1. One True God – He is the one and only God, the Creator of all. He is eternally existent in three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, collectively known as the Trinity. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the great “I am.” Even evil acknowledges Him and His authority.
(Genesis 1:1, Genesis: 1:26-27, Revelation 22:13, Exodus 3:14, Isaiah 40:28, Philippians 2:5-7,
John 1:1, John 1:14&18, John 16:28, John 15:26, Mark 1:23-26)
2. The Supremacy of the Scriptures -The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God and is supreme over all man made creeds. BIBLE = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
(2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21, John 1:1)
3. God is Holy - God is most holy and just. God cannot look at nor accept any sin, no matter how “big” or “small” we, man, perceive it to be. Sin is sin and our holy and just God cannot tolerate it.
(Genesis 6:5-6, Deuteronomy 5:8-10; “Holy” appears in the Bible over 550 times…)
4. All Have Sinned - Since Adam and Eve, everyone has sinned and has a sinful nature. Sin separates us from our holy God, our Creator. Sin can be in the form of wrong actions, thoughts, or not doing what is right according to His word. The wages of sin is death to an eternal hell.
(Romans 5:14, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)
5. Man Cannot Earn Salvation - Everyone needs redemption from sin but no one can earn salvation by doing good works, being a “good person” or by association with other people or religious organizations. Good works and church membership do not provide salvation from sin.
(Isaiah 64:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 John 5:12, Galatians 2:16)
6. God’s Love and Grace, Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Ultimate Sacrifice – God loves ALL of us! We are His creation in His image, and He desires a personal relationship with each of us. Jesus Christ, Son of God and born of a virgin, is the only one who ever lived as man without sin. Jesus Christ, being both God and man, laid down his life on a cross as the pure and ultimate sacrifice for redemption of sin. He resurrected and conquered sin and death forever for all who will believe and repent of their sin and accept Him. Satan has lost and his fate is set. However, salvation is a gift of grace that must be received individually by each person. Salvation from sin and death and reconciliation with our Heavenly Father is only possible by having faith in and accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord who intercedes for us.
(Romans 5:8, Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14, Luke 1:26-35, John 3:16-17, Philippians 2:5-8, Ephesians 2:8, 1 John 3:8, Romans 6:22-23, 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:4-6, Hebrews 9:25-30, Revelation 19:20, Hebrews 7:20-25, John 15:12-14)
7. Heaven and Hell Are Real and Eternal – One who physically dies in sin without accepting Jesus Christ is lost for eternity and cast into the “lake of fire”, a real hell of torment, without hope, forever. However, those who accept Jesus Christ will have their names recorded in the “Lamb’s Book of Life”, and will be with Jesus Christ for all eternity in “Paradise”, Heaven, forever.
(Romans 6:23, Mark16:16, Acts 17:30-31, Hebrews 9:27, Matthew 13:41-43, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:14-15; Revelation 2:7, Luke 23:39-43, John 14:1-3; Matthew 5:19)
8. Individual Choice and Faith - Each person is responsible to God for their own beliefs, decisions, actions and sin. Each person must humbly acknowledge their own sin and separation from God and desire redemption. It is up to each person to accept His gift of Salvation and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God loves us and made us in His image. We are all equally loved and important to Him, but He did not “program” us to obey and love Him back. We must either acknowledge Him and our sin and accept His gift of Salvation on faith, or reject Him. God and the Angels of Heaven rejoice when anyone accepts His gift of Salvation and chooses to live a life pleasing to Him by His Word. Jesus called this “being born again.” Once born again, we are “Christians”, Christ-like.
(Romans 3:22-26, Romans 10:9-13, Hebrews 11:6, 2 Corinthians 7: 10, 1 John 5:12, John 3:3-5, John 3:16, 1 Peter 1:23, Acts 2:36-38, Romans 1:17 Matthew 10:32-33, Luke 15:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Acts 11:26)
9. The Holy Spirit, Our Advocate – The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin and a desire to be reconciled with God. Once we are born again, we are indwelled with the personal presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our “Advocate” reminding us and enabling us to grow spiritually and be Christ-like. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live our faith with assurance of our salvation. The Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts to all believers for His service.
(John 14:15-17, 2 Corinthians 7: 10, John 15:26, John 4:23-24, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38,
Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
10. Baptism - Jesus Christ set an example for baptism. Baptism is a public expression of a person’s identification with Christ as a child of God.
(Matthew 3:13-17, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39, Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38)
11. The Priesthood of Believers - Anyone can approach and pray to God through Jesus Christ.
(Isaiah 62:11-12, 1 Peter 2:9-10, 2 1 Peter 2:5, 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, Matthew 6:6,
1 Corinthians 6:19)
12. The Church, His Bride, and His Return – Everyone of any race, age, culture, background, or social status who repents of their sin and accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is a Child of God and part of His Church, His Bride, for whom Jesus Christ will return and take home to Heaven soon but at a time that no one but God knows. “His coming is imminent.” There is spiritual unity in Christians. The local church is a body of believers in Christ who gather together to worship, pray, study His Word and carry out the mission of Christ. Believers are “brothers” and “sisters” in Christ and members of God’s family united in faith and love for God and for each other. Each believer has spiritual gifts and a purpose within the church, all of which are equally important to God. Additionally, all brothers and sisters are called to build each other up in Christ.
(Matthew 22:37-39, John 13:34, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Ephesians 4:4-6, Ephesians 4:11-13, Philippians 2:5; Matthew 12:49-50, Acts 2:46-47, Romans 15:5-6, Romans 12:3-5, 1 John 3:1-2, John 13:34-35, John 14:1-3, Mark 13:31-33)
13. Sanctification and God’s Plan for Abundant Life – Sanctification is the process of growing in divine grace. We are to seek holiness. Without holiness, no one can see the Lord. Believers must seek to mature and grow in Christ. Being an active part of a local church with worship, Bible teaching, prayer and fellowship with other believers is critical to spiritual growth. Private Bible study, prayer and worship are also critical. We must know how to “divide the word of truth.” Actively serving God and living our faith in action is also critical. He has instructed us to share His love with others, build each other up and help those in need. God commands us to love Him and our neighbors and to share His love with others. Though our actions do not save us from sin, His word says we are known by our “fruit.” God has a purpose and plan for each of us. There is no greater joy than realizing and living out that plan, His Will, day-by-day and finishing “the race” well in Christ. As we mature in Christ, we begin to understand His greatness and mercy on a deeper and more personal level. As we grow in Christ, we change and shed sinful habits and things not pleasing to God and replace them with things that are pleasing to God, which bring far greater and everlasting joy into our lives. As we mature in Christ, we begin to see ourselves and others through God’s eyes, enabling us to love Him and others more and help build others up to be Christ-like. As we mature in Christ, we become more like Him, with a humble heart of service. All this in turn brings a greater and inexplicable joy. Our joy is NOT dependent on circumstances, money and “stuff”, or any social status, such as the world teaches. Living and growing in Christ and seeking His Will day-by-day is the joyful and abundant life He intended for each of us. But how is all of this “growing in Christ” possible? The indwelling presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit is our “Advocate” reminding us and enabling us to grow spiritually each step of the way.
(Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Philippians 3:12-14, Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 4:11-13, Ephesians 4:22-24, Ephesians 6:10-12, Ephesians 6:17-18, Romans 8:28, Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:7, Acts 2:42, Matthew 22:36-40, Colossians 3:1-17, 1 Peter 1:13-23, 2 Peter 1:3-11, 2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, John 15:4-16, Proverbs 9:10, Hebrews 12:14, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 3:16-20, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Isaiah 55:1-3, Romans 5:17, Philippians 4:4, Psalm 118:24; Romans 15:13, John 10:10-11)
14. Evangelism and the Great Commission! - Jesus Christ’s departing words before ascending to Heaven was a commandment to share His love and Gospel message (the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ) with all people throughout the world.
(Matthew 28:18-20)