The Bible

The Bible is God’s word to all people and was written by men who were under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is God-breathed and without error and is the final authority for the lives of people and the church. Through the Bible we come to understand who God is; who we are; how we are to live and God’s great plan of redemption. It reveals the grand story of the ages: Creation, fall, rescue and restoration.

Matthew 24:35; John 6:63; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; I Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:21

God

There is only one true and living God. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is all powerful and all knowing; and his perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of his free creatures. The eternal triune God reveals himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. God is not distant and unknowable but has revealed himself to mankind and we can know him personally through his Son Jesus. God wants us to have a relationship with him and enjoy him for all eternity.

Ephesians 1:3; Romans 8:15; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 1 John 5:7

The Father

God as Father reigns with providential care over his universe, his creatures, and human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is a true Father to those who become his children through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in his attitude toward all men and so loved the world that he sent his Son to be its Saviour.

Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11; 20:1; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7. 

The Son

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. In his incarnation he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon himself human nature and identifying himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honoured the divine law by his personal obedience, and in his substitutionary death on the cross he made provision for the redemption of everyone from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to his disciples. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where he is the one Mediator, fully God, fully man. Through him people can be reconciled to God. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate his redemptive mission and kingdom. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever-present Lord.

Psalms 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination he enables people to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts people of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls people to the Saviour and baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through his church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17.

People

People were originally created as physical (male and female) and spiritual beings in the image of God to have meaningful relationship with him and to fulfill his purpose. Through disobedience to God we have all inherited a sin nature. We live in willful defiance of and opposition to God because of this nature, which is common to every person. Everyone is responsible for their own sin but cannot save themselves. As a result, each individual is destined for eternal punishment and separation from God in Hell. However, every person has also been given a will, which is the ability to choose between good and evil; between serving self and serving God; between everlasting life or separation from God. Every person will be held accountable to God for the choice made, the consequence of which will be endured endlessly.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7,8,18-25; Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Matthew 10:28; Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-12,20,23; 5:12; 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15

Satan

Satan is the archenemy of God and humanity. He was there in the Garden of Eden deceiving Adam and Eve. He is hostile to everything good and seeks to frustrate the plans and purposes of God. Though he possesses great power, he is limited in what he can do. He comes to steal, kill, destroy and to tempt God’s people, but we can resist him by submitting to God and he will flee from us. One day Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Genesis 3:1 -7; Job 1:6 -12, 2:1 -6; John 10:10; Ephesians 6:10 -20; Revelation 20:10

Salvation (Good News!)

Salvation is a free gift by God’s grace through faith without works of any kind. All who repent and accept the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born again by the Holy Spirit and become the children of God. They are eternally secure and cannot be separated from God’s love.

Ephesians 2:8,9; John 1:12; 3:16; 10:28,29; 1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Romans 6:1-23; 10:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:13; Acts 2:21; Revelation 22:17

Church

The Church is not a building or man-made organization. It is the body of Christ and is composed of all who have personally received God’s gift of eternal life. As such we are to receive our Brothers and Sisters in Christ just as the Lord has received us. Christ is the only Head of the Church, which is made up of all true believers baptized by the Holy Spirit into one Body. Through the Church, God manifests himself to a lost world and reaches out in saving grace and acts of kindness to save humanity. The Church is a family who corporately worship God; fellowship with one another; disciple new converts; evangelize the lost and serve the Lord. The church celebrates two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s supper.

Romans 15:7; Acts 2:47; Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:13,27

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality. Christians are immersed under the water in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is a picture of the Christian’s union with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is done in obedience to the command of Christ.

The Lord’s supper (communion) is a celebration of the death of Jesus for sinners. The wine represents his blood and the bread represents his body. As we partake of these together, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. It is done in remembrance of Christ and it reminds us that salvation is of the Lord. It is through his sacrifice we are saved.

Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:14 -20; Romans 6:3,4; 1 Corinthians 11:23 -32

Missions and Evangelism

God has called the church on mission with him in this world. He has commissioned the church to go in his authority with the gospel to all nations. Consequently, every believer has the great privilege and responsibility to be a witness for Jesus Christ. This is to be done at all times that by all possible means some might be saved. He has also gifted some to be evangelists, who give themselves fully to proclaiming the gospel and equipping the saints to do so as well.

Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8, 13:1 – 4; 2 Timothy 4:1 -5; 1 Peter 3:15; Ephesians 4:11

Last Things

God will bring the world to its appropriate end in his own time and way. According to his promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all people in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever with the Lord. 

Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:7.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13.