STATEMENT
OF FAITH
WE BELIEVE...
...that the full, final and ultimate authority is the Bible, in its original form, which was written by men acting as God’s instruments. There is only one living, true, Holy God, who exists as the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father created and maintains the universe. The Son, Jesus, was born of the virgin Mary, lived a mortal existence, during which he taught and demonstrated Godly lessons. He was betrayed, crucified, died and was buried, and arose on the third day. He is now in Heaven, where He awaits us. His physical death was the instrument of atonement for our sins, which allows us access to the path to Heaven. He will someday return to complete God’s plan for the world.
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Salvation is necessary because of the Original Sin of Adam and Eve. Salvation is only available by Grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone. The Holy Spirit is present to help us both in this (justification) and in the following continuous Discipleship development (sanctification), to be fully prepared to be in the presence of God. All who are saved become part of the Church, the living body of Jesus. Jesus instructed all Believers to observe two sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist.)
THE BIBLE
The Ultimate Authority is the Bible (Original Scripture). (Psa. 19:7-9; Psa. 119:11; Psa. 119:30; Psa. 119:43; Psa. 119:89; Matt. 5:17-18; John 3:34; John 10:35; I Thess. 2:13; Rev. 22:6) Our Church looks to the Bible as the full, final and ultimate authority on all matters of Faith (Isa. 40:8; Matt. 24:35) and practice. (Matt. 7:21; Matt. 7:24; Luke 1:38; James 1:22-25) Therefore, we fully study and follow all the teachings included in both the Old and New Testaments. (Luke 24:44; II Pet. 3:15-16; Rev. 22:18-19) We believe that the Bible in its entirety originated with God, through chosen men who were His instruments in transcribing and assembling His Words. (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:20-21; I Cor. 2:12-13; John 14:26) Those men each wrote in the words and literary style of their societies and times. We believe that the Bible is infallible and inerrant in its original manuscripts.
GOD
We believe that there is one (Isa. 45:5; Isa. 45:22; I Cor. 8:4; Deut. 6:4) living, (Psa. 42:2; Psa. 84:2) true, (Jer. 10:10) holy (Isa. 6:3; I Pet. 1:15-16) God. He exists as the Trinity, (John 1:1; John 1:14; John 1:18; John 10:30; I John 4:9; John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 15:26; II Cor. 3:17-18) simultaneously and eternally in three persons – Father, (Matt. 6:9; Eph. 1:3) Son (John 1:1; Gal. 4:4; Matt. 27:43) and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19-20; II Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4; Acts 5:1-5) – each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity. (Rev. 5:13; Eph. 3:14-21) The Father created, (Gen. 1:1; Psa. 95:3-5) maintains, (Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3) and rules (Psa. 103:19; Psa. 104:24-29) over our physical universe. (Psa. 96:4-6; Psa. 89:11; Psa. 103:20-21; Col. 1:16,17; Psa. 104:5; Psa. 103:22; Psa. 22:28; Psa. 47:8; Gen. 1:31) The Son is Jesus Christ, (Matt. 27:43; Gal. 4:4) who was sent to Earth in bodily form to enable us to better understand His Love and Grace and to show us the Way to eternal fellowship with the Father. The Holy Spirit daily assists us in learning ultimate truths by indwelling believers’ bodies and thereby joining those believers into the Church.
JESUS
Jesus is the second person of the Trinity. (John 1:1;) He was born of Mary by virgin birth (Luke 1:30-35) as God’s only Son. (John 1:1; John 3:16; Gal. 4:4; Matt. 27:43) He lived and experienced human childhood, adolescence and early adulthood as a mortal human. (II Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:6-11) This experience forever united Him with humanity. (Rom. 5:19; I Cor. 15:22; I Pet. 2:22; II Cor. 5:21; Rom. 8:29) He then experienced spiritual incarnation and began His ministry. (Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:16-21; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 11:20; Luke 17:20-21; Luke 4:1-13) He demonstrated perfect behavior for us by His examples of words and actions. (Rom. 5:19; I Cor. 15:22; I Pet. 2:21-22; II Cor. 5:21; Rom. 8:29) He was crucified and died to atone for the sins of all who choose to follow His Way. (I Pet. 2:24; Gal. 3:13; II Cor. 5:21) His physical death was a substitution for the spiritual death of His followers. (John 1:29; John 6:51; John 4:9-10) This established that following His Way (“belief in Jesus as Savior”) is the ONLY way of having His substitutionary atonement (John 14:6; Matt. 20:28; Mark 2:10) accomplish salvation for a Believer. He was then resurrected (Acts 2:24-28) and arose bodily on the third day. (Mark 8:31; I Cor. 15:3-5) He ascended to Heaven, (Rom. 1:4) where He is now and forever. (Acts 2:29-36) He is the ONLY Mediator between God and Believers, (I John 2:23; I Tim. 2:5-6) continually making intercession for His own. Some day, He will again come back to us to consummate God’s eternal plan. At that time, He will bring a Final Judgment to evaluate all humanity, to establish each individual’s future existence in Heaven or Hell.
HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. On a daily basis, the Spirit is in the earthly world, interacting with all Believers (Rom. 8:9-10) and those who aspire to Discipleship, to present and continually confirm the ultimate truths of Disciple existence and Scripture, as Helper, (John 16:7) Teacher, (John 14:26) and Guide. (John 16:13-15; Rom. 8:14) Whenever a person desires to pursue a Christ-Like Walk, the Holy Spirit will stay continually near at hand to help the individual’s soul be saved. (Rom. 12:4-6) Once individuals are saved, the Spirit indwells in those individuals to maintain salvation. (John 14:16-17; Rom. 12:1; Eph. 5:18-20; I Cor. 14:12; I Cor. 14:26; Luke 11:20; I John 3:8b) These efforts of the Holy Spirit enable a human to find the correct path to achieve eternal fellowship with God in Heaven. The Holy Spirit, therefore, lives in all those who believe in Him by faith. (I Cor. 2:12; Rom. 8:11; II Cor. 1:22; Gal. 3:5; Eph. 2:22; Eph. 3:16; I John 4:13; I Cor. 3:6; Rom. 8:5-9; I Cor. 2:10; I Cor. 5:5) The Spirit uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the ongoing building of the body of the Church. (I Cor. 12:7-11; I Cor. 14:1; I Cor. 14:5; I Thess. 5:19-21) The Spirit makes it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character. (John 14:12-13: Rom. 15:18-19; I Cor. 4:20).
SALVATION
Salvation is available by Grace of God through Faith in Jesus Christ Alone. (Rom. 1:16-17) The beliefs of Church of All Nations should NOT be construed to mean that salvation is available through just behaving in a Christ-Like manner and doing “good works”. We believe that salvation is only available by the Grace of God as a result of personal repentance (Acts 5:31; II Tim. 2:25; Acts 17:30) and Faith in Jesus, in a traditional Christ-Like manner. (Rom. 1:16-17; John 14:6; Matt. 20:28) The “good works” ARE A RESULT of the Christ-Like behavior which Jesus demonstrated and which we honor and glorify. In addition, as a RESULT of our salvation and the ensuing “good works” we do as Christ-Like behavior, we will be rewarded in Heaven. (Matt. 16:27; Matt. 18:18; James 1:25; Psa. 23:4) Salvation is necessary for each human because of “the Fall” of Adam and Eve, (Gen. 3:8; Rom. 1:21; Rom. 5:16) in their defying of His rules in the Garden of Eden by listening to Satan. (Gen. 3:1; Rev. 12:9) A result of this Fall was that all their descendants are equally imperfect at following His laws and Commandments, (Rom. 5:12; John 5:14; I Cor. 15:22; Rom. 8:20-23; Psa. 51:5; Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 2:5; Rom. 2:12; Psa. 58:3; Heb. 9:27) and are therefore incapable of fellowship with God. (Rom. 3:23; Psa. 51:4) We are each therefore in need of the saving Grace of God for our individual salvations. (Rom. 8:16; Eph. 2:15) This salvation is entirely a result of God’s saving Grace (John 15:26; John 16:8-11; II Cor. 3:14-17; Rom. 7:13; Gal. 3:19-22; Rom.2:1-11; Gal.3:24; Phil. 3:8-9; Eph. 2:8) in response to our individual repentance (Acts 5:31; II Tim. 2:25) and Faith in Jesus Christ, and NOT as a result of human works or goodness. (Rom. 1:16-17).
THE CHURCH
Each person who is spiritually saved by the Grace of God in response to repentance and Faith in Jesus, becomes a member (I Cor. 12:27) of His living body, (Rom. 12:4-5) the church. The one, (John 17:20-21; Eph. 4:3-6) true, holy (I Cor. 3:16-17) church (Matt. 16:17-18; I Cor. 1:2; Eph. 2:18-19; I Pet. 2:9-10) is very broad, and includes all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Scripture commands that believers meet for worship, (Matt. 18:19) prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism (Matt. 28:19-20) and communion (I Cor. 11:23-26) as sacramental ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. Wherever God’s people meet in obedience to this command, there is local expression of the church. (Matt. 18:19) Members of these local churches are neither perfect nor sinless, (Isa. 53:6) but continually strive to use the Holy Spirit to grow. A result of this growth is the greater expression of His love, peace, joy, and the other Christ-like qualities. The outreach efforts should include preliminary steps to first encourage trust in Him and His followers. After this trust is established, belief in Him and obedience to Him is possible and can be pursued more directly. Members of the church should work at maturing in their individual walks (Matt. 18:18) by learning the Word, by participating in Fellowship with other believers and disciplining others to grow the collective faith. The church is God’s Hope for the world. (Matt. 5:14).
CONSISTENT CHRIST-LIKE BEHAVIOR AND THOUGHTS
Salvation is by Grace through Faith alone. (Rom. 1:16-17) Then, AS A RESULT OF THIS SALVATION and the new indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, “good works” will naturally follow. (Eph. 2:8) Jesus gave us numerous examples and lessons on appropriate thoughts and behavior while He was with us on Earth. By following His examples, we more closely Walk in His path. (I Peter 2:21; I Peter 2:12) In addition, as a RESULT of our salvation, we naturally do “good works” which will be rewarded in Heaven. (Matt. 16:27; Matt. 18:18; James 1:25) Our congregation is filled with His love, and the effects of the Holy Spirit’s effect of the members just “spill over” onto others and are seen as good deeds and attitudes. (Eph. 2:8) This situation also makes for great happiness and fulfillment in our members. (Jer. 31:17)
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The Epistle of James generally emphasizes that good works issue FROM faith. In the 1500s, Martin Luther was concerned that it might instead suggest that works were necessary requirements FOR faith, but that was clearly incorrect. Some of what Luther was concerned about was (James 2:14; James 2:17; James 2:22; James 2:24) the references that faith without good works still resulted in a dead soul. These did NOT contradict the faith alone concept, but just confirmed that we are supposed to LIVE and DEMONSTRATE Christ’s teachings, not merely understand them. (James 1:22-26) This point is a central goal of Church of All Nations (particularly James 1:22-26). James is definitely supportive of justification by faith alone. Of course, Romans 1-4 and Galatians 3-4 presents this justification by faith alone in a more straightforward manner, with the rest of Romans suggesting the effects and implications on us.
All humans will experience a physical death. Then there will be a resurrection of each body into the spiritual world, followed by a judgment (Heb. 9:27) that will determine the ultimate fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be condemned to Hell and therefore separated from God forever. (Rom. 6:23; Luke 16:26) Believers will be received into eternal communion with God, in Heaven, and will be rewarded for works done during the mortal life. The fate of each believer is existence in an environment that is the ultimate Heaven for each of them individually.
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We believe that scripture is the final authority of all matters of faith and practice. Where scripture is silent, we believe that the Holy Spirit will aid each individual to identify proper thoughts and actions. The individual and God may be the only ones truly aware of the motivation of the individual’s actions, and that pair will ultimately be responsible for determining the consequences of those actions. Human witnessing of the good and bad in human behavior, also including by clergy, is unnecessary. (It is not necessary to “play to an audience” to have positive character aspects noticed by the Lord.)