One of the statements
that churches like ours come to adopt says:
“In Essentials, Unity; In Non-Essentials,
Liberty; and in All Things, Love.”
In the things that are the “core” of Christianity,
we are to be united. Things that are not “essential”
are considered opinions and there is to be liberty (flexibility)
concerning these topics. Above all, love is to be practiced
in everything.
“If I hold in my mind not only all
human knowledge, but also the very secrets of God, and have
the faith that can move mountains, but have no love, I amount
to nothing at all.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)
1. THE BIBLE
The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority
for Christian faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter
1:20, 21; Psalm 119:105)
2. THE PERSON OF GOD
God is the eternal and true God who exists in three persons:
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He has revealed Himself
as the Creator, as Righteous in all things, and Perfection
in all things. (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2
Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2)
3. JESUS CHRIST
Jesus is God, the Son. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless
life, and was crucified as a sacrifice for our sins. He was
bodily resurrected from the dead (which was witnessed by more
than 500 people) and returned (ascended) to heaven to prepare
a place for those who accept Him as Savior and Lord. He will
come again to receive His Church unto Himself. (Matthew 1:22,
23; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans
1:3, 4; Titus 2:13; Acts 1:9-11; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30)
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, who convicts us of sin,
righteousness and judgment. Upon conversion, He resides in
the believer, and is our teacher. He is the power to live
the Christ-like life and is our guarantee of our salvation.
(Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; John
16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Galatians 5:22-25)
5. PEOPLE
Men and women were created in God’s image. We are all
sinners by choice and thus condemned by our own sin against
God. At the same time we are the most valuable thing in all
of God’s Creation. We have never met a human being that
God did not desperately love and care about. By acceptance
of God’s plan, we can be saved, our sins forgiven and
we can become His children. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23, 5:8,
6:23, 10:9, 10; Acts 2:36-39)
6. THE CHURCH
The Church is the Body of Christ on earth. Christ is the head
of His Church. The Church, as a Body, is made up of many parts
(People) who have become Christians through faith, repentance,
confession and baptism into Him. We not only belong to God,
we belong to each other. (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians
4)
7. ETERNAL LIFE
Some day Jesus will return to take His Church (Bride) home.
He, at that time, will raise the dead and judge the world.
Every person who is a Christian (washed in His Blood) will
live with Him forever. (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18;
Matthew 24:36-51)
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