The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God’s infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks.
The Bible: The Sole Basis of Our Beliefs
The Bible is more than just a book; it’s the living Word of God, breathed into existence by the Holy Spirit. It is the foundation upon which our faith is built, and it is the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice. The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by various authors over a period of several centuries, yet it remains a unified and cohesive message of God’s love and redemption for humanity.
The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture
We believe that the Bible was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit. This means that every word, every sentence, and every book of the Bible is the result of God’s sovereign guidance and inspiration. The Bible is inerrant in the original manuscripts, meaning that it is free from all error and contradiction. This is a crucial aspect of our faith, as it ensures that we have a reliable and trustworthy source of truth.
The Three Persons of the Godhead
There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality. This is a fundamental aspect of our faith, as it affirms the unity and diversity of God’s nature.
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever. He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own.
The Nature of Man and Salvation
Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation. Man’s nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. The salvation of man is wholly a work of God’s free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer’s life by faith. Every believer is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.
The Church and the Ordinances
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement.
The Future Hope
At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing. At physical death the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting judgment and condemnation. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth – personally, visibly and bodily – to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
The Great Commission
The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and to disciple men of every nation. This is a solemn responsibility that rests upon every follower of Christ, and it is a call to action that requires obedience and perseverance.
In conclusion, the statement of faith is a comprehensive and concise summary of the core principles of our faith. It affirms the Bible as the sole basis of our beliefs, the inspiration and authority of Scripture, and the person and work of Jesus Christ. It also emphasizes the nature of man and salvation, the role of the Holy Spirit, the Church and the ordinances, and the future hope. This statement serves as a reminder of our commitment to the truth and our obligation to share it with a world in need of redemption.
Verdict: The statement of faith is a powerful declaration of our faith in God, His Word, and His people. It is a call to action that requires obedience and perseverance, and it is a reminder of our eternal hope in Jesus Christ.
