1. God
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. There is only one God. God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal. (Gen 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22; Ps 90:2; Matt 3:16-17, 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Cor 13:14)
2. Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God who came in the flesh. He is the second person of the Trinity and is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus had a dual nature, being fully God and fully man. He came to Earth, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and then willingly offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He was physically resurrected after 3 days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday. (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; Tit 2:13)
3. The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and as such, is co-equal with the Father and Jesus Christ. He is present in the world to make mankind aware of our 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. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily. The Holy Spirit is a person who lives in the spirit of a believer rather than an impersonal “it” or apparition. (2 Cor 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor 2:12, 3:16; Eph 1:13; Gal 5:25; Eph 5:18)
4. The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. Human authors such as Moses, Paul, and King David to name a few, who were under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote it down. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Scripture alone is the final authority in determining all truths and practices in the Christian faith. In its original writing, it is inspired (God-breathed), infallible, and inerrant. (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psa 119:105-106; Prov 30:5)
5. Human Beings and Sin
People are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, each of us is marred by disobedient attitudes and actions toward God. The Bible calls this disobedience “sin.” Sin separates people from God. Every problem within our fallen world is a direct result of this sin. Romans explains sin this way, “They exchanged the glory of the immortal God… and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator” (1:21-32). Sin is putting our own desires above our desire for God. Sin makes man into his own ultimate authority – the Bible considers this idolatry. God calls us to set aside our idols such as greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, gossip, pride, sexual sin, and the rejection of God.
Each sin rejects God’s plan by reflecting an attitude of self-worship rather than God-worship. For example, God’s plan for sex is that it is to be confined within a covenant marriage between one man and one woman for life. Sexual sin exists when sex is practiced or sexual desires are fulfilled outside the boundaries of this covenant marriage relationship. This is just one of the many ways that man’s self-worship rejects God’s ultimate plan.
However, the moment a person makes Jesus Lord and Savior, God starts changing his desires and he strives to put away these sinful things and instead embrace the fruit of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:19-26; Gen 1:27; Psa 8:3-6; Isa 53:6a; Rom 3:23; Isa 59:1-2)
6. Salvation
Salvation is God’s free gift to men and women. Salvation does not come by self-improvement or good works; it only comes by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer for forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus Christ in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. (Rom 5:21, 6:23; Eph 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Tit 3:5; Gal 3:26)
7. The Church
The church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ great commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:22, 2:19-22; Heb 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23)
Elevate Church Ordinances:
WATER BAPTISM:
Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by the Word of God to be baptized by immersion in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:10; Matt 3:16, 28:19; Acts 2:38, 8:12, 36-38, 10:47-48).
THE LORD’S SUPPER:
A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread and grape juice (the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (Matt 26:26-29, 36-38; 1 Cor 10:16, 11:23-25).