About God…There is only one true God, the Creator of all life and Supreme Ruler of the universe. He is eternal and reveals Himself to us in three distinct and divine personalities: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. God wants nothing more than to have a loving, personal relationship with each of us that will last throughout eternity.
Genesis 1:26-27; Deuteronomy 6:4; Job 38:1-41:34; Matthew 3:13-17; John 3:16; Romans 1:19,20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:6
About Jesus Christ…Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God. Co-equal with God the Father and God the Spirit, He came to earth and was both fully man and fully divine. He revealed to us who God is through His miraculous acts, sinless life, and life-changing teachings. He died on the cross, taking the sins of all mankind upon Himself, and paying the penalty that our sins deserve. After three days, He rose from the grave and ascended to Heaven where He sits at the right hand of God.
Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1,14,18; Acts 10:37-43; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 2:4-8; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-21; Hebrews 1:1-3
About the Holy Spirit…The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. He lives in each Christian as a Helper and Guide. He helps Christians to do what is right, provides strength to serve Jesus, and direction for living life God’s way.
John 14:16-17; John 16:7-13; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 3:16-20; Ephesians 5:18
About the Bible…The Bible is God’s written Word, written by divinely inspired men to record the values and principles that Christian lives should be based on. The Word of God is accurate, reliable and trustworthy. It tells us who God is, why He loves us, and what His plans are for us. We accept the Bible as the timeless and ultimate authority and standard for living our lives according to God’s will.
Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:105, 160; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
About Man…We are created in the spiritual likeness or image of God with free will to choose to love as God loves, to do right in God’s sight, and to obey His commands. However, due to man’s willful rebellion against God, we are alienated from Him – lost and without hope. Jesus came to earth to give us hope.
Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 8:3-6; John 4:24; Ephesians 1:4-6;Romans 3:23
About Salvation…Our sins separate us from God who desires a relationship with us. There is nothing we can do to restore that broken relationship by our own efforts. It cannot be repaired by any amount of personal goodness, religious deeds or church attendance. Salvation comes only through Jesus’ death on the cross. The way to receive this gift is to obey God and follow Christ. To do this we must confess our faith in Jesus as the Son of God, repent of our sins and be baptized (immersed) in water to demonstrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. After baptism we live a new life in service to Him.
Isaiah 59:2; John 3:16; John 14:6; Acts 2:37-39; Romans 3:10,11,23; Romans 6:3-4; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:3-8
About the Church…The Church is God’s spiritual family made up of all those who have chosen to place their trust and faith in Jesus and are living according to His commands. Upon baptism, God will add you to His Church. The Church is not a building or one particular group of believers. As members of His Church love one another and maintain unity of purpose and relationship, the world around us will recognize that we belong to Jesus. The Church must seek to do the will of God, which includes loving and saving the world through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:15-18; John 17:20-23; John 13:34-35; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-10
About Eternity…When God created you and me, He created us with a soul which will never cease to exist. Those who choose to follow Jesus as Lord, and have a growing relationship with Him, will spend eternity with God in Heaven. Those who reject Jesus by refusing to follow Him will spend eternity in Hell. Heaven and Hell are real places. Heaven, like salvation and grace, is a gift of God. Hell is the due consequence for those who have not accepted God’s offer of forgiveness.
Ezekiel 18:20; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-6; Romans 6:23; Philippians 3:17-21; Revelation 20:15
