The Gospel
The Good News begins with the Bad News! The foundation of the Gospel is an understanding of the Nature of the God of Israel in the Bible (Acts 17:23). The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is not only the God of the Jewish people He is the Creator and Sovereign Ruler of the Universe (Psa 96; Rom 3:29; Rev 4:11)! God created mankind placing them in a perfect garden asking only love shown by obedience in return. God’s moral standards were revealed again in the two sermons on the mountains (Exod 20:1-17; Matt 5:17-48). God’s rules for behavior do not change just as God Himself does not change (Num 23:19; Mal 3:6). Adam as the representative or federal head of humanity deliberately disobeyed, did not love supremely, the Creator (Gen 3). Adam plunged humanity into death, spiritual and physical (Rom 5:12, 6:23). Sin is rebellion against the Creator choosing to live selfishly and pleasing mankind’s depraved nature (Rom 1:18-32, 3:20; John 4:4-30). The Good News is the Creator God loves mankind, so He came to earth in the Person of Jesus as the Second Adam to redeem fallen humanity (John 3:16; Rom 5:8)! Where the first head of our race failed, and so we have also, the Second Adam obeyed God perfectly (Deut 6:4-5; Matt 22:36-40). Sin caused an immense gulf and separation between God and humanity. Jesus died in man’s place taking the curse of God’s Laws upon Himself as our Redeemer. Jesus can bring us to God and wash away our sin and make us as pure as He Himself lived on earth before God (1 John 1:7-9; Rom 10:9-13; 1 Cor 15:1-3).
Core Beliefs and Principles
Biblical Authority
The Bible is the Word of God. It does not merely contain the Word of the Lord but is the verbally and plenarily inspired (‘God-breathed”) Holy Scripture (2 Tim 3:16-17). The Holy Scripture is inerrant and infallible in all areas not only of doctrine but also history and science (Psa 138:2c; Matt 5:18; John 10:35, 17:17).
Bible Translations
God not only inspired the autographs or originals He also preserved His Holy Word throughout history based on His Promise (Psa 12:6-7). The manuscript authority of Holy Scripture demonstrates the Divine origin of the Bible and proves the reliability and trustworthiness of the Bible. While we adhere to the preservation of Holy Scripture, we recognize only the originals which we do not possess were inspired. A translation is authoritative inasmuch as it is accurately rendered according to the manuscripts. No one translation is the inspired Word of God.
Essential Doctrines
Salvific
i. The Mystery of the Essential Oneness and Unity of God as well as His Plurality revealed as Persons Father, Son and Spirit (Gen 1:5, 2:24; Deut 6:4-5; Isa 63:9-10: Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 8:6; 2 Cor 13:13)
ii. The Deity of Jesus the Messiah (Dan 7:13-14 with Matt 26:63-65; John 8:58 with Exod 3:14). Messiah’s Virgin Birth (Isa 7:14 with Matt 1:18-25) and Sinless Life (John 8:46; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 7:26; 1 Pet 1:18-19).
iii. The Humanity of Jesus the Messiah born a Jew a son of Abraham and David (Matt 1:1; John 1:14, 4:9; Luke 2:21; 1 John 1:1-2, 4:2; Rom 1:3).
iv. The Voluntary Death and Sacrificial Blood Atonement of the Savior (Lev 17:11; John 10:18; 1 John 1:9; Heb 9:22, 10:10).
v. The Physical Bodily Resurrection of Messiah from Death and the Tomb ( 1 Cor 15:1-8).
vi. His Physical Bodily Ascension to Heaven and Session at the Right Hand of The Father (Psa 110:1 with Acts 2:32-36 and Heb 10:12-13; Acts 1:9; Heb 4:14).
vii. His Personal Bodily Second Coming to Israel first and the whole world ( Zech 14:1-4; Acts 1:11; Heb 9:28; Rev 19:11-16).
viii. Salvation as a Gift of Grace to those who Repent Toward God and Trust in Messiah as Savior (Acts 26:18; Rom 4:4-5; Eph 2:8-9). We recognize the content of what is necessary to believe has changed with revelation but the essential nature of saving faith (faithfulness) has always been the same.