What We Believe
¨ In essential beliefs – we have unity
“There is one Body and one Spirit … there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of us all … “ Eph. 4:4 - 6
¨ In non-essential beliefs – we have liberty.
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment or disputable matters …
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls … So then each of us will give an account of himself to God … So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” Romans 14:1;4;12;22
¨ In all our beliefs – we show charity.
“ … If I hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but also the very secrets of God, and if I have the faith that can move mountains – but have no love, I amount to nothing at all.” I Cor. 13:2
THE ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE:
1. ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three person abilities: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26 - 27: Genesis 3:2; Psalms 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I Peter 1:2; II Corinthians 13:14
2. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sins and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Matthew 1:22 - 23; Isaish 9:6; John 1:1 - 5; John 14:10 - 30; Hebrews 4:14 -15; I Corinthians 15:3 - 4; Romans 1:3 - 4: Acts 1:9 - 11; I Timothy 6:14 - 15; Titus 2:13
3. ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily. Acts 2:38; II Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7 - 13, John 14:16 - 17; Acts 1:8, I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18
4. ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.Hebrews 4:12 - 13 ; II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20 - 21; II Timothy 1:13; Psalms 119:105; Psalms 119:160; Psalms12:6; Proverbs 30:5
5. ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like in character. People are the supreme objects of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3 - 6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1 - 2
6. ABOUT SALVATION
Remember when you learned your ABC's? What a great accomplishment that was! Now you were ready for the "big time." Because you had interest in the ABC's, you were now ready to read a book, write a paper, take on the world.
You've since learned that not everything in life is as simple as ABC. Life can deal us some pretty hard blows -- Things we weren't prepared for in kindergarten. Failure. Loss. Disappointment. Heartache. Loneliness. Despair. Complexity.
Sometimes it's best to go back to the basics. That's what you're about to read -- a very simple, basic approach to the real meaning of life. Using the familiar ABC approach, you'll quickly see a plan for your life develop. It's a plan that's out of this world because that's where it will take you. If you take the time to learn your spiritual ABC's.
Forward by Vic Knowles, POEM (Peace On Earth Ministries) Joplin, MO
Re SALVATION IS
AS EASY AS the ABC's
A Almost everyone has an opinion about God, but not everyone
B Believes that Jesus
C Christ is God's Son. You've probably heard the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16. It says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should nor perish, but have everlasting life." This everlasting life isn't something you
D Deserve or even can
E Earn. It is a
F Free gift. God graciously
G Gives it to us. Ephesians 2:8 says, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not of works, so that no one can boast."
H Heaven is God's gift to those who choose to become His children. To make it easier for us to love Him, God decided to reveal Himself to us by coming to earth in the form of a human called Jesus. Jesus' other name was
I Immanuel, which means "God with us." In other words,
J Jesus was God "in the flesh." After identifying Jesus as the Word of God, John 1:14 tells us, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jesus' life shows us how
K Kind and
L Loving God is. Although He is just, He's also
M Merciful and doesn't want to punish us for our sins.
N No
O ther
P Plan or
Q Quest for a
R Relationship offers to forgive our sins like Jesus does. The Bible teaches there is only one
S Savior and Lord -- only one person who can take away the guilt of our sins and teach us how to live life right. (John 14:6) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Romans 3:23 teaches us that all have sinned, but I Peter 2:24 says that Jesus "carried our sins in His body on the cross so we could stop living for sin and start living for what is right." So how can you choose to make Jesus your Savior? First, you must
T Trust Him. Going to church won't get your sins forgiven, and giving to a church won't get you into heaven. Remember -- everlasting life isn't something that can be earned. In other words, it's like saying, "If Jesus can't get me into heaven, I guess I just won't get in." The Bible calls this FAITH. Also, you must make a
U U-turn in your life. Instead of living for what is wrong, or doing your own thing, you now choose to live as Jesus lived. The Bible calls this
V Very important change of heart "REPENTANCE." You also must become a public follower of Jesus. While teaching one day, Jesus said, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32) The Bible calls this "CONFESSING" your faith. Jesus asks you to symbolically re-enact His death, burial, and resurrection by being BAPTIZED in water --resulting in the new Christian receiving another gift - - the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts. 2:38). The Bible clearly
X Explains, "We were buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4) Right now would be a good time to say
Y "Yes" to God's plan for your life. Here's His promise to you, "To who received Him..... He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) Now you've heard the "good news" of Jesus from A to
Z. God has done all He can. The next move is yours. Why not choose Jesus now?
adapted by Don Hunt II and Ron Hunt
Please call and/or e-mail us if you want desire additional teaching from the scriptures about:
a) Becoming a Christian.
b) Needing someone to immerser you into Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4).
c) Bible Instruction for new Christians on loving and serving Jesus as your Savior, Lord, and Master.
d) Finding a Bible teaching church where you live.
Contact info or click on the link below:
Gateway Singers Ministries
PO Box 65 Centerville, IA 52544 don@gatewaysingers.com (641) 856 - 3077
7. ABOUT ETERNITY
Eternal life awaits everyone. .People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally in union with Him in eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
Ecclesastes 3:11; John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; I Cor. 2:7-9
