1. The Inspiration of the Scriptures
The Scriptures are the written, inspired, and infallible Word of God.
The Bible is the revelation of God to mankind (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy
3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2).
2. God
There is one true eternal God that exists without dependance upon anything.
He is a Spirit (John 4:24). He has always existed in the timeless
dimension of eternity (Exodus 3:14). He has revealed Himself as three
Persons in complete unity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
He has revealed Himself as the Creator of heaven and earth and as the Redeemer
of mankind (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:1-11; Matthew 28:29,
Luke 3:22, 2 Corinthians 13:14).
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who existed as one
of the Persons of the Godhead before the creation of the world (John
17:5, John 6:62, John 17:24). He is the Son of God who took a flesh
body (John 1:1, 14). The Scriptures show: 1) His virgin
birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31-35), 2) His sinless life (Hebrews
7:26; 1 Peter 2:22), 3) His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38), 4) His substitutionary
work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21), 5) His bodily
resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4),
6) His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9; 2:33; Philippians
2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).
4. The Fall of Man
Man was created sinless, good, and upright in the image of God.
(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19). However, man by an
act of his will, chose to disobey God. This sin caused him to fall
from right standing before God. The result was not only physical death,
but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Romans 6:23).
5. The Salvation of Man
Salvation from sin is a gift of God. God bought the gift of salvation
for mankind with the blood of Christ, and His death on the cross.
To receive the gift of God’s forgiveness and salvation, a person
must ask God to forgive them, and receive Christ as their Lord and Savior.
There is no other provision whereby a person can be saved. The Bible
declares the following facts that must be understood and acted upon for
a person to receive the gift of salvation:
a) All men need salvation because all men are sinners (Romans
3:23; 1 John 1:8; Isaiah 53:6).
b) All men face God’s judgment (Hebrews 2:3; Romans 14:12;
Hebrews 9:27).
c) To receive God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ,
men must:
1. Acknowledge
that they have personally sinned and need salvation (Romans 3:23;
1 John 1:8).
2. Receive
Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord by asking Him to forgive their
sin
and save them (John 1:12, John 3:16, 1 John 5:12).
3. Believe
that God raised Christ from the dead, and confess that Jesus is Lord and
God
in the flesh. (Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 John 4:2-3.)
Here is a prayer that you can pray to receive God’s forgiveness:
Heavenly Father,
I come to you in the name of Jesus. I confess that
I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. please forgive me of my
sin, cleanse my heart in the blood of Jesus your Son. I ask you now Lord
Jesus to come into my heart and save me. I desire to be a part of your
eternal kingdom, and I commit my life to you. I love You Lord, and I will
obey You. Thank you Lord for your forgiveness and for writing my name in
the Lambs Book of Life. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
6. The Ordinances of the Church
Baptism in water:
is a command of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19) and should be received by
new believers. It is not an act that imparts salvation. But,
it is for those who have already been saved, by faith, by receiving Christ
as Savior and Lord. Baptism in water is a profession of faith in
Jesus Christ as Savior, and it is an identification with Him in His crucifixion
and resurrection. It is a public confession of sin (Romans 3:23; Acts 2:38-39)
and it is an open declaration of the believer’s repentance and death to
it. It is by immersion into water (Matthew 3:11, Acts 8:38-39).
The Lord’s
Supper: Communion is a special time of fellowship with Jesus Christ
in His broken body, and His shed blood. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 shows that
it is a communion and participation in the body and blood of Christ; by
faith. The elements—the bread and the fruit of the vine—should be
received, “...in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25). It should
also be received after a preparation of the heart (1 Corinthians 11:28).
7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Matthew 3:11 and Acts 1:5 describe the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
God promised this baptism into His power (Luke 24:49). It is a gift,
and therefore can be received like the gift of salvation (Luke 11:13).
It, however, is not the gift of salvation. Rather, it is a distinct
and subsequent experience to that of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46;
15:7-9; 19:4-6). It is similar to the Old Testament gift of God’s
power that came upon those anointed to serve God (1 Samuel 16:13).
Both salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit may come in relatively
close proximity. Speaking in unknown tongues is the Scriptural and
natural event which follows this experience and is plainly seen in the
book of Acts (Acts 2:4; 10:45-46; 19:6).
8. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
There are nine gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in
1 Corinthians 12:8-10, and they should be manifested in the church today.
It is God's will that believers receive and share spiritual gifts for the
edification of the body of Christ. They should flow in an orderly way (1
Corinthians 14:40).
9. Divine Healing
The Gospel includes not only salvation from sin, but God's promise
of healing. Healing from sickness is provided for in the sacrifice
of the body of Jesus, through His stripes, and can be received by believers
(Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).
10. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is coming again bodily (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
and will raise first the dead, and then those who are alive in Christ,
and change their bodies to be like His glorious body
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:21).
11. The Millennial Reign of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture and translation of
believers, which is before the return of Christ with His saints to
reign on the earth for one thousand years (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Luke
17:20-36, Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27-30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6).
12. The Final Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised
and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written
in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast,
and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the
lake of fire, the second death (Matthew 25:26; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation
20:10-15).
13. The New Heavens and Earth
There will be a new heaven and a new earth created after the final
judgment where righteousness and the reign of God will never cease (2 Peter
3:13; Revelation 21:1; Isaiah 65:17).