Christian Doctrinal Beliefs

We accept the Bible, consisting of the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind, guiding us to salvation through Christ by faith in Jesus. Given by God, the Scriptures are both fully and verbally inspired, ensuring that the Bible, as originally provided, is free of error in all its teachings. Each book should be interpreted according to its context and purpose, with reverent obedience to the Lord who speaks through it in living power. All believers are encouraged to study the Bible teachings and diligently apply them to their lives. The Scriptures serve as the authoritative and normative rule and guide for all aspects of Christian faith, practice, and doctrine. They are completely sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or altered by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. Every formulation of doctrine, whether of creed, confession, or theology, must align with the full counsel of God found in Holy Scripture.

There is one God: infinite, eternal, almighty, and perfect in holiness, truth, and love. According to Bible teachings, the unity of the Godhead consists of three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal. The Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Holy Spirit, yet each is truly Deity. This one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—forms the foundation of Christian faith and the path to salvation through Christ.

God the Father is the Creator of heaven and earth, as emphasized in Bible teachings. By his word and for his glory, he freely and supernaturally created the world from nothing. Through the same Word, he daily sustains all his creatures. He rules over all as the only Sovereign, and his plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. He is faithful to every promise, working all things together for good to those who love him. In his unfathomable grace, he provided salvation through Christ, giving his Son, Jesus Christ, for mankind’s redemption. He made man for fellowship with himself, intending that all creation should live to the praise of his glory, reinforcing the tenets of the Christian faith.

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the eternal Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He embodies perfect nature, teaching, and obedience, affirming the core principles of Bible teachings. Fully God and fully man, he was always with God and is God. Through him, all things came into being and were created; he was before all things, and in him, all things hold together by the word of his power. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, and in him dwells the fullness of the godhead bodily. As the only Savior for the sins of the world, he shed his blood and died a vicarious death on Calvary’s cross. By his death in our place, he revealed divine love and upheld divine justice, removing our guilt and reconciling us to God, demonstrating the path of salvation through Christ. Having redeemed us from sin, he rose bodily from the grave on the third day, victorious over death and the powers of darkness, appearing to more than 500 witnesses over 40 days and performing many convincing proofs of his resurrection. He ascended into heaven where, at God’s right hand, he intercedes for his people and rules as Lord over all. He is the Head of his body, the Church, and deserves to be adored, loved, served, and obeyed by all who follow the Christian faith.

According to Bible teachings, God created man—male and female—in His own image as the pinnacle of His creation, enabling fellowship with Him. However, tempted by Satan, man rebelled against God. Estranged from his Maker yet remaining accountable to Him, man fell under divine wrath, becoming inwardly depraved and, apart from a special work of grace, entirely unable to return to God. This depravity is radical and pervasive, affecting his mind, will, and affections. Those who are unregenerate live under the dominion of sin and Satan, standing in enmity with God, hostile toward Him, and filled with hatred. Fallen, sinful people, regardless of their character or accomplishments, are lost and without hope, finding only salvation through Christ.

Jesus Christ is the gospel and the cornerstone of Bible teachings. The good news is made evident in his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Christ’s crucifixion serves as the heart of the gospel, his resurrection embodies the power of the gospel, and his ascension reflects the glory of the gospel. Through his substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice, Christ’s death addresses our sins, satisfying God’s holy justice while appeasing his holy wrath. This act also showcases his mysterious love and reveals his amazing grace. According to Christian faith, Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man, as there is no other name by which men must be saved. At the core of all sound doctrine lies the cross of Jesus Christ, offering the infinite privilege for redeemed sinners to glorify God because of what he has accomplished. Therefore, we aim for everything that occurs in our hearts, churches, and ministries to stem from and relate to the cross, emphasizing our salvation through Christ.

Man’s response to the gospel, as outlined in Bible teachings, is rooted in the free election of God for His own pleasure and glory. It is also true that the message of the gospel is effectual only for those who genuinely repent of their sins and, by God’s grace, place their saving faith in Christ. This gospel of grace must be sincerely preached to all men in all nations. Biblical repentance, which is essential to the Christian faith, is characterized by a changed life, and saving faith is evidenced by kingdom service or good works. While neither repentance nor works can save a person, unless one is willing to deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow Christ, he cannot truly become His disciple.

Salvation through Christ, the free gift of God, is provided by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Anyone turning from sin in repentance and looking to Christ and his substitutionary death receives this eternal life as described in Bible teachings and is declared righteous by God as a free gift. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to him, meaning he is justified and fully accepted by God. Through Christ’s atonement for sin, an individual is reconciled to God as Father and becomes His child in the Christian faith. The believer is forgiven the debt of his sin and, via the miracle of regeneration, liberated from the law of sin and death into the freedom of God’s Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification, aiming to produce his fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Although indwelling sin is a reality, being led by the Spirit helps us grow in the knowledge of the Lord, allowing us to freely keep his commandments. We strive to live in such a way that all people may witness our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. In aligning our lives with Bible teachings, all believers are encouraged to persevere in the Christian faith, understanding that we will have to give an account to God for every thought, word, and deed. The spiritual disciplines—especially Bible study, prayer, worship, and confession—serve as vital means of grace in this journey. Ultimately, the believer's confidence to persevere is rooted in the unwavering promise of God to preserve his people until the end, which is most certain, reinforcing our salvation through Christ.

In addition to effecting regeneration and sanctification, the Holy Spirit empowers believers for Christian witness and service, as emphasized in the Bible teachings. While all genuine believers experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at conversion, the New Testament highlights the significance of an ongoing, empowering work of the Spirit following salvation through Christ. The experiences of being indwelt by the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit are theologically distinct. The Holy Spirit seeks to continually fill each believer with greater power for living out their Christian faith and witness, imparting supernatural gifts for the edification of the Body and for various works of ministry in the world. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit that were active in the church of the first century are available today, essential for the mission of the church, and should be earnestly desired and practiced.