Truth
Jesus builds his church on the foundation of truth. Paul says that the only foundation that can be laid for any endeavor seeking to glorify God is the foundation of Jesus Christ, and Him alone. Jesus’ own self disclosure consisted of being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the very embodiment of truth. We believe that the foundations of our faith and ministry must be built on the Word of God. We believe that truth and reality are synonymous and that the revelation of Jesus (the very cornerstone of theology) enables us to understand and respond to the world around us in a God honoring and God centered way.
We highly honor the Word of God and submit to its place of preeminent authority in our lives and work. We cannot stress enough how incredibly dedicated we are to the Scriptures the Holy Spirit has inspired for our direction, sanctification, and enjoyment. The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and light to our path. The Bible is our highest authority, our most esteemed literature, the object of our study, and the rule and measure of life.
Jesus and His Work
Jesus is God. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who came to earth to perfectly glorify His father and redeem His sheep by way of his substitutionary, sacrificial, and all satisfying death on the cross. He is co-eternal, co-equal, and cooperative with God the Father, and God the Spirit. (John 1:1, Rom. 9:5, John 10:30)
We believe that the purpose of all existence is for the glory and government of Jesus Christ. He is the creator of all things, the basis of all reality, the substance of all truth, humanity’s only Savior, the sole standard of sanctification, the messiah foretold by the prophets, united but distinguishable in the godhead, our object of faith and worship along with God the Father and God the Spirit. Jesus, even though eternally existing came to earth clothed in the garments of humanity, fully God but condescending to become fully man, born of the humble virgin Mary, baptized by the Holy Spirit of God with illimitable power, light, life, and purpose. He is the source and sustainer of all existence. He is the only man who ever lived that holds the rights to supreme authority and dominion. He lived a perfectly righteous life fully explaining God in the context of our humanness. He died a perfectly planned but horribly brutal death to satisfy and atone for the sins of many and redeem His chosen from the grip of sin and death. Jesus is all that life is about. He is our everything in every way. All that was, all that is, and all that will be is for Him, through Him, and to Him.
The Bible
The Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and the sole standard of authority in the church local and at large. The mission objective of the Bible is to glorify Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:15-16, Rom. 15:4, John 20:31)
We believe that the Bible is infallible: it cannot fail, inerrant: it does not error. The Bible is the measuring rod of truth meaning the reality contained in the Bible is the only unshakeable, immutable, and unalterable foundation of authority for all realms and arenas of life. The Bible is authoritative in that the founder and sustainer of life itself, Jesus Christ, attests to and substantiates the veracity and reliability of the Word of God as demonstrated in His own words contained in the Gospels. The Bible is completely clear in its predominant Christo-centric theme, and is comprehensible to become wise unto salvation and matured unto Christ-like conformity through the lifelong process of sanctification. The Bible is completely sufficient from start to finish in unfolding the extent of God’s revealed will to us.
The Gospel
The word gospel simply means good news. The gospel is the most important message from God given to man. It’s a good message and the greatest news mankind will ever receive. There is not greater, more powerful, or more important message than the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The gospel message is not just any message. It is a message that, if explained properly and biblically, has the power to save lost and spiritually dead sinners. Look at these incredible words concerning the power of the gospel:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
The Gospel is the power of God to save lost and hell bound sinners. The gospel message has no equal or rival. This message flows from the pages of the Bible which were ultimately authored by God himself. The Bible alone presents the only message that can save the lost. This planet has many religions, many venerated books, and many so-called paths to God. There is only one path to God. There is only one message that saves, and that message is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because the gospel is a message:
- It cannot be presented without using words spoken or in writing.
- It cannot be presented by way of even the most exemplary lifestyle.
- It cannot be presented by way of good deeds.
Sadly, much of the American Evangelical Church is simply unbiblical in their attempt to define evangelism. Spiritual leaders all around this globe are teaching God’s people that the gospel can be communicated in and through good deeds, a good life, or by making friends with the lost. The gospel can only be properly communicated by using your mouth to speak words or using your fingers to write out the content of the gospel.