THE ESSENTIALS OF OUR BELIEFS
About God
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We believe God the Father gave His Son to save us from our sins. God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
(Gen.1:1,26–27; 3:22; Ps. 90:2; Matt. 28:19; 1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Cor. 13:14)
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
(Matt. 1:22–23; Isa. 9:6; John 1:1–5; 14:10–30; Heb. 4:14–15; 1 Cor. 15:3–4; Rom. 1:3–4; Acts 1:9–11; 1 Tim. 6:14–15; Titus 2:13)
About the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.
(2 Cor. 3:17; John 14:16–17; 16:7–13; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:12; 3:16; Eph. 1:13; 5:18; Gal. 5:25)
About the Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without error. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is to be the rule of faith and life.
(2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20–21; 2 Tim. 1:13; Ps. 119:105, 160; 12:6; Prov. 30:5)
About Human Beings
Our identity is inseparably connected to God's identity: we cannot truly understand who we are unless we first know who God is. Jesus Christ is the perfect and eternal image of God, fully revealing the Father, while human beings are created in God's image and reflect Him in a finite way.
The image of God encompasses the whole person—both body and soul—so that men and women alike bear God's image. God has given humanity rational and immortal souls with the capacity to know, worship, and enjoy Him, while our bodies serve as instruments through which we live out that calling.
Sin has marred God's image in us, but Christ, the perfect God-man, restores what was lost by renewing His people in true knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.
To be human is to be a man or woman made in God's image, created to know Him, reflect His character, and faithfully serve Him in the world under His sovereign rule.
(Gen. 1:27; 2:17; Ps. 8:3–6; Isa. 53:6; 59:1–2; Rom. 3:23; Eph. 2:1–2)
https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/made-in-gods-image
About Salvation
Salvation is God’s free gift to us. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ by grace through faith can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When a person is saved by grace and given new spiritual life, they turn from their self-ruled life of sin and turn to Christ in faith, which expresses itself through love. Everyone believing in Christ has eternal life which is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.
(Rom. 5:1; 6:23; Eph. 2:8–9; Gal. 3:26; 5:6; Titus 3:5; John 1:12; 14:6; 17:3)
About Eternal Security
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.
(John 10:29; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Pet. 1:3–5)
About Eternity
People were created to exist forever. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. Many people imagine hell as a place where God is completely absent. God is omnipresent. Nothing can exist apart from Him, and He is present in hell as well.
Micheal Horton writes: "Hell is not ultimately about fire, but about God. Whatever the exact nature of the physical punishments, the real terror awaiting the unrepentant is God himself and his inescapable presence forever with his face turned against them"
​(John 3:16; 14:17; Rom. 6:23; 8:17–18; Rev. 14:10; 20:15; 1 Cor. 2:7–9)
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/hell-not-separation-god/
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P.O. Box 66127
St. Pete Beach, Florida
33736
727-599-4555
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