"Therefore, we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life." Romans 6:4-5
What We Believe
The Scriptures
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the supernatural revelation written by Himself to man. The Bible is the absolute authority in such a way that not believing or disobeying any part of it is not believing and disobeying God. The Bible tells the truth about everything that it speaks of. It is complete in its revelation, finished in its content and without errors in its teaching.
Scripture References: II Sam. 7:28; Num. 23:19; Jn. 17:17; II Tim 3:16; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1: 2; Ps. 12: 6, 119:89, 96; Mat 24:35
God
God exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each one of them is God and there is only one God. God is Spirit, infinite and immutable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, love, truth, perfections/attributes, purposes and promises. He is active, feels emotions and is personal. He interacts with us, and we can relate to Him.
Scripture References: Gen 1:26; 3:22; 11: 7; Ps. 110: 1; Isa. 48:16; Mal. 3:1-2; Mat. 28:19; John 8:19, 58; 10:30; 14:7-10; 17:3; I Cor 12:4-6; II Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; I Pet. 1:2; Jude 20-21
Man
Man was created by God in His own imagine as the pinnacle of His creative activity. God did not need to create man; however, He did it for His own Glory. Man is like Him more than any other creature created. Man was made in the likeness of God in his moral aspect (responsible before God), in his spiritual aspect (he will not cease to exist, but he will live forever), in his mental aspect (reason, logic, etc.), and in his relational aspect (complex language, love, marriage). Therefore, men and women have a special place in creation from conception and should be placed in a position of dignity and respect for the reasons given above.
Scripture References: Gen. 1-2; Isa. 43:7; Rev. 4:11; Eph.1:11-12; Gen. 1:27; 5: 1-2; Jn. 10:10; 17:5, 24; I Cor. 10:31
Sin
Sin is any failure to adapt to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature; sin is rebellion and breaking the laws of God. Sin entered mankind through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and was therefore imputed to all mankind. We have all inherited a human nature through Adam. All humanity is guilty of sin before God, first by our own nature and second because we sin willingly. Man has no spiritual goodness before God and is lost and separated from God. The Bible clearly teaches that the wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God and all men will be responsible for their sin before God.
Scripture References: Ex. 20; I Jn. 3:4; Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12-19; Ps. 51:5; Eph. 2:3; Titus 1:15; Jer. 17:9; I Kings 8:46; Ps.14:3; Ps. 143:2; Isa. 64: 6; Jer. 17: 9-10; Rom. 3:10; 3:23; I Jn. 1: 8; Rom. 6:23, Ezk. 18: 4; James 1:15; Rom. 14:12; Heb 9:27
Salvation
Jesus Christ is the Messiah; Son of God; completely God and completely man in one person, and He will be like this forever. He was sent to be flesh, born through a virgin, lived a perfect life without sin, fulfilled the law, paid the penalty for sin on the cross as the propitiation for our sins. He came back to life on the third day, was seen by many witnesses and ascended to heaven where He is seated at the Father's right as the only mediator and intercessor of those who have believed in Him. Through His birth, life and resurrection, Christ achieved reconciliation, redemption, and salvation for all who believe in Him as their only Savior from the wages of sin. God offers free salvation to all who believe based on the life and work of Christ. Salvation is a gift from God and not from the works of any man so that no one can boast before God. Salvation is received by grace through faith and there is salvation only in Christ.
Scripture References: Isa. 53; Mk.10:45; Lk. 19:10; Jn. 3:16-17, 14: 6; Acts 4:12; Rom 5:8; 6:23; I Cor 15: 3; II Cor 5:18-19; Heb 9:26; I Jn. 4:10
The Future
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its proper end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return to earth in glory in a personal; physical and visible way; the dead will be resurrected; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unjust will be consigned to Hell, the place of eternal punishment and separation from God. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will abide forever in Heaven with the Lord. In the Scriptures it is clear that no one knows when Christ will return, but we should wait anxiously for His coming.
Scripture References: Mt.14:44, 24:44, 25:13, 21; Mk.13: 32-33; Lk.12:40; Jn. 14:3; Acts 1:11; II Cor. 16:22; Phil. 3:20; I Thes. 4:16; Titus 2:12-13; Heb. 9:28; James 5:8; II Ped. 3:10; I Jn. 3: 2; Rev. 22:20
Baptism
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience that symbolizes the faith of the believer in a crucified, buried and risen Savior, the death of the believer to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony of his faith in the final resurrection of the dead.
Scripture References: Acts 2:41; 8:12; 10: 47-48; 16:14-15, 32-33; Rom. 6:1-11, Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:11-12
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) is a symbolic act of obedience by which believers, by partaking of the bread and the cup, commemorate the death of Christ and announce His second coming.
Scripture References: Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-24; Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11:20-33