What We Believe Expanded
THE HOLY BIBLE:
We believe the Bible to be inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
* The Bible (The Old & New Testaments, without the Apocrypha) was penned by human hands through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
* The Bible is the ONLY written record of God's Word to man.
* The Bible is the ultimate authority over any tradition, experience, prophecy, sermon, or teaching.
VERSES: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Romans 16:25-26
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TRINITY:
We Believe that there is only one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
* There is no other God but the God Jehovah, Yahweh.
* God is our Creator and our heavenly Father.
* God exists in three persons:
FATHER (Often referred to as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Jesus referred to Him as Father)
SON (Jesus Christ)
The Holy Spirit (God's active presence in the lives of believers today)
VERSES: 1 John 5:7, Matthew 3:16-17, Luke 1:35
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JESUS CHRIST:
We believe in the Deity of Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, death on the cross, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, His present ministry of Intercession for us, and His return to earth in power and glory.
* Jesus was God in the flesh.
* Jesus was supernaturally conceived in the womb of Mary.
* Jesus lived His entire life without sinning.
* Jesus performed many miracles
(events that overrule natural law)
* Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins, and Jesus died in our place and paid the price of His own blood for the sins of those who believe in Him as Savior.
* Jesus physically rose again on the third day after His death.
* Jesus Ascended to heaven with the promise He would return someday to be ruler Messiah.
VERSES: John 1:1, John 1:4, Matthew 1:18 & 25, Luke 1:35,
Isaiah 7:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Revelation 1:7
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THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian has the power to live a godly life.
* The Holy Spirit is an active presence in the lives of believers.
* The Holy Spirit is the means by which a Believer grows in holiness (A Process called "Sanctification").
* The Holy Spirit bears fruit in the life of a true believer.
* The filling of the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father to empower the church to preach the gospel throughout the world.
VERSES: Matthew 3:11, Acts 1:5, Acts 2:38-39,
Acts 8:14-17, Acts 10:38, Acts 20:22, II Timothy 1:14
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THE CHURCH:
* Anyone who receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior becomes part of the body called the "Church".
* The "church" represents all individuals who have accepted Jesus Christ throughout history in every geographical location, in every ethnic group, and in every denomination.
VERSES: Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 2:19-22, Hebrews 10:25, Hebrews 12:23