What I Believe

There is one God (Deut 6:4) who has revealed himself as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matt 28:19, Jn 15:26) Each of these persons have distinct roles. However, they are all equal (Jn 10:30) and united in deity. (1 Pet 1:2) All three persons maintain the same perfection in nature, attributes, and holiness. (Titus 3:5, 2 Pet 1:4, Heb 12:29) Likewise, the trinity is worthy of the exact same honor and obedience. The one triune God is uncreated, omniscient, eternal, omnipotent, immutable, omnipresent, and perfect. (Ex. 15:11, Ps 90:2, 1 Tim 1:17,) Humanity cannot comprehend the entirety of God. (Rom 11:33, Isa 40:28) The Son condescended to human

flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, who was fully God and fully man (Jn 1:1-3). Jesus Christ, maintaining the holiness of the trinity (Heb 7:26), lived a perfect life as the “God-Man” with no sin. (1 Pet 2:22) The Holy Spirit is the power and presence of God and proceeds from the Father. In this time, He indwells the souls of believers. (Jn 14:17, 1 Cor 6:19,20, Rom 10:9-13) Additionally, the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets, regenerates, seals, guides, and provides gifts to the believers. (Eph 1:7, Jn 3:1-8, 1 Cor 12:11)

The Scripture is inspired and breathed out by God Himself (1 Thess 2:13, 2 Tim 3:16). Every word of the Scripture written was guided by the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:19-21) and not the inspiration of the earthly authors who wrote them (Isa 40:8, Exodus 17:14). Therefore, since the Creator God is the author of the Scriptures, we can know that the Scripture is perfectly true (John 17:17, Ps 19:7, Ps 119:142, 160, Rev 21:5) in all its affirmations. Therefore, there are no errors or mistakes (Titus 1:2, Prov 30:5) in the Scripture in their original manuscripts. Scripture is the utmost authority on all subject matter it covers and is profitable for teaching and doctrine (2 Pet 1:10, 2 Tim 3:16-17, 2 Tim 2:15). It is the complete and perfect source of knowledge on the topic of salvation (John 14:6, John 3:16-17, Rom 10:9) and God’s holiness (1 Pet 1:16, Ps 22:3, Lev 19:2). The Scripture is complete and should not be added upon (Rev 22:8), consisting of 66 books in the combined Old and New Testaments. The cornerstone of the entirety of Scripture is Jesus Christ, his humanity and life, and his first and second coming (Luke 24:7, John 3:14, Rom 6:1-11). Scripture tells us that our hope and anticipation are in His return. (John 8:32)

I believe that God created man with the intention of us intimately getting to know him (Jere 31:33-34). I believe that the first man and woman, Adam and Eve chose to stray from God thus creating sin. (Gen 3) I believe that every person has also made the decision to stray from God and that they inherited their sinfulness in the womb. (Rom 3:23, Ps 51:5, Rom 5:12-21) I believe that the only punishment that suits sin is eternal death (Rom 6:23). I believe that Christ’s death and resurrection was the victory over sin that offers his believers a path to salvation. (Rom 10:9-10)

I believe that God’s love and mercy were shown through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Jn 3:16) That humans can achieve salvation, not by doing acts of goodness, but through confession of sin and proclamation of their belief in Jesus as God. (Eph 2:8, Rom 10:9-10) I believe that once one is saved, they eternally have their name in the Book of Life and will live eternally past their death in Heaven in the presence of the Lord (Rom 11:29, Jn 5:24). I believe that those who do not put their faith in Jesus Christ will not receive eternal life, but will instead receive the punishment for their sin: hell (Rev 21:27, Rev 20:15)

In short -- I believe that salvation is by grace through faith alone. (Eph 2:8-9)

I believe that baptism is an outward expression of the inward change that God has in our lives. I believe that after confession and repentance, a Christian is saved, and should express their salvation through baptism. (Rom 6:3-4) I believe that baptism is not essential to salvation (1 Cor1:17, 15:1-8), as we are saved by faith through grace alone, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. (Rom 5:8, 2 Cor 5:21, Titus 3:5, Acts 10). I believe that adding any work, including baptism to the salvation process is diminishing the power of Christ's justification. (Rom 4:5, Rom 11:6)

I believe that a Christian’s job is to live their life in a way that represents the wisdom God has shown to us through his scriptures. (Rom 12:2) Believers should seek out opportunities to share the truth of Christ’s salvation, and we should use scripture and fellowship with other believers to best prepare ourselves for those opportunities. (Matt 28:16-20, Prov 27:17)

Jesus Christ is coming again, for the Church, to finish God’s work. There is no definitive, human knowledge of when this will occur. (1 Thess. 4:16, Matt 24:36) I believe in the Physical, Pre-Millennium return of Jesus Christ, and I affirm a literal interpretation of Biblical prophecy.