Inspiration of Scripture

We believe all scripture is literally, “God-breathed” or inspired. 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Peter 1:20, 21 also states, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit”.

However, the greatest source for the inspiration of scripture comes from the very lips of Christ himself who sated in Matthew 5:18, “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Jesus was known to quote scripture as the final authority and often introduced the statement with the phrase, “It is written,” as in his encounter with Satan in the temptation in the wilderness as found in Matthew 4. He also spoke of himself and of events surrounding his life as being fulfillments of the Scripture, i.e. Matthew 26:54, 56.

The Trinity

 We believe the Trinity is made up of three eternal persons in one divine essence according to Matthew 28:19 and John 15:26. We are saved by Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit which allows us total contact with God. (Rom 8:11) Creation (Gen 1:1), the incarnation (Lk 1:35), atonement for our sin (Heb9:14) the resurrection is attributed to the work of all three persons. The Father (Acts 2:32), the Son Jn 10:17,18), and the Holy Spirit (Rom 1:4). Salvation is also the work of all three person (1 Peter 1:2).  

The Deity of Christ

 John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. Through this verse we learn even though Jesus took upon himself full humanity and lived as a man, he never ceased being the eternal God who has always existed, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and the source of eternal life.  

 Jesus also claimed equality with the Father according to Matt 11:27, Jn 5:17, 18, Jn 8:58, and Jn 14:9-10. He taught and spoke with divine authority (Matt 5:20-28, Jn 3:34 and Mark 13:31). He claimed to be the supreme object of saving faith equally with the Father (Jn 10:30, 14:1, 17:3). At times He pointed to Himself alone as the true object of men’s faith and devotion, with no mention of the Father (Matt 4:19, 11:28, Jn 33:36, 21:15-22). He claimed to be the Son of God at his trial (Mark 14:61-64, Lk 22:69, 70).  

 Jesus received, accepted, and encouraged worship of Himself (Mat 14:33, 28:9, 10, 28:16 -18, Jn 9:35 -39 and Jn 20:27-29). He also claimed to be able to forgive sins (Mk 2:5, Lk 7:48, Jn 8:24, 36). He claimed to be the life (Jn 14:6). He claimed authority to execute the final judgment (Jn 5:27).  

Virgin Birth

 We believe Jesus was miraculously conceived through the power of the holy6 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary without sexual union with man (Matt 1:18-25, Lk 1:34-35). Jesus is God’s Son not by adoption but by nature and his life was free from sin (2 Cor 5:21, Heb 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 Jn 3:5). Born of a woman, he 2as fully human-liable to all temptations of a fallen race (Heb 4:15). Jesus’ humanity revealed his (and God’s) complete identification with humankind. The virgin birth also intersects Jesus’ incarnation with his preexistent glory (Rom 1:3-4, Philp 2:5-8).  

 In addition according to Rom 5:15-19 and 1 Cor 15:20-22, 45-49 we as human beings have all inherited Adam’s sinful nature and God’s punishment for sin. Since Jesus was not conceived by the seed of a man but by the Spirit of God, he did not inherit man’s sinful nature. Therefore, through Jesus as the second Adam, God has made a new and perfect start for humanity possible.

Christ’s Resurrection

 We believe Jesus experienced a very real death (Matt 27:50, 1 Cor 15:3, Gal 1:3,4) and a very real resurrection (Matt 28:5-7, Jn 20:26, 27, Acts 1:3, Acts 2:24, Rom 1:4, 1 Cor 15:20). Jesus had a material body after His resurrection. He could be seen by people’s eyes (Lk 24:40). He could be touched with ther hands (Lk 24:39), Jn 20:27, Matt 28:9). He declared He had a real body of flesh and bones (Lk 24:39). As proof he ate honey and fish in the disciples presence (Lk 24:41-43, Acts 10:41). He had the same body he ahd at death. The nail prints were in his hands and feet and the wound was in his side (Jn 20:25-27). Those who saw him recognized him as the same Jesus who had been crucified and buried in the tomb. Jesus was raised from death to immortality and is no longer subject to death (Rom 6:9, Rev 1:18, Col 1:18, Acts 26:32).  

 We believe Christ’s resurrection is the fundamental message of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul said Christianity rises or falls on the truthfulness of the fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead (1 Cor 15:12-20). It is a vital part of the gospel message that Christ provides the basis of salvation; the resurrection of Christ makes possible the application of salvation. God raised Christ from the dead and has exalted him at His own right hand) Acts 2:32, Acts 5:31, Eph 1:20, Phil 2:9-11, Heb 1:3, Rev 3:21). This is so Christ might be Head of the Church (Eph 1;22, 23, Col 1:18, 1 Peter 2:4-8) and Lord of all believers. He makes intercession and acts as advocate for the believer (Rom 8:34, 1 Cor 1:8, 2 Tim 1:12, Heb 2:18). His resurrection transformed the lives of the apostles and made the Church a tremendous influence in winning thousands to Christ.  

  The Holy Spirit

 We believe the Holy Spirit is God. He is not only a personality, but is a divine person, in as much as he is God: co-equal, co-eternal, co-existent with the Father and the Son. However, he is designated as the third person of the Trinity just as with people there may be persons of equal station, but in position they are subordinate to others. It is the same with the Holy Spirit. As a being equal with the Father and Son, but in positon he is subordinate to the Father and gives precedence to the Son. Evidence of this claim is found in Acts 5:3, 4 and 2 Cor 3:17 where he is referred to as God. He possesses divine attributes such as omnipotence, Lk 1:35, omniscience, 1 Cor 2:10, omnipresence Psalm 129-7-10 and holiness, Eph 4:30.  

 We believe the Holy Spirit makes regeneration possible for all people (Jn 3:5, Titus 3:5). Liberates us from the principles of sin and death (Rom 8:2). Inhabits believers (1 Cor 6:19, 20, 2 Cor 6:16). Attests to our “sonship” (Rom 8:16). Helps believers act as Christ directs (Rom 8:5, Gal 5:22, 23). Provides help for our daily problems and in praying (Rom 8:26, 27). Empowers us to serve God and do His will (Acts 1:8, Rom 12:6). Become part of God’s plan to build up His church) Eph 4:12, 13) Sanctifies believers (2 Thes 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2) Augments the inner-being (Eph 3:16). Provides information and illumination (Jn 14:26, 1 Jn 2:20, 27). Calls us for special service (Acts 13:2-4). Supplication (Rom 8:26, Jude 20, Eph 6:18). Provides believers the power to communicate the word (1 Thes 1:5). Reveals the deep things of God to believers (1 Cor 2:4-14). Provides believers the “fruit” of the spirit (Gal 5:22, 23).  

The Creation and Fall of Man

 We believe man was created in the image of God (Gen 1:26, 27) Human beings are not self-made or the product of random chance (Ps 8:2, Rom 1:25, James 3:9). People are invested by God with a special dignity, appointed as rulers of the world under God, summoned to possess and subject it and to rule all other creatures (Gen 1:27 – 2:3, Ps 8:5). Human beings were originally created good (Gen 1:31, Eccl 7:29). Being in the image of God does not constitute a physical form of Godliness but rather provides people a mental facet to His image, i.e. the ability to think, worship and reason People also have the moral facet for righteousness and holiness (Gen 2:7, Job 33:4,5 ).  

We believe ate from the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden he sinned against God and died spiritually (Gen 2:17). As the first man, Adam represented all of humanity before God. When Adam fell, humanity fell. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Rom 5:2). One aspect of the curse that sin brought upon all mankind was a change of man’s heart from being good, holy and upright to being evil, unholy, and corrupt. “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5). 

Redemption of Humanity

 We believe redemption for humanity is only possible by God’s grace through Jesus Christ (Rom 3:24). Jesus came to earth according to God’s will (Acts 2:23, 1 Peter 1:20). He gave his life up as a ransom for all (Mk 10:45, 1 Tim 2:6). Through the judgment of sin in Christ, God is able to forgive repentant sinners and give them righteous standing before him (Is 53:6, 2 Cor 5:21, Gal 3:13). Because Christ loves us, he freely gave himself up as an offering and sacrifice fur us (Eph 5:2). He did this so that those who believe in him (Rom 3:22) might receive atonement and “be saved from God’s wrath” 9Rom 5:9) through “the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peer 1:19). Because of Jesus, God will then present us “faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).

 We believe salvation is open to anyone willing to follow God’s commandants and live by His will. Salvation is the free gift of God, but there are conditions for receiving this free gift. First one must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that through Him only can a person obtain salvation (Jn 3:17, 18, Acts 4:11-13). Acceptable faith requires obedience to God’s will (James 2:16). Upon believer, repentance is necessary for salvation) Lk 13:3). Repentance is a change of will, deciding to follow the will of Jesus and not self. Confession of one’s faith is also a requirement (Rom 10:9, 10). Confession is not just a tone time statement of belief, but a continual statement shown through one’s life.  

 We also believe Christ’s death was/is a saving act and was/is the only means of salvation. Jesus’ death was/is all-sufficient and lacked(s) nothing (Jn 11:25, 26, 1 Thes 5:9, 10, Heb 7:24, 25). Salivation is not possible by our own works or merit (Rom 4:1-7, Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7). Salvation is solely by Christ’s person and work as a gift of God (1 Jn 5:5-13, Acts 4:12, Phil 3:8-9).