OUR BELIEFS
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. The truths revealed in it do not have their origin with men, but with God. The Holy Spirit inspired the human authors of the Bible. We therefore believe that the bible is without error, completely true, relevant and an up-to-date book. We receive the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament as eternal, authoritative, coherent, complete and all sufficient, and the only infallible rule of faith. Its message is intended primarily for the human race. It is expressed in words and in terms, which human beings can understand. Its central theme and purpose is the salvation of man. (2 Timothy 3:16-17;2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 12:6; Matthew 24:35; Psalm 119:160)
THE TRINITY
We believe in the Divine Trinity. One Triune God exists in three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory and having the same attributes and perfections.(Matthew 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Hebrews 9:14, 1 Peter 1:2 and 1 John 5:7)
SALVATION
Sin is an inward spiritual attitude of rebellion towards God, which is expressed in outward acts of disobedience. Man in his fallen state cannot approach God or save himself and therefore needs a saviour. Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins. Himself without sin, He took our sins upon Himself, died in our place, and rose again from the dead, that we might be forgiven and receive eternal life. The word salvation in the Greek means ‘soteria’ which is translated saving or deliverance and preservation from destruction and judgment. To appropriate salvation, we must acknowledge our sins and repent from them; we must believe that Christ died for us, and rose again; we must receive the risen Christ as our personal Saviour, and we must publicly confess Him as our Lord. (Hebrews 9:28, Romans 3:10, 23, Acts 3:19, Romans 10:8-13, Jude 1:24)
THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
The rapture describes an event in the future when Jesus Christ will in the twinkling of an eye, change all believers (living and dead) to immortal, giving them a resurrected body, and ascending them to meet the Lord in the air. The word rapture simply means sudden snatching out of this world of the believers. The actual word used in the bible is ‘caught up’. This event marks the beginning of the seven years reign of the Antichrist. (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:23, 51-58, Phil 3:2-21, 1 John 3:1-3, Luke 21:31-35)
THE ETERNAL HEAVEN
The present earth that is so marred and cursed by Satan’s evil, will pass away after the Great White Throne Judgment. After the dissolution of the present (atmospheric) heaven and earth at the end of the one thousand years (the millennium), God will create a new heaven and a new earth better than anything this world has ever known. The new earth will be the Christian heaven. It is the glorious eternal home of born-again believers. (Matthew 24:35, Revelation 21:1-5, John 14:1-3, Revelation 22:1-5, 2 Peter 3:10)
WATER BAPTISM
Believing in Christ produces an inward change in our hearts; baptism by water is an outward act of obedience, by which we testify of the change that has taken place in our hearts. By this act, we make ourselves one with Christ in His burial and in His resurrection; we are separated from the old life of sin and defeat; we come out of the water to lead a new life of righteousness and victory, made possible by God’s power in us. (Mark 16:16, Matt 28:19-20, Acts 2:38-41, Acts 8:37-39, Romans 6:4)
SANCTIFICATION
The word sanctification in the Greek language is ‘hagiasmos’ meaning.. (1) to be apart from sin (2) consecrated unto God, to be conformed to His holiness, purity, and perfection of character. The scripture teaches that sanctified is what the believer is, not a process, but a state, which the believer has already entered into once and for all. (Acts 20:32; Romans 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 10:10-14; Ephesians 5:25-26; 1 Peter 1:2; Acts 26:18]). And perfect is what he is expected to be. Perfection is a spiritual growth for those who have been sanctified and consecrated. Therefore it is the total yielding of one’s life to the Holy Spirit, living the crucified life; being an overcomer; and being conformed to the image of Christ Himself. Perfection and true holiness are impossible without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. All attempts at achieving perfection without the Holy Spirit generally results in frustration and failure, inasmuch as flesh cannot crucify flesh. (1 Peter 2:21-22, 1 Peter 1:15, John 3:8-9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Matthew 5:48)
THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
The rapture describes an event in the future when Jesus Christ will in the twinkling of an eye, change all believers (living and dead) to immortal, giving them a resurrected body, and ascending them to meet the Lord in the air. The word rapture simply means sudden snatching out of this world of the believers. The actual word used in the bible is ‘caught up’. This event marks the beginning of the seven years reign of the Antichrist. (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:23, 51-58, Phil 3:2-21, 1 John 3:1-3, Luke 21:31-35)
THE ETERNAL HEAVEN
The present earth that is so marred and cursed by Satan’s evil, will pass away after the Great White Throne Judgment. After the dissolution of the present (atmospheric) heaven and earth at the end of the one thousand years (the millennium), God will create a new heaven and a new earth better than anything this world has ever known. The new earth will be the Christian heaven. It is the glorious eternal home of born-again believers. (Matthew 24:35, Revelation 21:1-5, John 14:1-3, Revelation 22:1-5, 2 Peter 3:10)
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism in the Holy Ghost is a supernatural endowment with power from heaven to equip the Christian for effective witness and service. The initial evidence of the Holy Spirit Baptism is speaking in an unknown tongue as the spirit gives utterance. The unknown tongue is a prayer language given to the believer, understood by God but unknown to man. It enables the Christian to build up his own spiritual life by direct and continual communion with God, and is the gateway into a life in which both the gifts and fruits of the Holy Ghost should be manifested. In the New Testament church, this experience was considered normal for all believers.’ (Joel 2:28, Luke 3:16, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 19:2, Mark 16:17)
THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements – bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a memorial of His suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming. Jesus Christ commanded the church to do it in His remembrance. The bible record also shows the early church took this commandment seriously. (Luke 22: 14-19, Acts 2: 42, 46, 2 Peter 1:4, 1 Corinthians 11:26)