|
| |
One God,
Three
Persons
|
We believe that there is one, true God (Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit) -- revealed to humanity through the Word of God. God’s Word
has been witnessed in three ways:
In the creation (God "spoke" and
it was.)
In the Bible -- God’s Words
In the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ (John
1:14)
|
The Bible is God's
Written
Word |
We believe the Bible to
be God’s inspired and inerrant Word -- relevant and meaningful
for all people and in every age.. It is not simply the musings of human
beings, but rather the very "Word of God".
"For prophecy never had
its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were
carried along by the Holy Spirit."
(2 Peter 1:21).
If it is God’s Word, it then is not
"optional." Christians find this very freeing, rather than
confining, as some would argue. If we know it to be true, then we can
be confident in following it and using it in our lives.
But even more than it being
"true" is that it bears the truth about Jesus -- and therefore
bears life. We teach from God’s Word because it brings forgiveness
and reveals God’s desire for us to be in right relationship with
Him.
We treasure God’s Word because it brings truth
into a world of relativism. Our worship, sermons and classes are all
grounded in the Bible and its teachings.
|
We live
in a broken
world in need
of a Savior
|
|
We believe that all people are fundamentally
broken by sin and are unable to save themselves. "Star Trek" is
way off in believing that people are simply getting progressively "better
and better." We’re not. God’s Word tells us clearly
that:
"There is no one
righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one
who seeks God."
(Romans 3:11)...
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (3:23)
Broken relationships, greed, hateful actions, sexual insanity
-- our world is definitely in need of a Savior!
|
Only Jesus Christ can
save us
from sin |
Christianity is the only
religion in the world that teaches this basic truth: Rather than asking
us to become "godly," our Lord chose to become a human being
-- like us -- that He might save us from our sin. In His mercy and wisdom,
God chose to set aside His glory for a time and be born a fully human
person -- Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This "God - man" carries
with Him three qualities that make Him our Savior:
1. He is human. Jesus wept, laughed, ate, hurt, was tempted -- yet was
without sin. He was also able to truly die and shed blood for those He
loved.
2. He is holy. God’s demand is for perfection. Jesus Christ
was the only one who could offer a completely perfect sacrifice.
3. He is God. Only God can die for all people and all sin.
This Jesus Christ is not simply a "good man," a "moral
teacher," a "role model." Far more than that! He Himself
claimed to be the eternal and one true God. He received worship. He
forgave sins -- any sins. He says:
"I and the Father are one."
(John 10:30)
We worship Jesus Christ for He is truly God -- our Savior from sin.
He has opened the way to eternal life and won forgiveness and freedom
for all people who receive Him as Lord. We give all glory to God in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
|
Living a
new
life in Christ |
One of the great joys
of being of Christian is that our Lord invites us into a relationship
with Him. He has begun this by taking humanity upon Himself and entering
into our hurting world with the power to save and the love to pay the
penalty for sin.
Christianity teaches that we cannot earn,
nor do we deserve salvation. There is nothing we could do in the form
of good deeds that stand before a holy, righteous, and just God (Isaiah
64:6). But in mercy and love, God came in the person of Jesus Christ
to be our Savior. He brings peace and union with God as a free gift
-- unconditionally given to all who put there hope and trust in Jesus
Christ as God and Lord. (John 3:16).
"Too easy!" "We’ve got to
DO something," you might say -- and that’s certainly how
it works in the business world. We get what we earn. But what if you
owed so much that you had no hope of every paying it back? What would
you do then? Jesus tells this story:
23 "Therefore,
the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts
with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who
owed him ten thousand talents (millions of dollars) was brought to
him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that
he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay
the debt. 26 "The servant fell on his knees before him.
'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'
27 The
servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go."
Matt 18:23-27 (NIV)
If the Bible is right and we have a debt we cannot pay, then thank God
that He chose to share His riches with those who are humble and seek
His mercy, placing their trust and hope in Him. Love is a gift -- we
do not earn it (that would be wages) -- it is always freely given.
(Ephesians
2:8-9)
|
|
|
| |
|
|
