summarizes our beliefs as a group. Anyone familiar with
historic Christian doctrine will find that these statements
fall in the center of evangelical theology
(“evangelical” means theology derived from
the evangel, or the Gospel; in other words, it’s
biblical theology rather than speculative theology or
theology rooted in tradition). We try not to be dogmatic
about matters on which Bible-based believers have held
different views. It’s common for non-essentials
to drive a wedge between people. We
want our essential beliefs to be centered on Christ
and His message as found in and supported by the clearest
passages of Scripture.
In
essential beliefs — we have unity.
"There
is one Body and one Spirit...there is one Lord, one faith,
one baptism,
and one God and Father of us all...” - Ephesians
4:4-6
In
non-essential beliefs — we have liberty.
"Accept
him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment
on disputable matters...
Who are you to judge someone else's servant?
To his own master he stands or falls...
So then each of us will give an account
of himself to God...
So whatever you believe about these things
keep between yourself and God." - Romans 14:1,4,12,22
In
all our beliefs — we show charity.
"If
I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also
the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that
can move mountains—but have no love, I amount to
nothing at all." - I Corinthians 13:2 (Phillips
translation)
1. ABOUT GOD
We believe in one God, the Creator and ruler of the universe,
eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without
division of nature, essence, or being.
Genesis
1:1,26-27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2;
2 Corinthians 13:14
2. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is God, the living Word,
who became flesh through His miraculous conception by
the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He was and
remains perfect Deity and true humanity united in one
person forever.
We
believe that the Lord Jesus Christ lived a sinless life,
died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative
and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe
in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.
We
believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our
Lord. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the
right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully
God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation
between God and man. He will return in power and glory
to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission.
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
3. ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that 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. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee
that God will bring the believer into the fullness of
the stature of Christ.
2
Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts1:8; 1 Corinthians
2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians
5:18
4. ABOUT THE BIBLE
We believe that 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 any mixture of error.
2
Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,
160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
5. ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS
We believe that God created Adam and Eve in the divine
image; that they sinned, and thereby incurred not only
physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation
from God; and that, as a result of Adams sin, although
every person has tremendous potential for good, all of
us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God
called "sin". This attitude separates people
from God and causes many problems in life. The sacredness
of human personality is evident in that God created man
in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore,
every person of every race possesses full dignity and
is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis
1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
6. ABOUT SALVATION
We believe that salvation is God's free gift to us but
we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by
self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus
Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved
from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life
and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life
begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life
by faith. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration,
justification, sanctification, and glorification.
A.
Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace
whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus.
It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through
conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance
toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance
and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.
B.
Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon
principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent
and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer
unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.
C.
Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration,
by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes,
and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual
maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit
dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout
the regenerate person's life.
D.
Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the
final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed
Romans
6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians
3:26; Romans 5:1
7. ABOUT CHURCH
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church,
His Body, which includes all of the redeemed of all the
ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people,
and nation. God admonishes His people to assemble together
regularly for worship, for participation in ordinances,
for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual
encouragement.
Matthew
16:15-19; Acts 2:41-42,47; 1Corinthians 12; Ephesians
3:8-11,21; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:24-25
8. ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
We believe that 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
10:29-30; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrew 7:25, 10:10,14; 1 Peter
1:3-5
9. ABOUT ETERNITY
We believe that God, in His own time and in His own way,
will bring the world to its appropriate end. People were
created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally
separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through
forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from
God is Hell. To be eternally in heaven with Him is eternal
life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
John
3:16; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation
20:15
Christian Challenge
P.O. Box 1791
Monterey Park, CA 91754
Phone: (626) 573-5090
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