ONE TRUE GOD. There is one supreme God, Creator of all things. This one and only God has revealed Himself as existing eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the author of the old and new covenants, the sustainer of His children. It is only through the life, death, and resurrection of His incarnate presence in Jesus Christ that our salvation is made possible. He now indwells His followers with His Spirit which empowers, enables, and guides us in following Him in all areas of our lives. Gen 1:1; Isa 45:18; Ex 24:9; Jer 31:31; Luke 22:20; Isa 46:4; John 1:18; 10:28; 14:16-18; Acts 4:12; 1:8; I Cor 3:16; Gal 5:22-23; Eph 2:8-9; Phil 2:5-11.
SCRIPTURES INSPIRED. The Bible is the inspired word of God, revealing the will of God. It is the infallible rule of faith and practice. II Tim 3:16-18; I Pet 1:23-25; Heb 4:12; Psa 119:89; Matt 5:18; Isa 40:8.
MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION. Man was created good and upright, for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Man, by voluntary transgression, fell into sin and the only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Gen 1:26, 31; Psa 8:4-8; Gen 3:1-7; Rom 5:12-21; I Cor 15:21-22; II Cor 5:17.
DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Jesus, eternally with the Father, took upon Himself the form of man, being born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life and gave His life on the cross as the supreme sacrifice for our sins, purchasing our redemption with His blood. Being raised the third day from the dead, He ascended into heaven and is seated at the Father’s right hand. Matt 3:17; 17:5; Lu 3:22; Jo 1:14, 18; Jo 3:16, 18; I Jo 4:9; Isa 9:6; Jo 1:33, 34; Mat 1:18-25; Phil 2:7-11.
SALVATION OF MAN. Salvation is found only in Jesus Christ. Christ came to seek and to save the lost. It is in Him that we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins. While salvation was provided by the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, it is our responsibility to receive this salvation by grace through faith, knowing that it is not of ourselves but is indeed a gift of God. The inward witness to the believer of salvation is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit to our spirit that we are the children of God. The outward witness is a life lived in obedience to the will of God in all holiness by the power of the indwelling Christ. Jo 3:16-17; Heb 12:2; Acts 4:12; Lu 19:10; Eph 1:7; Jo 10:9, 10; Eph 2:98, Rom 8:16.
HEAVEN AND HELL. Heaven is a real place that God the Father has prepared for all those who follow after His Son, Jesus Christ. There will be a new heaven and a new earth where we will forever be with our Lord. The Devil and his angels, the Beast and the False Prophet, and whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, shall be confined to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Rev 19:20; Mk 16:16; Rev 20:10-15; Jo 14:2-3; Rev 21:1-3; I Cor 2:9.
THE CHURCH. Jesus established the church and gave to it the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He is the head of the church. The church is the body of Christ, consisting of many members united together to carry out Jesus’ ministry. The church exists both as the church universal and as the church local. The church universal consists of all true believers all over the world. Within the church universal, there are many different denominations, networks, and groups which can be understood as different families of the faithful, similar to the different tribes within the nation of Israel, but which also reflect the brokenness of the Body of Christ. The local church is the manifestation of the church in a particular time and locale. It consists of believers who have covenanted together to be accountable to each other and to fulfill a common vision. Mt 16:13-20; Eph 1:22-23; I Cor 12:27-31; Acts 9:31; Eph 3:10-11; Rom 16:3-5; Col 4:15-16.
MISSION. The apostolic mission of the church is to invade the world of darkness with the good news that Jesus has defeated Satan and won freedom for those held captive by their sins. God has entrusted us to Himself and entrusted us with the message of reconciliation.
We are now Christ’s ambassadors, representing his kingdom here on earth. As ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ, our allegiance to the kingdom of God comes before all earthly loyalties. We are to be good citizens of our earthly country, but if there is a conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world, “we must obey God rather than men.”
God has blessed us so that we might be a blessing to others. As Christ’s ambassadors, we participate with Him in God’s unchangeable purpose—to call out of all people groups on earth a people to be called by His Name.
In a world filled with violence and brokenness, we now take the message of peace and harmony—shalom. The spiritual harmony restored by Christ now issues forth in the firstfruits of the other three harmonies
found in the beginning—psychological harmony, social harmony, and physical harmony. Lu 4:14-21; Eph 3:10-11; II Cor 5:17-20; Ex 20:1-3; Acts 5:27-29; Jn 18:36-37; Acts 3:25; Rom 8:6; Eph 2:11-22; Acts 5:12-16.
AUTHORITY. Authority in the kingdom of God is first of all charismatic in nature, meaning it is a gift of God’s grace to disciples of Jesus Christ. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given by the Father to Jesus the Son. Jesus grants authority to His disciples as He chooses. Those who prove faithful with a little authority are given more. The purpose of authority is to build up, not to pull down.
Authority in the church of Jesus Christ is relational in function. The church is a free church where membership is voluntary. In such a context, authority is only effective within relationships of trust, where persons voluntarily recognize the call and corresponding authority granted by the Lord of the Church to those who function in positions of authority. Any local church or ministry can only function effectively when those in positions of authority maintain a consensus of trusting relationships within their sphere of influence and responsibility. Mt 20:25-28; Mt 28:18; Lu 9:1,2; Lu 19:17; II Cor 10:8.
Approved by the Board of Directors of Teaching The Word Ministries on June 9, 1998.
