GOD
We believe in the one and only true God who is spirit. He is self-existent, infinite, personal, unchangeable, and eternal in his being. He is perfect in holiness, righteousness, love, justice, goodness, wisdom and truth. He is om nipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is the creator and sustainer of all things both visible and invisible. He is both immanent in and transcen dent to the creation. The one triune God exists and reveals himself as three persons, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We acknowledge that all we know about God is by revelation. Now we know only in part, but we look for the day when we will know as we are known.
A. God the Father
1. His nature
We believe in God as our Father. In his nature and in his relationships, we understand him best as Father. While a human father imperfectly loves and cares, the heavenly Father perfectly loves and cares. He is good in all he does and in everything he gives, including his discipline.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
2 Corinthians 1:3
…one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. For to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it
Ephesians 4:6-7
Also see: Matthew 7:11; Hebrews 12:7-11
2. His unity with Christ
The Son came into the world to make the Father known. Jesus af firmed that he and the Father are one.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
John 14:6-7
3. His relationship to believers
The Father loved the world enough to send the Son, Jesus Christ, as the Savior of the world. Anyone who knows the Father also knows the Son. Through a personal relationship with Christ, we come to know God as our Father and can say, "Abba, Father."
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,...
Galatians 3:26
B. God the Son (Jesus Christ)
1. His nature
We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, was made in the likeness of men. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, thus blending organically and permanently his divine nature with human nature in one, unique person without a third nature being formed.
The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory the glory of the one and only Son, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
...being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,...
Philippians 2:7c-8a
Also see: Matthew 1;18-25; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:14a
2. His mission
The purpose of the incarnation was to reveal God and to redeem man. This redemption was accomplished by Christ's death and resurrection.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19
Also see: 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18; 1 John 2:2
3. His glorification and continuing ministry
He ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of God interceding for us.
While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
Luke 24:51
The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,...
Hebrews 8:1
Also see: Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; 1 John 2:1; 1 Peter 3:22
4. His position in the Church
He is the head of the Church which is his body.
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Colossians 1:18
5. His lordship
He has an exalted position. Ultimately every knee shall bow to him and every
tongue shall confess that he is Lord.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
C. God the Holy Spirit
1. His nature
We believe the Holy Spirit is God, eternal in existence.
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit…? You have not lied to men but to God."
Acts 5:3, 4
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Hebrews 9:14
2. His ministry
His ministry, since his coming on the day of Pentecost, is broad and varied. At some time every person in the world is touched by his work.
a. His work for unbelievers
(1) He convicts and convinces the world of sin, of righteousness and
judgment.
(2) He restrains the progress of evil until God's purposes are accomplished.
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment; in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because l am going to the Father; where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
John 16:8-11
Also see: 2 Thessalonians 2:7
b. His work in salvation
(1) He regenerates, giving new life to those who repent of their sins and
exercise faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again." The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:5-8
(2) He comes to live in all believers at the moment of their regeneration.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;... 1 Corinthians 6:19
Also see: Romans 8:9
(3) He baptizes all believers into the body of Christ.
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
I Corinthians 12:13
c. His work in believers
(1) He instructs, comforts, helps and guides all believers.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 16:13
In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Romans 8:26
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither seeks him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:16-18, 26
(2) He sanctifies and produces Christ-like qualities in believers as they yield
to his control.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:16, 22-23
(3) He equips and empowers all believers for witness and service.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8
Also see: Matthew 28:19-20
(4) He will graciously and ultimately give immortality to our resurrected bodies.
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Romans 8:11
d. His work in the Church
(1) He indwells the Church.
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
(2) He produces unity in the Church.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:3-6
(3) He enables believers to love each other.
All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.
John 13:35
Also see: 1 Corinthians 13
(4) He equips the Church for ministry by giving spiritual gifts to each believer.
Spiritual gifts are special endowments or abilities given by the Holy Spirit to each believer, enabling the believer to participate actively in the church's ministry.
Properly exercised, every gift brings honor to Jesus Christ, pro duces unity, develops spiritual maturity within the body, and helps to complete the mission of the Church.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various form. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11
Also see: Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16