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20 October 2010
There is only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal being; the creator, redeemer, preserver, and ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. God reveals himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without divisions of nature, essence, or being.
1. God the Father: God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, creatures, and the flow of human history according to the purpose of His grace. He is all powerful, all loving, and all wise. God is Father of truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ and is fatherly in His attitude toward all mankind. Gen. 1:1, 26-27; Ex. 3:14; Deut. 6:4; Isaiah 42:5-8, 64:8; Jer. 10:10; Matt. 23:9, 28:19; Mark 1:10-11; John 4:24; Rom. 8:14-15.
2. God the Son: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is co-equal with the Father. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Matt. 1:22; Isaiah 9:6, 53:1-12; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; I Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; I Tim. 6:14-15; Titus 2:13.
3. God the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation sealing their redemption. He gives every believer power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily. 2 Cor. 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; I Cor. 2:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:18.
The Bible is God's Word to us . It is written by human writers, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Prov. 30:5.
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God's creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin." This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life. Gen. 1:17; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Rom. 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
Salvation is God's free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for sin by self-improvement of good works. Only by trusting Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 5:1
Because God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot "lose" it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security. John 10:29, 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25, 10:10, 14; I Pet. 1:3-5
People are created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. John 3:16, 2:25, 5:11-13; Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:15; Matt. 1:8, 2:44, 46.
The church is the local body of believers who have been spiritually regenerated by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the people of God chosen, constituted, and belonging to Him, thereby a particular quality of holiness is expected. It is the local body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, actively doing the work of Christ on earth. Christ is the head of the body and there exists a unified interconnection among its members characterized by genuine fellowship. Its purpose is to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Matt. 28:19-20, 22:36-40; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 5:25-27, 4:4-6,1:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:13, 26-27,3:16-17; Col. 1:18
Satan and his demons are active in blinding mankind to spiritual truth in order to keep them from a personal relationship with God and eternal life. Satan is the father of lies, a deceiver, and the ruler of the non-believing world system. He was judged and condemned by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and will suffer eternal punishment at judgment. All believers can and should resist him by faith and applying scriptural truth. Genesis 3:1-19; Luke 10:18, John 8:44; Eph. 2:1-3, 6:10-19; James 4:7-8; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:13, 20:10; Co. 2:15; 2 Cor. 4:4
