The
Holy Bible is the only book inspired by God, and is His
written communication to mankind.
In
it God tells us about His relationship with mankind in the
past, His offer of a relationship now, and the promise of
an even better future with Him.
The
teaching contained in the Holy Bible is absolute and consistent.
The
events recorded, whether history (already happened), or
future (yet to happen), are true.
2. God.
God
presents Himself to us in three persons, all equal in status,
all existing before time began, all existing to eternity
in the future; God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ),
and God the Holy Spirit.
All
three have the same attributes, love, mercy, justice, righteousness,
all-powerful, all knowing, all present.
3. Creation.
In
the beginning, from nothing, God created the heavens and
the earth, stars, planets, universes, all the different
species, animals, fish, insects, birds, and mankind. All
that there was.
Everything
was perfect in its original state.
4. Sin.
The first human
male Adam, and the first human female Eve, were disobedient
to God, and broke their relationship with Him. Through their
disobedience sin entered into the world and became part
of our human nature.
Jesus Christ
(God the Son), came to earth and was punished on the cross
at Calvary by God the Father for all disobedience. When
the punishment was finished, Jesus gave up His life, and
was buried in a tomb.
On
the third day, Jesus Christ rose from the grave, showed
himself to people so that they could see Him alive, and
ascended back to heaven, from where He came.
He will one
day in the future, come back to take from the earth all
those who have asked for their disobedience to be forgiven,
whether living or dead, to be with Him forever.
For those whose
disobedience has not been forgiven, there is a place of
everlasting torment.
Every person
who sincerely asks God for forgiveness for their own disobedience
can have a new relationship with Him.
At that moment,
God the Holy Spirit enters into the person to give a new
(spiritual) life.
5. Christianity.
The
Holy Bible defines a Christian as a disciple (ardent follower)
of Jesus Christ. That is, those who have been forgiven by
God and whose love for Him makes them genuinely want to
follow Him.
As
such they become part of a worldwide group, not separated
by gender, age, origin, alive or dead. The Holy Bible gives
us two illustrations of this group.
i.
A body, with head, torso, limbs, eyes, ears, etc. In this
body, every individual has its own part to play so that
the body can function properly. There is only one Head
- Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, the body is guided
to action.
ii.
An invisible organisation called the Church. Again from
every country, class of person, language, status. There
is also a local meaning to the church.
Just as each individual has their own body,
and can only be in one place at one time, so there is a ‘local
church’ made up of individuals who meet together for
worship, prayer, etc. Where they meet is not so important,
but what is critical is how the ‘local church’
is guided.
Each ‘local church’ is autonomous,
and is answerable to God, not to the next ‘local church’
or a much larger organisation. For this purpose God has written
in the Holy Bible, the standards He has set for those men
who lead, and guide the ‘local church’. God has
also written how He expects His followers to behave and conduct
their lives, and develop their relationship with Him.
As followers of God, Christians are required
by Him, to remember the crucifixion of His Son - Jesus Christ
- as a tribute, and token of their affection for Him at the
Communion Service, where the bread represents His physical
body, and the wine represents His blood. These are only representations;
they do not become His actual body and blood.
Following the Son of God also requires the
Christian to make a conscious decision to be baptised by full
immersion in water, as this represents being buried and raised
from death as Christ was. Following His actual burial and
resurrection, by a representation.
What
we believe is a matter of personal faith, based on a personal
experience of God and the Holy Bible. Whether science or philosophy
or any other influence, corroborates or otherwise, we stand
firm in our faith in God.
