WHAT WE BELIEVE!
In a Nutshell: We believe in the one God of the Bible, the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe. We believe that Jesus Christ is God, self-existent and eternal. We believe the Holy Spirit is God, self-existent and eternal. We believe the Bible – both the Old and New Testaments – is divinely inspired. We believe that Satan is real and that sin separates us from God. We believe that because God is merciful, loving, and forgiving, He gives us an opportunity to be reunited with Him through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We believe that Salvation comes from God through Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ willingly died upon the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and defeated death through His resurrection. We believe that He is coming again soon to take us home. Meanwhile, He desires willing obedience to His commands and a relationship with us.
Here is a Summary of Key Teachings:
Holy Scriptures: We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is profitable for correction, reproof, and instruction in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) The Word of God is something that will bless those who read, hear, and keep their lives in harmony with its teachings (Revelation 1:3). We believe that The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration through holy men of God who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. God has committed to man the knowledge necessary for salvation in this Word. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the authoritative revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God's acts in history. (2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Psalms 119:105; Proverbs 30:5, 6; Isaiah 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonian 2:13; Hebrews 4:12.)
The Triune God: We believe in the one true and living God, the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Ruler of all things. He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. He is revealed to us as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Father: God the eternal Father is the Creator, Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation. As Father, He reigns over all of His universe with providential care. He is all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing, and all-wise. He is just and holy, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. The qualities and powers exhibited in the Son and the Holy Spirit are also revelations of the Father. (Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; 1 Cor. 15:28; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8; 1 Tim. 1:17; Ex. 34:6, 7; John 14:9.)
- Son: God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him, all things were created, God's character is revealed, humanity's salvation is accomplished, and the world is judged. The Lord Jesus Christ became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man by volunteering Himself as a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God’s righteous judgment against sin. (Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-18; Rom. 3:24-26; Rom. 8:3)
- Holy Spirit: God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ's life with power. He convicts the world of sin. He draws men to God. He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead. He indwells believers, empowers them for service, and bestows spiritual gifts upon them. And to those who respond, He renews and transforms into the image of God and seals them unto the day of final redemption (Gen. 1:1-2; Luke 1:35; 4:18; Acts 10:38; John 3:3-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; 1 Cor. 12:7-11, 13; Eph. 4:11-12, 30; 5:18)
Creation: We believe that God is the Creator of all things. We believe in the six literal days of creation. That in six literal days, the Lord made "the heaven and the earth" and everything in it and rested on the seventh day of that first week, establishing the Sabbath as a perpetual memorial of His completed creative work (Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-3; John 1:3; Col. 1:16-17)
Man: We believe that Man was created in the spiritual image of God Himself to be like Him in character (Genesis 1:26-27). Man is the supreme object of God's wonderful creation. Mankind is disobedient toward God, His Word, and His Instructions. This disobedient spirit and the resulting acts are called sin. Man (Adam) fell into sin and was lost (Genesis 2:16-17). Sin separates mankind from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). This is true of all men, and except a man be born again by the Holy Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3; Romans 3:10, 23)
Evil: We believe that Satan is real, inspires sin as evil incarnate, initiates the fall of man, and is destined for judgment, that is, punishment in the lake of fire. (Matthew 4:1-3; Acts 5:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4;Revelation 20:10)
Atonement for Sin: According to the Scriptures, we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice. That in Christ, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin so that those who, by faith, accept this atonement may have eternal life. We believe in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ's crucified body and His ascension into heaven; He is our High Priest and Advocate. (John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; 1 John 2:2)
Salvation: We believe that salvation is the gift of God’s grace. It cannot be gained works but is freely bestowed upon all who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary. All who so trust the Savior are forgiven of their sins and born into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9). We believe that Eternal life begins the instant a person receives Jesus as his personal Savior; and that Jesus is the Way, The Truth, and the Life—the one and only way to eternal life. (John 14:6)
The Sabbath: We believe that the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath of the LORD our God. On this day, we are commanded to rest from our labors and worship Him. We believe that after the six days of Creation, God rested on the seventh day and instituted the Sabbath (not just “for the Jews,” as some teach, but “for all people”) as a memorial of Creation. We believe that God did not change the Sabbath. Certainly, Christ did not. In fact, if anything, He magnified it (Matthew 5:19, cf. Isaiah 42:21). We believe that while every day of the week is the Lord’s (Psalm 118:24), the seventh day is, in a special sense, is the Lord’s Day (Exodus 20:8-11). It is a day of delightful communion with God and one another, a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God's kingdom— on which He calls us to rest in His grace (Isaiah 58:13–14; Matthew 11:28; Hebrews 4:9).
The Christian Walk: We believe that we have a holy calling to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, and so to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit in order that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The flesh is never eradicated in this life. Individuals must choose to keep the flesh in subjection to Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, or it will surely manifest its presence in life and dishonor our Lord. (Romans 6:11-13; 8:2, 4, 12-13; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 1:4-7; 3:5-9)
The Great Commission: Until the return of Christ, it is our duty and privilege to be a part of Christ’s Great Commission – to preach, teach, and minister in His name to a needy-dying world. We are to be instruments of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit ministers redemption and reconciliation in the world. (Matthew 25:31-46; 28:18-20)
Second Coming: We believe that prophecy reveals Jesus is coming again very soon (see Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, John 14:1-3). In the Book of Revelation, we hear from Christ Himself: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7, NKJV). “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12, NKJV) “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20, NKJV)
“For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.” (Hebrews 10:37, NLT). Beloved, in just a little while, Christ is coming! Son, we shall see “the sign of the Son of Man” appear in heaven. We will see the Son of Man “coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). Christ’s Second Coming is assured, and “He will not tarry.” He desires that we be ready now, for no one knows “the Day or the Hour” of His Coming. We must be involved in the urgent work of evangelism to prepare many souls for Jesus. We believe that Jesus is coming soon, “even at the door!” Join me as we sing this Hymn together.
“Let Us Sing A Song That Will Cheer Us By The Way!”
[Author: Eliza E. Hewitt]
1. Let us sing a song that will cheer us by the way,
In a little while, we’re going home;
For the night will end in the everlasting day,
In a little while, we’re going home.
Refrain
In a little while, in a little while,
We shall cross the billow’s foam;
We shall meet at last,
When the stormy winds are past,
In a little while, we’re going home.
2. We will do the work that our hands may find to do,
In a little while, we’re going home;
And the grace of God will our daily strength renew,
In a little while, we’re going home.
3. We will smooth the path for some weary, way-worn feet,
In a little while, we’re going home;
And may loving hearts spread around an influence sweet!
In a little while, we’re going home.
4. There’s a rest beyond; there’s relief from every care,
In a little while, we’re going home;
And no tears shall fall in that city bright and fair,
In a little while, we’re going home.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal # 2710
