The Bible
The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of human beings, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. (2Tim. 3:15 – 17; 2 Peter1:21)
God
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons. (Deut 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14)
The Father, who is spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in all His attributes (John 4:24; Exodus 34:6).
Jesus Christ who is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He led a sinless life & died on the cross as the only sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven where, He now is our High Priest and Advocate & who will personally return as Lord and Savior. (John 1:1; Isa. 7:14; Heb. 7:26; 1 Cor. 15:3,4; Acts 1:11)
The Holy Spirit, who is a divine person, equal with the other two, and of the same nature (John 15:26). We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the repentant sinner, and indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
Human Beings
We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore lost & whose total depravity makes necessary the new birth by the Holy Spirit for salvation in Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:12; John 3:5).
Salvation
Salvation is only by God’s grace through faith in the shed blood & death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and His resurrection for all those who believe & are therefore born of the Holy Spirit becoming the children of God. (Titus 3:4-7; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:8, Jn 1:12).
The Community of Followers of Christ
The community of Followers of Christ is universally composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been reborn by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ of which He is the head. The community of Christ in its local expression is established for worship, mutual edification, witness & mission (Eph.1:22, 23; 5:25-32; Acts 1:8; 15:41; 16:5). Christ’s Great Commission for the community of Christ is to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all peoples, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching them to obey all of Christ’s commands (Matt. 28:18-20). We believe that Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by believers in the community of Christ during this present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.
Future Things
We believe in the personal and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of God’s kingdom on earth & in heaven. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; Phil. 3:21)
