What We Believe
The Good news and the Bad news
The word “gospel” means “good news.” The gospel (good news) is the answer to the bad news, that each person has rebelled against God and His authority. This rebellion is called sin and its consequences are physical and spiritual death due to God’s justifiable wrath. Our sin separates us from God and we need to be reconciled to Him. The bad news that all are guilty of sin and condemned by God is countered by the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. God, because of His love for the world, has made a way for man to be forgiven of their sins (John 3:16). He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the sins of mankind on Himself through death on a cross (1 Peter 2:24). In placing our sin on Christ, God ensured that all who will believe in the name of Jesus will be forgiven (Acts 10:43). Jesus’ resurrection guarantees the justification of all who believe (Romans 4:25).
The Bible
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old Testament and the New Testament are inspired, exhaled by God, and inerrant in their original writings. We believe that the 66 books of the Old Testament and the New Testament are the complete and sufficient revelation of God and therefore carry God’s authority for the total welfare of mankind (Psalm 119:97-104, 119:160; Matthew 5:18; John 5:46-47, 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:15-16).
God
We believe in the one true and living God (John 17:3), often referred to as “YHWH” (the LORD) in the Old Testament and “God” in the New Testament. He is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1-31), and in Him we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). He is the God of truth and without iniquity. He is omniscient, all-powerful, and loving. He is just and righteous (Deuteronomy 32:4), and He will judge the world (Psalm 9:8). God exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, who has exactly the same nature, attributes, and perfections, and are worthy of exactly the same worship, trust, and obedience (Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Acts 4:3-4).
God the Father
We believe in God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity (1 Corinthians 8:6). As the absolute and highest Ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:36). He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save all who trust in Him from sin. He relates to His as Their good Father (John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:3-6; Hebrews 12:5-9).
God the Son
We believe in the absolute deity and sinlessness of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God the Father, the second Person of the Trinity. He is the full manifestation of God in the flesh. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He is the true God and the true man (John 1:1, 1:14, 1:18, 14:8-9; 1 Timothy 3:16). We believe that Christ died for our sins, fulfilling the Scriptures, as a representative and substitute sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21) for our sin. We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, His ascension into heaven, and His current ministry to us as High Priest and Advocate (Acts 1:3, 1:9; Hebrews 7:25-26).
God the Holy Spirit
We believe in the absolute deity of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, and that the ministry of the Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14). The Holy Spirit draws the unredeemed to repentance and faith in Christ, and in salvation imparts new spiritual life to the believer, leading the believer to union with Christ and the body of Christ, the universal Church. (Romans 8:37-39, 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The Holy Spirit dwells, guides, instructs, comforts, fills, and enables every believer for a godly life (Mark 13:11; John 14:26, 16:13; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19). The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, God’s righteousness, and coming judgment (John 16:8-11).
Humankind
We believe that God made mankind, man, and woman, in His own image, to glorify Him and enjoy the relationship with Him and with each other. He created each person with intrinsic dignity and worth. Therefore, every person, every race, every color, every nationality, before birth, every age, stage of life, and ability, is infinite and equally loved in the eyes of God. So, we will seek to value and defend the dignity and value that God breathes in every human being. Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman, were innocent under God’s law, but by their willful transgression, they fell from this sinless and joyful state, bringing death and condemnation into the world. Consequently, all people are sinners not only by their own choice but by inheritance. Therefore, we are justly condemned and on our own, we have no defense or excuse. Without exception, every man and woman is totally depraved and desperately needs a Savior. (Genesis 3:1-6; John 8:24; Romans 1:18-20, 1:32, 3:10-19, 5:12).
Salvation
We believe that salvation is entirely God’s by grace based on the redemption of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood and that it is not based on human merit or works. (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:10). We believe that every person who by faith receives Jesus Christ as their personal Savior is justified and forgiven on the basis of Christ’s shed blood on the cross. Christ chose to die to pay the full price for our Sins. Every person who receives Christ as their personal Savior is born again of the Holy Spirit and thus becomes a child of God (Romans 8:37-39, 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Heaven, Hell, and the Return of Christ
We believe in the blessed hope of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ. His return has a vital influence on the believer’s personal life and service (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We believe in the bodily resurrection of all people, both those who are saved by trusting in Christ and those who are they are lost based on their sins. The saved are lifted up to eternal and conscious joy in heaven (Matthew 25:34; John 14:2-3; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 2:7), and the lost are lifted to eternal torment in hell apart from God (Matthew 8:12, 10:28, 13:49-50; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:5; Revelation 21:8).