♦ What is the Holy Bible (Scripture)?

Some have said that the Bible is God’s love letter to man, but more than it is the story of the redemption of man to the glory of God. We believe that in its original text, the Scriptures were divinely directed by God and therefore represent true and authentic communication from God to man. Because the original source is God, through the Holy Spirit, it is the only source for establishing the standards of truth, Christian beliefs, and godly living. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160)

♦ What is Sin?

Sin is that which separates us from the love and person of God. Prior to salvation, man is utterly depraved and as a result finds himself in a state of spiritual death. Sin is universally present in this world no one is exempt from its effects. (Romans 3:23, 5:12)

♦ What is the Purpose of Man?

Man is a physical representation of God, a reflection of Him in some way; though to what extent is a matter of debate among theologians. In the non-physical sense, man possesses certain qualities that make him distinct from the animal kingdom: mind, emotion, and will. Man has been created as an example throughout all the ages of the redemptive power of God’s grace and demonstration of His overwhelming love (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:7)

♦ What is the Church?

The church gets its name from the Greek word ecclesia which carries the meaning of being called out. As believers, we have been called out from the mass of humanity to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ with the guidance and active intervention of the Holy Spirit. Striving to grow into maturity in Christ, we do so in concert with other believers as a physical representation of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 1:22-23, 4, 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14)

♦ Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is the author and perfecter of our faith. He is a co-equal person that is part of the mystery of the Tri-Unity (trinity) of God. He became the perfect sacrifice for all of mankind being fully God and fully man at the same time. He is the head of the Church, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13).

♦ Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit has been described by Jesus Christ Himself as the Helper, also known as a great comforter. He is a member of the trinity of God and is co-equal with the persons of Jesus Christ and God the Father. He grants a spiritual gift(s) to each believer at the point of salvation. As believers we seek to be controlled by the Spirit rather than by our desires. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18; Galatians 5:25)

♦ Who is God the Father?

We know from Matthew 28:19 as part of the Great Commission that there are three distinct persons who are part of the person of God; God the Father, God the Son – Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We know that Jesus considered himself to be equal with God (Philippians 2:6) and that He stated that the Holy Spirit would take His place here on earth (John 14:26). We’ve all heard the cliché two’s company and three’s a crowd, but in the case of God three means community. That is a thought worth meditating on. (Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; Philippians 2:6; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

♦ What is Man’s Relationship to God without Jesus Christ?

Man is utterly without redemption or the ability to come to God on his own terms. In fact, there is nothing that man can do to have a relationship with God so that no man can boast about his ability to come to God on his own. (Romans 3:23, 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 2:8-9)

♦ What is Man’s Relationship to God with Jesus Christ?

Through Jesus Christ we are now alive to God for the completion of good works which God has prepared ahead of time for us. At the end of time, it will become clear that God accomplished His plan and purpose in us regardless of how submitted we felt we were at the time. (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 2:4-10)

♦ What is a Biblical view of my possessions and my wealth?

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. It’s all God’s and we are simply the stewards, or caretakers, for what He has entrusted us with. Every decision we make regarding our finances and our possessions needs to acknowledge God. (Psalm 24:1; 1 Chronicles 29:14)

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