We Believe...That God Created the Heavens and the Earth . . .
* In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1).
* For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day (Exodus 20:11).
* For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20).
In the Fall of Mankind . . .
* And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:16 & 17).
* When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit of it, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate (Genesis 3:6).
* So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life (Genesis 3:24).
That God’s law reveals sin, for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20) . . .
1) I am the LORD thy God . . . Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any carved image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
3) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4) Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
5) Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6) Thou shalt not murder.
7) Thou shalt not commit adultery
8) Thou shalt not steal
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor
10) Thou shalt not covet. (See Exodus 20)
That all of mankind have sinned and are separated from God because of sin . . .
* For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression (Romans 3:23, 5:12-14).
In the righteous judgment of God . . .
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasure up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God (Romans 2:5-11).
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries
(Hebrews 10:27).
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life (Romans 5:18).
In Repentance Toward God . . .
* From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand . . . I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish (Jesus: Luke 13:5).
* Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:14 & 15).
* And they went out, and preached that men should repent (Mark 6:12).
* Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord
(Acts 3:9).
* If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land
(2 Chronicles 7:14).
* God now commands all people everywhere to repent
(Acts 17:30).
* The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, as some count slowness; but is patient toward you, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance
(2 Peter 3:9).
In Faith Toward Jesus Christ . . .
* Have faith in God (Jesus: Mark 11:22).
* This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent (Jesus: John 6:29).
* For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God
(Jesus: John 3:16, 17).
* That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:9-13).
That we are saved not by our own works, but by the completed work of Christ . . .
* For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (Romans 5:6-10).
* Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).
* Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work (Romans 11:5,6).
* For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God(Ephesians 2:8).
* But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, which he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7).
* God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News (2 Timothy 1:9, 10).
In assembling with likeminded Christians to glorify Jesus Christ by remembering Him in His death, praying, learning His Word, and fellowshiping together in unity . . .
* And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me (Jesus: Luke 22:19).
* In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me"
(I Corinthians 11:25).
* And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread (Acts 20:7).
they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers
(Acts 2:42).
* Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching
(Hebrews 10:25).
In looking forward to the return of Christ . . .
* And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven (Jesus: Matthew 14:62).
* And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory
(Jesus: Matthew 24:30).
* Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).
* For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works (Jesus: Matthew 16:27).
* So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him
(Hebrews 9:28).