The Bible is the written Word of God and that God supernaturally guided the original human writers so that it is perfect. It is God revealing and explaining the truth about Himself, people, good and evil and the world.
God is one being that exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who are identical in power and essence having always existed and will always exist. We call that unique existence the Trinity.
People were created as perfectly innocent beings that chose evil disobedience instead of loving and obeying God. This brought physical and spiritual death unto the world and onto all people. Everyone does things that are wrong and everyone is guilty before God. No one can pay for their sins themselves or earn forgiveness by trying to be good.
Heaven and Hell are the only two places people go after they die. Hell is a real place of physical, spiritual and emotional suffering separated from God. Heaven is a real place of joy living with God.
Jesus Christ always existed as God but also became a human being, born from a virgin. He came to earth to live as a man so that He might die in our place to pay for our sins. Jesus did this because God loves people and wanted to provide a way for them to be in a relationship with Him forever. He proved who He was and that He had the power to give us never ending life by rising from the dead after three days.
The Holy Spirit is in the world helping people understand that they are sinners and the Jesus offers to rescue them from the penalty and from the power of their sins.
Becoming a Christian happens when a person chooses to believe what God has said is true: 1. That they are sinners who will be judged by God. 2. That they cannot pay the penalty themselves. 3. That Jesus paid for their sins. 4. That all they have to do is accept this truth and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior
God calls this being "Born Again". Just like everyone has a birthday when they are born physically every Christian has a spiritual birthday then they are forgiven and born into God's family. This happens at the moment you believe and accept God's plan to rescue. It is not the result of Baptism, Communion, going to church or doing good things. These are things you should do after you have decided to become a Christian not in or to become one. There is no other way to be rescued from the penalty of your sin other than accepting Christ's payment for you.
Church is people that have chosen to believe God and accept Jesus' payment for their sins. They gather together as a spiritual family to help each other learn more about Him and share that information with the world.
The future will have a time when the Christians are supernaturally taken out of the world so that God can bring judgement against the world. This will be followed by a seven year period called the Tribulation when many terrible things will happen to the people on earth. It will end at a great battle known as Armageddon when Jesus will return to earth with everyone who believed God to rule for a thousand years. God will then have a final judgement sending people who have refused his offer to rescue then to never ending punishment and creating a brand new perfect earth for those who chose to believe.
For our Constitution and full doctrinal statement, click HERE.
