Someone new to Christianity or churches will naturally wonder what a "statement of faith" is. It is a way of telling other people what you believe about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and so forth. This is important, because there are a lot of cults that pretend to be Christian organizations, which are not Christian at all. A statement of faith can be used as an indicator toward learning whether an organization represents true Christianity.
Clarifying Christianity is based on the Bible alone. We believe that the Bible is God’s "word" (communication to us) written by men, but directed and inspired by God through the Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost). It contains no errors, and is the complete, final, and only authority in all matters of faith and conduct. (See 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; and 2 Peter 1:20,21.)
We believe that God the Father is perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, and measureless in power. God showed His love for all people by sending His Son to die for our sins so that we might have eternal life with God in heaven. (Luke 18:27; John 3:16,17; Romans 11:33; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 John 4:7-10; Revelation 4:8.)
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, God Himself, and that He became completely man. Conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless life, and chose to die as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people. He was bodily resurrected from the dead and appeared to many people. He now sits at the "right hand of God" (the highest place of honor and power), interceding (standing in to provide protection) for the sins of His people (those who accepted him as Savior and Lord). He will come in glory to righteously judge all people based on their acceptance or rejection of Him. Jesus is the only way to bridge the gap of sin between God and people, thus He is the only way to have a relationship with God now, and eternal life with God in heaven. (Matthew 16:16,17 and 25:31-46; Mark 14:61,62; Luke 1:34,35 and 2:7; John 1:1 and 1:14 and 5:22-30 and 10:30 and 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22-24.)
We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is received in full when someone gets right with God through Jesus, so all true Christians "have the Holy Spirit." He is the power that Christians have that enables them to live a Christ-like life (as God leads them). The Holy Spirit is our pledge (or "down-payment") of eternal life. (John 16:8-11; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 John 3:24.)
We believe that mankind was created in the image of God and given rule over all the earth. Man forfeited everything when he chose to disobey God (in the Garden of Eden) in spite of warnings regarding the consequences for doing so. As a result sorrow, tears, pain, sickness, death, and all that is "not good" came into existence. This was never God’s intention (and therefore not His fault). All of the people who lived since that time have also sinned, for which the penalty is death. Only through accepting Jesus as Savior and by making Him Lord of your life can you spend eternity with God in heaven. Those who reject or ignore Jesus Christ will suffer God’s wrath for their sins and will suffer eternally in Hell. (Genesis 1:26,27; Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 3:23 and 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 20:11-15 and 22:3-5.)
We believe that Salvation depends on accepting Christ as both Savior and Lord of your life. (John 1:12; Acts 2:38,39 and 8:26-40 and 16:25-34; 1 Peter 3:21,22.)
