Frequently asked questions

Jesus Christ is the personality of God described as "Son." J esus came to earth as a human but retained His deity, being fully human and fully God. By coming to live among humanity, he inaugurated God's Kingdom on earth. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead as a demonstration of His power over sin and death. He will return again to earth to reign as Lord of everything. 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; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make humanity aware of its need for Jesus. The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian. The Holy Spirit provides Christians with power for living, understanding spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Holy Spirit equips people with spiritual gifts that make ministry effective. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1

Humanity is made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. Humanity is the supreme object of God's creation. God created humankind to live forever and enjoy creation with Him. Humanity has tremendous potential for good though marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. This attitude and the choices made that reflect it separate humanity from God. God's grace enables us to connect with Him, not our efforts alone. Genesis 1:26-31; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2

Salvation is a gift from God to humanity. When people trust in Jesus as God's offer of forgiveness they are saved from sin's penalty. No degree of good living earns one's relationship with God. Salvation provides life with God here on earth and in Heaven. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1

The Bible is God's word to all people. Human authors, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote the Bible. It serves as the primary source of Christian beliefs and living. Because God inspired it, it can be completely relied upon to reveal God's ideas about Himself, humanity, sin, and ultimate truth. In the many types of literature contained in the books of the Old and New Testaments, God's love for, and redemption of, humanity is a consistent theme. 2 Timothy 3: 16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1: 13; Psalm 119: 105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

The Church is the dynamic, spiritual body of which Jesus is the head. All those who put their trust in Jesus are a part of the Church. Local churches are expressions of the universal Church. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances or sacraments that the church practices. The Church ordains its leaders, prays for people to be empowered in ministry, and works cooperatively for the restoration of creation. Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40

At the end, Jesus will return to earth to restore it to its original state. The Kingdom that was inaugurated when he came to earth as a human will be perfected. He will bring dead believers back to life with new immortal bodies, and transform the bodies of the believers still alive. He will judge the dead and living. Humans will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. Heaven is where followers of Jesus will spend eternity with God. The worst thing about hell is eternal separation from God. The order of these events and the time of their occurrence are debatable and not specifically revealed in the Bible. John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 1:8; Matthew 2:44,46; Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15; Acts 24:15; Hebrews 9:27

I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell: the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic (universal) church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic (world-wide) and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.