Our Belief Statement

April, 2024

It is important to have Scriptural beliefs—but even more important to be able find them in the Scriptures. This statement begins with very basic concepts, not assuming the reader has any particular background. Those with a strong belief in God may wish to skip the first two main points.

1. God created the universe and created mankind in His image, for His purpose. (Genesis 1-2) If life is a result of chance events, then there is no purpose and no lasting value of anything. Personally deciding whether or not there is a God we can know is the most important decision a person can ever make. It makes all the difference in what we do today, how we plan our long-term future and what will happen to us after death. There are three primary paths people use to make this decision:

a) A wholehearted prayer to God which receives a miraculous answer. Self-serving prayers (“God if you’re out there, give me a million dollars.”) are almost never answered. Answers are received from prayers such as: “God, if you will deliver me from my present distress, I will spend the rest of my life seeking you and living for you.”

1) But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. (Psalm 69:13 ESV)

2) You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13 ESV)

b) A study of creation versus evolution. There are 10,000s of videos and books on the subject—even some debates between prominent creationists and evolutionists. Honest study receives honest answers. Today, mankind is able to create incredibly complex devices and systems—even Artificial Intelligence rivaling his own. But we are not even close to creating a life-form from scratch, nor are we able to permanently change any existing species into another another species. Creating life from non-living things is like trying to build a house from blocks by throwing them across a room: occasionally, one block will land squarely atop another. But throwing more blocks is more likely to knock the standing blocks down than it is to build upon them. Even if one keeps this up for 13 billion years, a popular estimated age of the universe, mathematics says nothing will be built.

1) In the beginning, God [Hebrew YHVH or Elohim] created the heavens and the earth. ... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:1, 27 ESV)

2) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1–2 ESV)

3) For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1:20 NLT-SE)

c) Comparing the lives of those we know to have a powerful faith in God with those who do not, and sincerely asking, which do I want?

1) “Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.” But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. (Ruth 1:15–16 NLT-SE)

2) “Why have you come here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me, since you kicked me off your land.” They replied, “We can plainly see that the LORD is with you. So we want to enter into a sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant. Swear that you will not harm us, just as we have never troubled you. We have always treated you well, and we sent you away from us in peace. And now look how the LORD has blessed you!” (Genesis 26:27–29 NLT-SE)

2. The Holy Scriptures—the books of the Bible—are God’s instruction to mankind, providing essential knowledge of our present life and for life after death. It is the best documented collection of ancient writings in the world when number of manuscripts and diversity of manuscript sources are considered. It has more copies in print than any other book and has been translated to nearly every language on earth. It is completely accurate in its original inspired languages. Minor errors have entered it in copying and translation, but God holds each person responsible for what they know, not what has been hidden from them.

a) You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right (2 Timothy 3:15-16 NLT-SE)

b) And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18–19 NLT-SE)

c) ... Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (Luke 12:48 ESV)

d) Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.” (John 9:41 ESV)

e) for as many as without law did sin, without law also shall perish, and as many as did sin in law, through law shall be judged, for not the hearers of the law [are] righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be declared righteous: – For, when nations that have not a law, by nature may do the things of the law, these not having a law – to themselves are a law; who do shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also witnessing with them, and between one another the thoughts accusing or else defending, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my good news, through Jesus Christ. (Romans 2:12-16 Young’s Literal Translation)

f) So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:17 ESV)

3. For those convicted of the reality of God and the validity of the Holy Scriptures, a lifetime of fruitful work is set before us:

a) But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4 ESV)

b) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matt. 5:6 ESV)

4. Every valuable belief of Scripture cannot be included in this short statement. Indeed, a “Statement of Beliefs” can limit the spiritual growth of brethren if they believe its points are all they need to be a member of their congregation and to receive their best reward in the after-life. The letters to seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 show that believers differ in their strengths and weaknesses, and Messiah’s expectations of them vary based upon these circumstances.

5. The most important parts of Scripture are clearly identified in the Scriptures. We include seven of these passages, below:

6. The Ten Commandments are the only recorded place where the Father spoke to a whole nation. Exodus 19 explains the days of preparation for the event, which included a sound, light and shaking show more impressive than anything produced by modern entertainment.

a) “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me.

b) “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

c) “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

d) “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

1) [The New Testament congregations continued to meet in the Temple, Synagogues and other places on the same Sabbath as the rest of the nation. There is no Scriptural teaching for any other day.]

2) [The six days of Creation are the same length of time as the six-day work week.]

e) “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

f) “You shall not murder.

g) “You shall not commit adultery.

h) “You shall not steal.

i) “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

j) “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:1–17 NKJV)

7. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV)

8. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV)

9. Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [Deuteronomy 6:4-5] The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [Leviticus 19:18] There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29–31 ESV)

10. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:3–6 ESV)

11. “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:36–39 ESV)

12. Hebrews 6:1-2: Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of... [The rest of this verse continues as the bold words beginning points a) through f), below.]

a) repentance from dead works [The Torah, the Prophets, the Writings all define and give examples of “dead works”. The New Testament expands on these and teaches us the spiritual intent. It has lists of sins that will keep us out of His Kingdom (Galatians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:3-14; Colossians 3:5-9; Revelation 22:14-15)]

b) and of faith toward God, [“Faith”, sometimes translated as “belief”, is explained in Ephesians 2:8; John 3:16 and Hebrews 11:1, 6]

c) of the doctrine of baptisms,

1) [Baptism in water is explained in John 3:23; Acts 2:38- 41; 4:4; 8:36-38; 10:44-48.]

2) [Baptism in the Holy Spirit, or being “filled with the Holy Spirit” is explained in Matthew 3:11; 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:15, 47,67; 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 2:4; 4:8, 31; 9:17; 11:16; 13:9, 52; 1 Corinthians 12:14; Eph 5:18.]

3) [“Baptism of fire” is mentioned only in Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16. Fire is consistently used as a symbol of trials that purify people, even believers (Mark 9:49; 1 Peter 4:12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)]

d) of laying on of hands, [Laying on of hands is used for:]

1) [Imparting the Holy Spirit at baptism (Acts 8:17-19; 9:17; 19:6)]

2) [Healing or blessing people (Matthew 9:18; 19:13-15; Mark 5:23; 6:5; 7:32; 8:23,25; 16:18; Luke 4:40; 13:13; Acts 9:12,17; 28:8; Revelation 1:7)]

3) [Imparting spiritual gifts or commissioning spiritual work (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Acts 6:6; 13:2-3).]

4) [Laying on hands is like a physical manifestation of prayer. Anybody can pray. Anybody can lay on hands! The Father knows how to answer in every case!]

e) of resurrection of the dead, [The resurrection of the dead is a multi-faceted teaching. The resurrection of Christ is well understood by most believers, but resurrection of everyone is not well understood. It happens at two times, 1000 years apart (Rev 20:4-5). Scriptures about the resurrections of the dead include: Isa 26:19; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Daniel 12:1-3; Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 14:13-14; 20:35-36; John 5:25-29; 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 11:14, 23-24; Acts 23:6-10; 24:21; 26:6-8; Rom 6:5-8; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Hebrews 11:13, 39-40; Revelation 20]

f) and of eternal judgment. [So many Scriptures relate to the eternal, righteous judgment of the Father that this document would double in size just to list the references. These are five important aspects of judgment]

1) [The Bible continually pictures God as a righteous judge: Genesis 18:25; Job 21:22; Psalms 7:11; 58:11; 75:7; Ecclesiastes 3:17; Genesis 30:6; Revelation 19:1.]

2) [Judgment has been given to Christ: John 5:22; Acts 10:40-43; 17:30-31; 2 Timothy 4:1; Isaiah 11:3-4. He will judge every secret thing:; Mark 4:22; Romans 2:16; Revelation 19:11-14.]

3) [Believers will be judged: Romans 14:10; 1Corinthians 4:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:17-19; James 5:9.]

4) [Judgment is about rewards as well as correction: 1 Chronicles 16:31-35; Psalm 7:7-12; 50:1-6; 58:10-11; 67:1-4; 96:1-13; 98:1-9; Matthew 5:11-12; 19:28-29; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 11:18]

5) [The many who have done evil will receive appropriate judgment: Psalm 75:1-3; 82:1-2; 94:1-7; Ecclesiastes 3:16-17; Isaiah 2:4; 3:13-14; Jeremiah 11:19-20; Ezekiel 34:20-23; Joel 3:11-13; Micah 4:3; Matthew 10:15; 11:20-24; 12:41-42; Romans 2:1-4; 3:5-6; 1 Peter 4:3-6; Revelation 18:2, 5-8; 20:11-15.]