Christian Beliefs
The Holy Trinity
There is one God who eternally exists in three distinct persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one divine essence who exists as three distinct, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. All three persons share one divine essence, substance, or nature.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
Matthew 28:19
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."
2 Corinthians 13:14
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."
1 Peter 1:2
The Authority of Scripture
The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God and the final authority for faith and life. The Bible is the Word of God, written by human authors under the supernatural inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is the Word of God, the Bible is truth without any error or contradiction and has complete authority over faith and how to live.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
2 Peter 1:20-21
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
John 17:17
The Deity of Jesus Christ
Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity who took on human flesh to be the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ is fully God, being one of the three persons who make up the Holy Trinity. However, Jesus is also fully man, having two complete and distinct natures at once. During the incarnation, the eternal Son of God took on human flesh and became both man and God.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 1:1
"But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."
Hebrews 1:8
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"
1 Peter 1:2
The Gospel
The gospel Paul preached was the life, substitutionary death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus as the Messiah for the forgiveness of sins and a means of salvation for all who believe. This good news was in keeping with Old Testament prophecies. Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures foretold. He was buried. He was raised from the dead on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He appeared alive to many eyewitnesses, including Paul himself.
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."
Matthew 16:21
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Romans 10:9
Saved by Grace through Faith
Salvation from sin, spiritual rebirth, and eternal life is a free gift from God received bay grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is an unearned, undeserved gift from God, available only through God's grace. To be saved, a person must place their faith in Jesus Christ's sacrificial death as the only payment for sins and they will receive forgiveness.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
Romans 3:23-24
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 6:23
Eternal Security
Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is an eternal and irrevocable gift from God. Once a person has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and been born again by the Holy Spirit, they are forever secured as a child of God. Their salvation cannot be lost, nullified, or taken away, no matter what sins they may commit after believing. The believer's eternal security is assured by the promises of God, the sealing of the Holy Spirit, and the permanent union with Christ.
"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."
John 10:28-29
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
1 Peter 1:3-5
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
Ephesians 1:13-14
Not Under the law
The Mosaic Law, including the 10 Commandments, was given as part of the conditional Old Covenant made between God and the nation of Israel. It was to point out their sin and need for a Savior, until the coming of the promised Messiah. Under the New Covenant, Christ is our righteousness, and we are free from the Law as a means of achieving righteousness before God. Our obedience now is motivated by the indwelling Spirit, not from a code of regulations.
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
Galatians 3:24-25
"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
Romans 7:6
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."
Galatians 5:4
Rapture of The Church
Jesus Christ will return for His church before the prophesied seven-year tribulation period. This imminent event will see the resurrection of the dead and the catching up (rapture) of all living believers to be with the Lord. As God's protected church, we are not destined for wrath, and the rapture signifies a joyous reunion with Christ, separate from His future judgment on the world.
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,"
1 Thessalonians 5:9
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
Revelation 3:10
Baptized With THe Holy Ghost
The true baptism is baptism with the Holy Ghost. John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" (Matthew 3:11) Water baptism was a symbolic ritual practiced by John the Baptist and the early church, but the real baptism is the spiritual baptism with the Holy Ghost.
"And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."
John 1:33
"For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
Acts 1:5
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
1 Thessalonians 5:9
Spiritual Warfare
There is conflict between God, his holy angels, and the redeemed against Satan, his demonic forces, and the unredeemed people under their influence. Though Christ's death and resurrection secured victory in this war, until Christ's return, believers must actively resist the tactics of Satan who seek to tempt, deceive, accuse, and destroy faith. Through prayer, obedience to God, and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers can overcome demonic opposition and remain steadfast until spiritual forces of evil are finally and permanently defeated at Christ's second coming.
"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."
2 Corinthians 12:7
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:12
"Neither give place to the devil."
Ephesians 4:27
