THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s word to humankind. It was written by men divinely moved by the Holy Spirit. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth for its matter. It is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, practices and opinions should be tried, and useful for teaching, correction, rebuke and training in righteousness. (Hebrews 4:12-13 and 2 Timothy 3:16).
GOD THE FATHER
God the Father is the first Person of the Trinity. God the Father reigns over His creation – the Universe and all living beings and things. He provides and cares for all his creation. He is eternal and the Lord of history – past, present and future. He is all powerful, all knowing, all wise and all loving. Although all men are His creation, He is Father indeed, and in truth, of all those who become his children by faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:12). He is the God of love to all who live in obedience to Him, but also the God of wrath and discipline to those who willfully disobey Him and perpetuate wickedness. (Gen. 1:1, 2:7, Jeremiah 10:10, Hebrews 10:30, 1 John 5:7)
MAN
Man (Humankind) is the special creation of God made in God’s own image. God created Humankind male and female. Gender is part of the goodness, gift and wisdom of God. Man was created innocent of sin and endowed with free will and choice. Willfully, human beings sinned against God and brought upon themselves and the world, sin, judgment and condemnation. Man yielded to the temptation of Satan and willfully transgressed the command and Law of God. Sin is rebellion against God and His eternal moral law. It is yielding to the power and influence of evil and wickedness rather than to God. Sin separates the sinner from the Holy and Righteous God. Sin destroys both human beings and the environment, as a result of selfishness and greed. Sinners are separated from God and under God’s condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring them back into fellowship with God. The only hope for the sinner is through the reconciling work of Jesus Christ. Jesus died to atone for the sins of humankind, was buried and raised for their justification and enablement for new life. Despite the sinful nature of man, every human life is sacred and costly. For these very reasons Christ died for the world. Every person of every race, color, language, culture, social class, age and gender possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect, Christian love and outreach. (Gen.1:26-30, 2:5,7, 18-22, Psalm 1, 51:5, Isa. 6:5, Jer.17:5, Mathew 16:26, Acts 17:26-31, Roman 4:25, 3:23, I Cor. 15:3-7, John 3:16-17).
SATAN AND DEMONS
Satan has power and is also active in the world and under many aliases. We believe however, that, His power is limited and he is subject to the power of God and of His Christ. Satan is a master of deception and guile and can disguise himself and his activities so much that he can appear even as an angel of light (i.e. as an angel of God). His power and deceptions however can be successfully resisted through steadfast reliance on and obedience to God. With the full amour God has provided, believers can resist and overcome the Satan. Demons are also real. They are spirit beings who work under Satan and who like their master are hostile to the things of God and God’s people. They are agents of Satan who cannot be present everywhere, neither know all things. Demons can be cast out in the name of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer and grants the believer power to overcome the activities of Satan and demons. Although Christians can come under demonic and satanic attacks and influence, they cannot be completely overcome or controlled by Satan and demons. Satan and demons are fallen angels. (2 Cor. 11:14, Ephesians 6:10-18, JAMES 4:7, 1John 4:4, Matt. 12:28, Luke 11:20)
GOD
There is only one living and true God who has revealed himself through nature, history and various other providential dealings with the human race. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer and Ruler of the Universe. He is a spiritual and Personal being, infinite in power, knowledge, holiness, purity, righteousness and in all other perfections. God is eternal and transcends time and space. He is God of the past, present and future. God is revealed to us in the community of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, without division of nature, essence or being, but distinct in personal attributes.
GOD THE SON
God the Son is the Second Person of the Trinity. He is the eternal Son of God. As the Word of God also, He has been with the Father from eternity past. He is God and one with the Father (John 1:1-5). All things were created through Him. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He took upon Himself humanity, lived among men, was subject to the tensions and temptations of men and yet was without sin. He made provision for the forgiveness, reconciliation and salvation of humankind through His substitutionary death on the cross. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as proof of His resurrection. He ascended unto heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for His followers and directing the affairs of His Church. He will turn in power and glory to judge the living and the dead and to usher his followers into millennium and eternity. He currently dwells in and with all believers as the living and ever presents Lord. (Isaiah 7:14, 53, Luke 22:70, 24:46).
SALVATION
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole person, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus has obtained eternal remission of sin, forgiveness and redemption through His blood for all believers. In its broad sense, Salvation encompasses repentance and forgiveness of the believer by faith in Jesus Christ. It also covers regeneration, justification, sanctification and glorification of the believer. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone, and not by works. When salvation occurs, works become acceptable to God. (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9).
THE CHURCH
The church (sometimes also referred to fully as The Church of God or the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ) is an autonomous congregation of baptized believers, associated in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel. The Church observes two ordinances of Christ – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The church is governed by Christ’s laws, exercises the gifts of the spirit, enjoys rights and principles vested in them by the Bible and seeks to extend the Gospel to the uttermost ends of the earth. Each local congregation operates under the leadership of Jesus Christ through democratic processes and loving consensus. Each member of the congregation is responsible and accountable to Christ. The Church’s officers, according to the Bible are Pastors (inclusive of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Teachers), and Deacons. Men and women are both gifted for service in the church. The Church is also the Body of Christ (often referred to in this respect as the Universal Church) which includes all of the redeemed of all ages, and believers from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. (Matt. 16:15-19, Acts 2:41-42, 47, Rom. 1:7, 1 Cor.1:2, Eph. 1:22-23, Col.:1:18, Rev. 7:9-10)
TRINITY
The Trinity is the theological term applied to the community of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in which God has revealed himself to us in the Bible. The Trinity refers to the fact that God has revealed Himself to us in three distinct personalities Father, Son and Holy Spirit who are, however, one in essence. The word Trinity does not appear in the Bible but the concept is clearly present in both old and New Testaments. (Gen 1:1-2, Mathew 3:13-17, Mathew 28:19, John 20:28, 2 Cor. 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2.)
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
God the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity. He has been active in both Old and New Testaments. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and of Christ, fully divine. He inspired holy men of God to write the Holy Bible. Through illumination, He enables humankind to understand the truth of Scripture. He empowered the life and ministry of Christ and was poured out at Pentecost. He exalts Christ. He convicts humankind of sin, of righteousness and judgment. He draws people to Christ and effects regeneration of the mind and heart towards God. Upon confession of faith in Jesus Christ, He baptizes believers into the Body of Christ, the Universal Church. The spiritual gifts are manifestation of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, for the common good of believers, to empower them to witness to the Gospel, and to carry out ministry, He cultivates Christian character evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit in every believer. He comforts and helps believers. He bestows spiritual gifts by which believers serve God, and seals them unto the final day of redemption, when Christ shall appear the second time. He empowers believers and the church in worship, discipleship, outreach and service. (Gen.1:2, Judges 14:6, Ps 51:11, Isa. 61:1-3, Joel 2:28-32, Mathew 1:18, Romans 5:3-5, Romans 12:4-8)
THE REALITY OF ANGELS
We accept the reality of Angels. Angels have been active in both the Old and New Testaments. Angels are the supernatural beings, made of fire and wind sent to minister to believers who have found favor with God. They can appear or manifest as man. They minister according to God’s command to those in need of comfort, encouragement, strength and protection. Angels were active in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Although Angels can manifest spectacular glory, they are not to be worshipped under any circumstances. True angels of God never accept worship. They direct all worship to God and Christ. (Gen 18, Matt 1:18-25, Hebrews 1:5-14)
THE LASTING THINGS
God in His own time and in His own way will bring the world to its appropriate end. Believers have expectant hope in the imminent personal and visible return in glory of Jesus Christ to the earth. At his return, the dead believers will be raised, the living believers shall be changed, and Christ will judge all humankind in righteousness and justice. The righteous, in their resurrected bodies, will receive rewards and will dwell forever with the Lord in Heaven. The unrighteous will be condemned and consigned to hell, a place of everlasting torment and punishment (Isa.2:4, 11:9, Matt. 16:27, 18:8-9, Luke 12:40, John 14:1-3)