Bible Teachings
Please see below for some Bible teachings on important subjects:
GOD
There is but one true God, whose Godhead is expressed in a Trinity of three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present (omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent). He abhors sin. He is holy, wise and good. [Deuteronomy 6:4; John 10:30; Hebrews 9:14; Habakkuk 1:13; 1 Timothy 1:17].
THE BIBLE
The Bible is literally inspired by God and therefore is the infallible, inerrant Word of God. As the foundation and only basis for Christian teaching, the Bible supersedes any other tradition or teaching. [2 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 40:8; 2 Peter 1:20-21].
THE HUMAN RACE
God personally created the human race, male and female, in His own image. He desired to have a fellowship-relationship with them, but their disobedience brought sin into the world. Sin brings death, and therefore both physical and spiritual death resulted for Adam and Eve and all of their descendants. [Genesis 3:8; Romans 5:12]
Since then, all persons born into the world possess a sinful nature which is opposed to God, while at the same time possessing a spiritual component to their being which can only be satisfied by knowing Him. [Romans 3:10-11; Ephesians 2:1-3; Acts 17:27]
THE LORD JESUS
The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. Though He ever existed as Son of God in eternity past, a body was prepared for His entrance into the world. As man, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. [John 1:1; 1 John 4:2; Luke 1:34-35]
Jesus did not sin, nor could He have. However, as a substitute on behalf of all those who trust Him, He sacrificially paid the full penalty for sin when He died on the cross and shed His blood there. [1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:26]
His death was real, as was His bodily resurrection on the third day after His burial. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father and is our High Priest and Advocate. [1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1]
SALVATION
Since God's standard is perfection, people marked by sin can never attain heaven on their own merits. Good works or a moral lifestyle can never earn salvation. [Romans 3:20; Isaiah 64:6]
Instead, salvation is a free gift of God's grace, received through a personal faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as the Redeemer from the penalty of sin. The sacrificial death of Christ was fully complete. Therefore, once granted, salvation and eternal life can never be lost, and believers can have certainty of their acceptance before God. [Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 10:14; John 10:28; 1 John 5:13]
Man's eternal destiny is solely determined by his acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ. [John 3:36]
THE HOLY SPIRIT
God the Holy Spirit produces new life and places every believer into the Body of Christ. He permanently indwells every believer, producing Christian maturity, conformity to Christ's image, and a witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ to a lost world. The evidence of this indwelling rests not in some spectacular event or spiritual gift, but solely in the authority of God's Word. [1 Corinthians 12:13; John 16:13-14; Romans 8:9, 16]
Through the Spirit, Christ gives spiritual gifts to every believer, but these gifts do not call attention to the Holy Spirit. Rather, spiritual gifts equip Christians to serve God by building up fellow believers, just as the various parts of a body contribute to the development of the body itself. [1 Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:7-13]
THE CHURCH
While Jesus Christ is absent, the Christian testimony in the world is known collectively as His Church. Christ Himself is the Church's cornerstone, and every Christian is like a living stone added to that building. Locally, Christians who are gathered together unto the name of the Lord Jesus seek to express that same testimony. [Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:2]
Just as Christ is sufficient as the only way of salvation, He is also sufficient as the gathering center for His people. Christians can thus gather in (or to) His name without requiring other denominational or religious affiliations. [Matthew 18:20; 1 Corinthians 1:10-12; 3:3-5]
The Holy Spirit, who indwells each believer, also indwells the Church. Thus, He is able to direct a local church's activities as Christians allow themselves to be used by Him. These activities include Bible teaching, the memorial of the Lord's Supper, and prayer, as well as other occasions that may be convened by that local assembly of believers. [1 Corinthians 3:16; 14:33; Acts 2:42]
SATAN
Satan, the devil, is a real personality who, with his demons, is in aggressive warfare against God. In His omnipotence, God is permitting him to act as the ruler of this world for the present time. Satan especially seeks to blind all eyes to the preciousness of Christ, and thus every believer is subject to spiritual attack. However, Jesus Christ has already defeated Satan by His death, resurrection, and ascension. Therefore, through Christ every believer may stand firm and victorious in this warfare. [1 John 5:19; Ephesians 2:2; 6:11-18]
CHRIST'S RETURN
The blessed hope of the believer is the imminent, personal return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is often called the "Rapture," when all believers who comprise Christ's Church will be "caught up" to meet Him. However, we do not support the teaching that the date of this event can be known, since Christians of every generation have been encouraged to wait eagerly for their Savior's return. [John 14:3; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Hebrews 9:28]
At a time following this event, Christ will personally return to rule over the kingdoms of this world in righteousness. He will be acknowledged universally as Sovereign and Lord, and every knee will bow to Him. He is worthy to receive all glory, honor, and praise! [Revelation 11:15; 19:11-16; Philippians 2:9-11]