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What We Believe
The Purpose of God During Our Age
We believe that the Church is at the
center of God's purpose for this age and that God's wisdom will be
displayed to the entire universe through the Church to the praise of His
glory. (Ephesians 3:1-13)
We believe that Christ's central purpose
is building His Church, and ultimately His kingdom; and nothing can
stand in His way, even Satan and all his forces. (Matthew 16:13-20)
We believe that the Church is the pillar
and support of the truth and that this truth was delivered once and for
all through the Apostles and that this deposit of truth ought to be
preserved in all churches. (1 Timothy 3:14-16; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 3:10,
11, 15; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13; 2 Peter 3:1-2; Jude 3, 17)
We believe in the perpetual command of
the Great Commission to take the gospel to the world. We believe that
Christ's strategy for building His Church can be clearly identified in
the book of Acts as a multiplication of churches—communities of
Christians committed to maturing in Christ and to furthering the gospel
of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:8; Acts
13:1-4; 14:19-23; 20:28-32; 1 Timothy 3:14-16; Titus 1:5-9)
The Gospel Proclaimed by the Apostles: The Kerygma
(Greek for "Proclamation")
We believe that this gospel, proclaimed
by the Apostles, can be summarized as follows:
- This gospel was prophesied beforehand in the Scriptures as part of
God's unfolding plan to bless the families of the earth through the
seed of David. It was given in the form of a New Covenant, promising
forgiveness of sins, and placing God's Spirit within man.
- This gospel was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the seed
of David, the King of Kings, born of the Holy Spirit. He came in the
flesh, lived a sinless life, died, was buried and rose again on the
third day according to the Scriptures, and is seated at the right hand
of the Father.
- This Jesus will come again to judge the earth and set up the
kingdom of God for all time. After abolishing all rule and authority,
He will reign forever and ever.
- Those who hear this message and believe will receive forgiveness of
sins. They will be given the Spirit of God as a pledge of their
inheritance, as they eagerly await the Savior who will return for them.
(Acts 2:14-22; 3:11-26; 10:23-48; Acts 9:1-43; 26:1-32; Acts 17:16-34;
1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
We believe that there is only one gospel
of Jesus Christ. Each individual who places His faith in the person and
work of Christ alone for forgiveness of his sins is at that moment
forgiven of his sins once and for all time, is permanently a child of
God, and is part of Christ's Church. (Ephesians 1:1-14; 2:1-10;
Colossians 1:9-14; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Romans
5 and 8)
We believe that the Church of Jesus
Christ is made up of those who have accepted the message of the gospel
of Jesus Christ. Those who have responded to the gospel of Jesus Christ
need to be baptized, signifying their identification with Jesus and with
His believing community, His Church. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 10:44-48;
Romans 6:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
We believe that once one has identified
with Christ and His Church through baptism, special care should be
exercised to see that the baptized believer becomes a vital, functioning
member of a body of Christ—a local church. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts
10:44-48; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31)
We believe that each believer should
celebrate the Lord's Supper regularly with the church. This will serve
as a way of remembering his identity with Christ, as one whose sins are
forgiven and in a covenant relationship, and as a way of remembering his
identity with Christ's body, the Church, as one who is to live in
fellowship with the church. (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)
The Apostles Doctrine: The Didache (Greek
for "The Teaching")
We believe that God revealed His plan
for the churches in the epistles, and that the Apostles expected the
churches to follow their instructions. (Ephesians 3:1-13; 1
Thessalonians 4:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6; 1 Timothy 3:14-16; 2
Timothy 1:13-14; 2:2; 3:9-10; Jude 3, 17)
We believe that this teaching can be
summarized as follows:
- Each believer is instructed to lay aside his old life, renew His
mind in the teaching, and conform his new life to the will of God.
(Ephesians 4:22-24; Romans 12:1-2)
- A set of virtues, which are only possible through God's resources,
are to characterize each believer. (Galatians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:12;
2 Peter 1:1-11)
- Individual households must be ordered properly, consistent with
God's created design for man and for the Church. (Ephesians 5:22-6:9;
Colossians 3:18-4:1; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
- God's household, the church—the pillar and support of the
truth—must be properly ordered according to sound doctrine
received from the Apostles, especially Paul. (1 Timothy 3:14-16; Titus
1:5-2:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6; Ephesians 3:1-13; Colossians
1:24-29)
- Each believer must be committed to do his part, both generally in
one-another ministry and specifically in the use of his gifts in the
building up of the church. (Romans 12:3-16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
- A pattern of relationships within the church must be
observed—characterized by love, brotherhood, mutual acceptance
and respect—in which each is to diligently pursue unity in the
bond of peace. (Romans 12:9-15; 14:1-7; Philippians 1:27-2:4; Ephesians
4:1-6)
- A pattern of relationships in the world must be
observed—characterized by respect for government, employers, and
other authorities, and love and good deeds toward neighbors and those
in need. (Romans 13:1-7; Titus 2:14; 3:1,14)
- Individuals must lead responsible and sober lives—working
hard, providing for their own, making the most of the time (because the
days are evil), and keeping on the alert for Satan and his strategies
in their lives. (Ephesians 5:1-22; 6:10-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; 2
Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Peter 5:6-11)
We believe that all matters concerning
the life and beliefs of the churches are to be settled by the Word of
God. Though the churches are to be guarded and protected by elders and
men gifted as pastors and teachers, all are subject to the authority of
the biblical text. (1 Timothy 4:1-16; 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:14-15; 3:16;
4:1-4; Titus 1:5-16; 2:1, 15; 2 Peter 3:14-18; Jude 3, 17)
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