THE SCRIPTURES

The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God and we accept all Scriptures as inerrant, infallible, and the sole and final guide in matters of faith and conduct. (2 Tim. 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21, Heb. 4:12)

 

THE ONE TRUE GOD

God has revealed Himself as One God, manifested in three eternal, co-equal Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4; 2 Samuel 23:2-3, Philip. 2:6, 1 John 5:7)

MAN & HIS FALL

Created in the image of God, man is also triune eternal being: spirit, soul and body (1 Thes. 5:23, Heb. 4:12). Once good and upright, Adam believed Satan’s deception about God, voluntarily transgressed and fell. Through sin, man’s spirit is dead, his soul is corrupt, and his body is doomed to decay and death (Rom. 5:14). The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:10, 23). Redemption for man is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Rom. 5:12-21)

 

JESUS

Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary to undo the works of Satan (1 John 3:8). On the Cross He gave His life and shed His blood as a ransom to redeem man back to God. Jesus died, was buried, but on the Third Day He rose again, victorious over Death. (John 11:25, Rom. 14:9, 2 Cor. 5:15)

 

SALVATION OR THE NEW BIRTH

The salvation of sinners is the gift of God, separate from religious works and laws. Man receives salvation by God’s grace through personal repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This new birth is necessary for all sinners to be reconciled to God and, when experienced, imparts a new nature and eternal life to the believer (2 Cor 7:10;John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12). The New Birth is not arriving, but beginning, our Christian journey with Christ.

 

WATER BAPTISM

Baptism in water is a direct commandment of our Lord and is executed by full immersion after the New Birth. The ordinance is a public statement of the believer’s association with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39).

 

HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift of God promised by our Lord Jesus to all believers for the purpose of spiritual power in public testimony and service after the New Birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance (Matt. 3:11; Luke 24:49; Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 14).

 

HOLY COMMUNION OR THE LORD’S TABLE

An act of covenant given by the Lord for believers only, representing the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 11:23-34)

MARRIAGE

Marriage between man and woman is an institution ordained by God since the beginning (Gen. 2:22-24, Mat. 19:5-6, Mark 10:6-9) and is a covenant made between couples and God. (Mal. 2:14)

 

THE CHURCH AS AN INSTITUTION ORDAINED BY GOD

The term “Church” is used in the Bible to refer to 3 related things:

1. The universal Body of Christ in heaven and on earth (Eph 1:22, 1 Cor 3:9, 10:32, 1 Pet 2:15, Heb 12:23),
2. The local body of believers governed by anointed leadership (Acts 14:23, 1 Cor 1:2, 11:18, Col 4:15-16, James 5:14, Rev 2-3), and
3. The physical building where believers commonly worship (1 Tim 3:15, 1 Cor 4:17, 11:18, 22, 12:28, 14:19, 28, 34-35, 3 John 1:10, Heb 3:2).

God instituted the Church just like He instituted the Family. Just as every healthy human being is part of the family of Adam, part of their own family, and lives in a physical house, so too every healthy Christian is part of the Body of Christ, part of a local body of believers and attends a physical church as the New Testament disciples did. God loves the church in all 3 senses of the word.

 

GIVING

Giving in the Bible comes in the form of Firstfruits, tithes, and offerings as practices by godly people before, during, and after the Law. The Bible teaches that we should honour the Lord with our wealth/possession (Prov. 3:9-10), therefore we do not only give out of our obedience to God’s Holy Commandment (Lev. 27:30–34, Deut. 12:5–6, Mal. 3:10–12) but we also do it with a cheerful heart as an act of worship and an expression of gratitude for the Lord’s blessings (2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Chronicles 29:9).

 

WOMEN IN MINISTRY

Women are an integral part of the Body of Christ which is neither male nor female, with gifts differing according to the grace that is given to them. (Acts 18:24-26, 21:8, 9; Gal. 3:28; Rom. 12:4-6)

 

TOTAL PROVISION

Spiritual (John 3:3, 11; 2 Cor. 5:17-21); Mental / Emotional (2 Tim. 1:7; Rom. 12:2; Isaiah 26:3); Physical (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24); Financial (3 John 1:2; Mal. 3:10-11); Social (Psalm 68:6, 142:7; Prov. 3:4; Luke 2:52; Acts 2:42-47, 9:19).

 

DIVINE HEALING

The New Testament teaches that Christ is the Healer and that healing is for the Glory of God (Matt. 15:31; Mark 2:12; Luke 13:13; Luke 17:15; Acts 3:8-9, 4:14, 21). The Body of Christ is commissioned to continue healing the sick for God’s Glory by the power of His Word, the prayer of faith, the anointing of oil, and the laying on of hands. (Mark 16:18; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24; Prov. 4:20-22; James 5:14-15).

 

SANCTIFICATION

The process of becoming more like Christ and less worldly. (Titus 2:12; Rom 12:1; 1 John 2:15, Col 3:5-9; 1 Thes. 4:7; Eph. 2:8-10) Sanctification is a progressive work of grace that commences at the moment of new birth but does not end until we stand before Jesus Christ. We are all being changed from glory to glory. (Heb. 12:14; 1 Thes. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Cor. 1:30)

 

THE RESURRECTION OF THE CHURCH

At the appearing of our Lord Jesus, “…the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…” (1 Thes. 4:16-17; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor. 15:51-54).

 

THE SECOND COMING OR RETURN OF JESUS

“…This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11; John 14:3; Heb. 9:28; Rev. 22:20).

 

THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST

Jesus shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be His kings and priests, He shall reign 1000 years (Rev. 5:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-7).

 

ETERNAL PUNISHMENT IN HELL AND THE LAKE OF FIRE

The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the Lake of Fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The Lake of Fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting,” used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the Lake of Fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in describing the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20).