THE BIBLE - The Old And New Testaments
About the BIBLE
Everything Born-Again Christians believe comes from the Bible, God's message of love and hope for all people. The Bible is the written Word of God, handed
down to us in order to point us to the truth that we are saved from our sin and eternal death by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe
that the Bible is completely reliable and without error. In it we learn everything we need to know about God's love and His gifts to us.
About GOD
There is only one true God - the Triune God - who exists in three separate but equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God is our maker and the creator of all things. By His word, all things were made, and we are His most beloved creation; we are closest to His heart. The Son is
Jesus Christ, who came to earth as the perfect "go-between" between God and humanity. He has redeemed us and is the voice to the Father on our behalf. The Holy Spirit
calls us to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, keeps us in the one true faith, and equips us for living out our faith. He is the whisper in our heart's ear.
About US
We all fall short of God's expectations because we are all born "sinful" - and we aren't talking about "sinfully" rich desserts, we're talking about the serious
side of sin. Sin can be summed up as all the things we say, think, do, and don't do, that fall outside of God's holy will for our lives and end up separating us
from God.
Sin was brought into the world when Satan lured the first people God created (Adam and Eve) into temptation through their own free will and weakness, breaking the
perfect relationship between God and us. From that point on, sin became part of our very existence. Because God also demands perfect obedience, our ultimate punishment
became death.
Yet God is a loving God whose will is not for us to live in eternal punishment. That's why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live the perfect life He requires and to
become our substitute. Christ never sinned - not even once - and then He took our sin upon Himself and died on the cross, on our behalf. When we believe in Jesus Christ
as our Savior, He bears our sin and gives us His forgiveness.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
About "BEING SAVED"
There is absolutely nothing we can do to "be saved" - Jesus Christ has already done everything necessary. In His death and resurrection, everyone who believes in Jesus as
Savior has been brought back into a right relationship with God. That means that, on account of Jesus, everyone who believes is "justified," or declared innocent by God.
God has done justice to the world's sins; because of Jesus, all who believe are forgiven and will live eternally.
We do not cooperate in our salvation and there is nothing we could ever present to God to make our way into eternal life with Him; not money or even good works. Neither
can we really feel it or prove it. We cannot reason our way to salvation, nor can we earn it. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves—Jesus Christ has done it all.
About FAITH
It is through faith in Jesus that we receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life - by believing that He has freed us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin.
Faith is a gift worked in us by the power of the Holy Spirit; it doesn't come to us through anything we are capable of, but through what God does for us. We simply receive
what is already being offered out of God's great love.
About GRACE
When your debt can be paid without further penalty. God's grace is even more wonderful; that's why it's called "amazing grace." While we deserved to pay the penalty for our sins,
God had a different plan. Christ paid the debt and we receive forgiveness and eternal life from Him that is offered out of unconditional love. That's why it's called grace
because it is truly undeserved.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9).
About GOOD WORKS
Since there is nothing we can ever do to earn salvation, we do not do good works in order to be saved; good works are done out of praise and thanks because we are saved. Such good
works include, but are certainly not limited to, serving and caring for the needs of others, honoring and giving respect to those in authority, honoring our vows and commitments,
and generally doing what is considered by many to be good and right. It's often said that Martin Luther expressed it this way: God doesn't need our good works,
but our neighbor does.
About LIFE AFTER DEATH
On Judgment Day, we don't know when, Jesus Christ is going to return. On that day, everyone who has died will be raised and those who are still alive will be bodily transformed.
At that time, the final judgment will take place. Those who do not believe will go into eternal damnation and all those who believe in Jesus as Savior will have eternal life in heaven.