1-6, 19; Mark 1:1;
3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18, 29; 10:30,38;
11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16, 28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20, 28; Acts 1.9, 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5, 20; Rom. 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21;
8:13, 34; 10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8, 24-8; 11 Cor. 5:19-21;
Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9;
1 Thess. 4:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 7:14-28;
9:12-15, 24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2;
4:14-15; 5:9; 11 John 7-9; Rev. 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8;
19:16; Isa. 2:4; 11:9; Matt. 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27, 30, 36, 44;
25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40, 48; 16:19-26;
17:22-37; 21:27-28, 35-58; 11 Cor. 5:10; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 1:5; 3:4;
1 Thess. 4:14-18; 5:1 ff.; II Thess. 1:7 ff.; 2; 1 Tim. 6:14;
11 Tim. 4.1, 8; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:27-28; James 5:8; 11 Peter 3:7 ff.;
I John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Rev. 1:18; 3:11; 20:1 to 22:13
God the Holy Spirit
Gen. 1:2; Judg. 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalm 51:11; 139:7 ff.; Isa. 61:1-3;
Joel 2:28-32; Matt. 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:39; Mark 1:10, 12;
Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17, 26;
15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17, 39;
10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27;
1 Cor. 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18;
1 Thess. 5:19; 1 Tim. 3:16; 4.1, IITim. 1:14; 3:16; Heb. 9:8, 14,
11 Peter 1-21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev. 1:10; 22:17
Man
Gen. 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalm 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5;
Isa. 6:5; Jer. 17:5; Matt. 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Rom. 1:19-32;
3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18. 29;
1 Cor. 15:19, 21-22; Eph. 2:1-22; Col. 1·11-22; 3:9-11
Salvation
Gen. 3:15; Ex. 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matt. 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26;
27:22 to 28:6; Luke 1:6869; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; 3:3-21, 36;
5:24; 10:9, 28-29; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31;
17:30-31; 20:32; Rom. 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3 ff.; 5:810;
6:1-23; 8:1-18; 29-39; 10:9-10. 13; 13:11-14; 1 Cor. 1:18, 30;
6:19-20; 15:10; 11 Cor. 5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15;
Eph. 1.7, 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 1:9-22; 3:1 ff.;
I Thess. 5:23-24; 11 Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Heb. 2:1-3;
5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8; 14, James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23;
1 John 1.6 to 2:11; Rev. 3:20; 21.1 to 22:5
The Church
Matt. 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6;
13;1-3; 14:23, 27; 15:130; 16:5; 20:28; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16;
5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22;; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-3~;
Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-15; 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:3
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Matt. 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26;
Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39;
16:30-33; Acts 20:7; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 10:16, 21, 11:23-29; Col. 2.12
Evangelism and Missions
Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-6; Isa. 6:1-8; Matt. 9:37-38; 10:5-15;
13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18;
24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8, 16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1.8, 2;
8:26-40; 10:42-48: 13:2-3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 3:1-11: 1 Thess. 1.8,
11 Tim. 4:5; Heb. 2:1-3; 11:39 to 12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Rev. 22:17
Stewardship
Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27-30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4,
19-21; 23:23; 25:1429; Luke 12:16-21, 42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47;
5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Rom. 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:1-2;
6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 11 Cor. 8-9; 12:15; Phil. 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19