Biblical Truths

THE BIBLE – GOD SPOKE TO MAN

The Bible is God’s Word to all people. Scripture is the authoritative Word of God. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives. (Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25)

THE TRINITY – THREE-IN-ONE GOD

There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He exists as one substance in three persons, and these three are co-equal and co-eternal. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority. (Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 40:13; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

THE FATHER – GOD IS GREAT, GOD IS GOOD, GOD IS HOLY

God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, holy. God is good: He is loving, compassionate, merciful, gracious, and faithful to His people and His promises. (Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4)

THE SON – GOD BECAME MAN

Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity who is completely human, and at the same time completely God. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect and sinless life (the only man ever to do so), performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind, and atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day, thus defeating death in His resurrection so that we could have eternal life. He ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory. (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25; 3:17; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; 24:46-47; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; Romans 1:3-4; 8:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16)

THE HOLY SPIRIT – GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT

The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sin and comes to dwell within every believer at the point of salvation. His presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, comes on us in power, and makes us more like Christ. (Genesis 1:2; Psalms 51:11; 139:7; Joel 2:28-32; Luke 12:12; John 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14)

MAN – GOD’S IMAGE BEARER

Man is made in the image of God and was created good and upright. As the supreme object of God’s creation, man was fashioned to have a relationship with God, but became separated in that relationship through willful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of love and respect. Man’s only hope of salvation however, is in Jesus Christ the Son of God. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7, 18-22; 3:1-7; Psalms 8:3-6; Acts 17:26-27; Romans 3:23; 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Colossians 1:21-22)

SALVATION – GOD’S ONLY WAY

The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross of Calvary, provides the only way of salvation. Jesus allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins. This sacrifice enables all who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the only way for bringing people back into a right relationship with God. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own human effort. (Isaiah 53:5-6; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-28:6; Luke 2:28-32; John 1:29; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-17; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:22; I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 5:9)

TWO ORDINANCES

Water Baptism: Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48)

The Lord’s Supper: A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. (Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25)

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FOR EVERYONE

All believers are entitled to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and therefore should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. The baptism in the Holy Spirit was the normal experience of all believers in the early church. With the experience comes the provision of power and productive service for victorious Christian living. It also provides believers with specific spiritual gifts for more effective ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31)

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is separate from salvation, and follows the new birth experience (Acts 8:12-17, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9). With this Baptism come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, a deepened reverence for God, an intensified commitment to God and dedication to His work, and a more active love for Christ, for His Word, and for those who have not yet accepted Him (Mark 16:20).

THE INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The baptism of Christians in the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues (unlearned languages) as the Spirit of God gives then audible expression (Acts 2:4). This form of speaking in tongues is basically the same as the gift of tongues (1Corinthians 12:4-10,28). The difference is the purpose and use. The initial infilling of the Spirit and the expression of tongues should continue in the believer’s personal prayer life as the way to build up the spiritual person and assist in praying in ways beyond our understanding. However, the gift of tongues (sometimes called “message in tongues”) operates publicly and is followed by the gift of interpreting tongues. This gift is given to build up the church.

SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.
(I Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; II Corinthians 3:18; 6:14-18; Romans 8:29; 12:1-2; Galatians 5:22; Hebrews 2:11) 

THE CHURCH – GOD’S DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY

The church is a local community of believers unified through faith in Christ. It is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ Great Commission. It is committed to the teachings of Christ, to obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the gospel to the world. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying our Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 16:18; John 17: 20-23; Acts 2:41-47; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

GOD CALLS SOME TO LEAD IN MINISTRY

Involvement in ministry in response to a divine call is scripturally ordained in the Bible. It is a provision of our Lord for the fourfold purpose of leading the Church in: (1) evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20), (2) worship of God (John 4:23-24), (3) building a body of believers conforming to the life of Christ (Ephesians 4:11, 16), and (4) meeting human needs with ministries of love and compassion (Galatians 2:10, 6:10).

HEALING OF THE SICK

Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign, which is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus’ work on the Cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit. (Psalm 103:2-3; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-18; Acts 8:6-7; James 5:14-16; I Corinthians 12:9, 28)

GOD’S WILL FOR PROVISION

It is the Father’s will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life. Jesus came that we might have life and life more abundantly. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on Earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to better serve others.

Spiritual- (Psalm 103:2-4; Isaiah 53:4-5; John 3:3-11; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 10:9-10; I Peter 2:24)

Mental and Emotional- (Psalm 103:2-4; Isaiah 26:3; Isaiah 53:4-5; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:7-8; II Timothy 1:7; I Peter 2:24)

Physical- (Psalm 103:2-4; Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:17; I Peter 2:24)

Financial- (Joshua 1:8; Malachi 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:6-8; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalm 34:10, 84:11; Philippians 4:19)

ETERNITY

Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally in union with God through forgiveness and salvation or separated from God because of sin. To be eternally in union with God is eternal life or heaven. To be eternally separated from Him is eternal death or hell. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15)

Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 5:12, 6:20, 25:34; John 17:24; II Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:16; I Peter 1:4; II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:21)

After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the Devil and the Fallen Angels. (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11; 20:12-15; 21:8)

RESURRECTION

Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body on the third day after His death on the cross. In addition, both the saved and the lost will be resurrected; those who are saved to the resurrection of eternal life and those who are lost to the resurrection of eternal death. (Luke 24:36-39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-28; 21:4; Acts 24:14-15; I Corinthians 15:13, 42-44; Philippians 3:21)

SECOND COMING

Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for the second time to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed by the Scriptures. (Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; II Thessalonians 1:7-8; 2:1-3; Revelation 1:7)