Here's something interesting. What do Christians, Jews, Muslims, Rastafarians, and Bahá’ís have in common? The answer: They all claim to have ties all the way back to father Abraham. In other words they can all be classified as Abrahamic religions. All claim the same geographical origination in Israel and Palestine. The Jewish nation was born out of Abraham's son Isaac, and Muslims believe they are descendants of his half-brother Ishmael. Only Isaac was given the promise of the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 25. A promise that was extended to the rest of the world after Jesus went to the cross - that is, if they put their faith in Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. So, if you've ever wondered what makes Christianity different, there you have it. Salvation by grace through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ given freely to anyone who believes.
Statement of Fundamental Truths:
The One True God:
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I am", the Creator of the Universe and the Redeemer of mankind (Deut. 6:4; Ex. 3:14; Isa. 43:10-11). God has further revealed Himself as a triune Being, manifested as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Isa. 48:16; Matt. 28:19; Luke 3:22).
The Scriptures Inspired:
The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man; they are infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (II Tim. 3:15-17; I Thess. 2:13; II Peter 1:21).
The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ:
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and, as such, shares in the divinity and deity of God (Matt. 1:23; John 5:22-23; II John 3; Heb. 1:1-13).
Original Sin and the Fall of Man:
Man was created good and upright; for God said, "...Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."." (Gen. 1:26). The first man Adam, through disobedience, fell from grace of God, and thus sin and death entered into the world. Adam's transgression incurred not only physical death for man but also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from god (Gen. 2:17; 3:6-24). Man's propensity to sin because of his sinful nature necessitates salvation from the power of sin and a Savior to provide that salvation (Rom. 5:12-21).
The Salvation of Man:
Man's only hope of redemption and salvation from the power of sin is through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; Rom. 5:8-13, 10:9; James 1:21; Eph. 2:8).
Christ, the One Shepherd:
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and the Great Shepherd (Heb. 12:23). There is only one spiritual Shepherd referred to in the New Testament and Jesus Christ is that one (John 10:16).
The Church and Its Mission:
The church is the Body of Christ, that habitation of God through the Holy Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and the Church of the firstborn which is enrolled in heaven (Eph. 1:22-23; 2:22; Heb. 12:23).
Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save those who are lost, to be worshiped by man and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, the responsibility of the Church is:
a. To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:18; Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).
b. To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (I Cor. 12:13).
c. To be a channel of God's purpose to build a body of saints who are being perfected in the image of His Son (Eph. 4:11-16; I Cor. 12:28, 14:12).
The Ordinances of the Church:
a. Baptism in Water: The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the scriptures. All who repent of their sin and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. This is a declaration to the world that they have been raised with Him in newness of life (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47-48; Rom 6:4).
b. The Lord's Supper of Holy Communion: The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements - the bread and the cup of the fruit of the vine - is the symbol expressing our sharing of the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Pete 1:4), a memorial of His suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming (I Cor. 11:26), and partaken by all believers until He comes!
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit:
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance (Acts 2:4). With the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes the endowment of power of or the live and service, the bestowment of the gifts (or enabling of the Holy Spirit) and their uses in the ministry of the Body of Christ (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; I Cor. 12:1-31). The experience is distinct from, and subsequent to, the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-15; 15:7-9).
Divine Healing:
Divine healing was provided for in the Old Testament (Ex. 15:23-26; Ps. 103:1-3; Isa. 53:4-5) and is an integral part of the Gospel (Matt. 8:16-17; Acts 5:16; James 5:14-16).
The Second Advent of Christ:
The second coming of Christ includes the catching away of the Church (I Thess. 4:16-17), followed by the actual, visible return of Christ with His saints (the Church) to reign with Him on earth for one thousand years (Zech, 14:5; Matt. 24:27, 30; Rev. 1:7, 19:11-14, 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of the nation of Israel (Ezek. 39:28-29; Zeph. 3:19-20; Rom. 11:26-27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isa. 11:6-9; Ps. 72:3-8; Mic. 4:3-4).
The Final Judgment:
There will be as final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and will be judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire brimstone which is the second death (Matt. 25:24-26; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20, 20:11-15. 21:8).
The New Heavens and the New Earth:
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