Statement of Faith
Our Beliefs and Values
1. The Authority and Inerrancy of Scripture
We believe that the teachings of the Bible are authoritative for church activities and that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.
2. The Trinity
We believe that God is one in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This is beyond the comprehension of the human mind, but we believe it because it is asserted in the Bible.
3. The Dual Nature of Jesus Christ: We believe that from the time of His incarnation (becoming human), Jesus Christ was 100% fully God and 100% fully man. This, too, is beyond the comprehension of the human mind, but we believe it is so because it is a biblical assertion.
4. Man is Spiritually Lost: We believe that because man has sinned, he is unacceptable to God as he is. No matter how excellent a person's character, he will never measure up to God's standard of acceptability. This leads to the need for substitution and atonement, discussed in the next section.
5. The Substitute and Atoning Death of Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ's death on the cross was a substitutionary, paying the penalty for human sin. We believe that this substitutionary death was sufficient atonement for sin, appeasing God's righteous wrath, and therefore believers are reconciled to God.
6. The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ
We believe that God the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead to demonstrate that His death was sufficient for the forgiveness of human sins. We believe that Christ was resurrected bodily.
7. Salvation by Faith in Jesus Christ Alone
We believe that those who believe that Jesus Christ's death was a substitutionary payment for their sins receive forgiveness of their sins.
8. The Actual Second Coming of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ will return to this earth at some future time determined by God.
Doctrines Adopted by Suita Bible Gospel Church
The doctrines adopted by Suita Bible Gospel Church, a local church, are as follows:
1. [Bible]: Inerrancy
The Bible is the inerrant Word of God. We do not take the position that the words of men, written by men, can be the words of God, or that only the teachings on salvation are inerrant (while other parts are erroneous).
2. [God]: The Trinity
God is a triune God. Jesus Christ is God. On earth, he completely obeyed the will of God the Father, but he did not cease to be God. The Holy Spirit is God. We do not take the position that they are merely a manifestation of God's power.
3. [God]: God's Creation and Preservation/The Origin of Man
God created the heavens and the earth—that is, all things. Humans were also created by God.
God also holds all things in His hands.
4. [God]: The Virgin Birth and Duality of Jesus Christ
At some point, the second person of the Trinity took on flesh, was born of a virgin, and became 100% human and 100% God at the same time. He was sinless.
5. [God]: The Work of Jesus Christ
He was crucified as a sinless person, bearing the punishment for the sins of all mankind. Because of his work, God's forgiveness of sins (redemption, propitiation, reconciliation) was given to man. This forgiveness of sins is applied to a person when they believe that Jesus Christ has sacrificed himself in their place.
6. [God]: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
God the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead. His purpose was to demonstrate that Jesus Christ's death was sufficient for the forgiveness of human sins. Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus Christ ascended to heaven. He now sits at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for believers.
7. [Angels]: Existence and Function
Angels were created by God. Satan is also an angel, but at one point he rebelled against God and has no desire to repent. Currently, there are angels who followed Satan and fell, and those who have not. In the Bible, fallen angels are referred to as evil spirits, unclean spirits, and demons. Satan and evil spirits try to prevent people from believing in God in every way, including through miraculous means and influence on the world of thought. They also do everything they can to prevent those who do believe from growing.
8. [Salvation]: The Fall of Man
Man was created good by God, but sinned and fell. This does not mean that humans commit every kind of evil they are capable of, or that they are without a conscience and never do any good. What it does mean is that the fall affected every aspect of human nature and ability, making them unacceptable to the righteous God. In other words, humans became the target of God's wrath.
9. [Salvation]: Dispensation
God has given different responsibilities to humans at different times. Based on the differences in the responsibilities God has given to humans, human history on earth can be divided into three eras: the Age of Law, the Age of Grace (the present), and the Millennium.
10. [Salvation]: Justification, Regeneration, Adoption
Only through faith in Christ can we receive God's declaration that our sins are forgiven (justification), be born again to eternal life (regeneration), and become children of God. All of this is by God's unilateral grace.
11. [Salvation]: Sanctification, Glorification
A believer is perfect in status, but is gradually grown by grace and transformed into perfection by the time he meets the Lord. That is, upon belief, a perfect Christian status is given. However, his character is not perfect; he gradually grows by God's grace and is transformed into one that resembles the character of Christ. And when we die on this earth, God's grace instantly transforms us into perfect beings worthy of a perfect position.
12. [Salvation]: Sanctification, Rejection of Exterminationism
Christians are called to live by the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This allows for gradual growth through ever-deeper surrender to God. We do not recognize so-called "second blessings" or "second works of grace" (for example, the idea that upon complete repentance, God graciously cleanses us so that we will never sin again). Carnal nature is never eradicated in this life.
13. [Salvation]: Perseverance
Once saved, they never miss out on salvation. They remain saved forever. However, this does not mean that God overlooks Christians' sins.
14. [Salvation]: The Work of the Holy Spirit in Salvation
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, leads people to salvation. The moment a person believes, He indwells each believer (never leaving them), joining them to Christ and sealing them. This happens the moment we believe; this is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. After we become Christians, the Holy Spirit fills us. This is called the filling of the Holy Spirit.
15. [Growth]: The Holy Spirit and Service
The Holy Spirit bestows gifts on believers, enabling them to perform works of service. Every Christian is called to serve God and others using the gifts they have been given. Every Christian is endowed with one or more gifts.
16. [Growth]: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The gifts given by the Holy Spirit are diverse and varied. There are 18 gifts mentioned in the Bible: prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, mercy, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, discernment of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues, apostleship, evangelism, and pastor-teacher. The ones that are in bold refer to temporary gifts that existed during the New Testament era, in the first century.
17. [Growth]: We are called to evangelism.
All Christians are called to share the crystal-clear gospel message of grace.
18. [Church]: Beginnings
The church began at Pentecost and is distinct from Israel. All Christians belong to the universal church.
19. [Church]: Activities
In the local church, Christians are called to worship God with other Christians, share in fellowship, serve one another, give offerings, and participate in the work of the church.
20. [Church]: Sacraments
The only sacraments performed in churches are baptism and the Eucharist.
21. [Church]: Baptism
Baptism symbolizes the fact that one has become part of God's eternal family. By being baptized, one publicly expresses one's desire to fellowship with God's family and grow in the local church. The only requirement for baptism is believing in Jesus Christ as one's Savior.
22. [Church]: Communion
In the Eucharist, Christians regularly affirm their salvation through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ using the physical objects of bread and grape juice. It is not claimed that the bread and grape juice are transformed into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ or that the bread and grape juice themselves have any special power. It is performed in commemoration of Christ's substitutionary sacrifice.
23. [End Times]: God's Plan
God has revealed to us in the Bible what will happen in the future. We are called to live our present lives with peace of mind, trusting that everything, including the future, is in God's hands. In other words, it is important to prepare for the Second Coming of the Atonement at any time, while at the same time assuming that our present lives will continue, and to walk steadily forward.
24. [End Times]: Second Coming of the Atonement (Rapture)
The first event to occur in fulfillment of prophecy is Christ's Second Coming of the Atonement. At this time, both those who have died in Christ and Christians still alive at that time will be given glorified bodies, and all, without exception, will be taken up to heaven in an instant (at this point, there will be no Christians left on Earth). This is called the Rapture.
25. [End Times]: The Tribulation
Following the Second Coming of the Atonement is the prophesied "70th week" (a seven-year tribulation) for Israel. This is the time of God's judgment. Many will be saved, but many will be martyred. Many will also die. During this period, Israel will repent as a nation. At the end of the seven years, armies from the north, south, east, and west will gather in Israel, and the Battle of Armageddon will take place.
26. [End of the World]: Second Coming to Earth
The Tribulation will end with Christ's second coming to earth. At this time, Christ will demonstrate his divine power and destroy all who oppose him. This will then usher in the Millennial Kingdom.
27. [End of the World]: Millennial Kingdom
This is literally a thousand-year period during which Christ will reign as King on earth. During this time, those with glorified bodies will mix with those with physical bodies who have survived the Tribulation. It will be a wonderful and peaceful time. Physical bodies will marry and have children, resulting in many new births. However, toward the end of the Millennial Kingdom, Satan will be released from his bonds and will deceive those born in the Millennial Kingdom who do not believe in God. He will join them in their struggle against God, but they will all be consumed by fire from heaven.
28. [End Times]: Judgment
Those who die believing in Christ will immediately go to Christ (a state of happiness) and will receive glorified bodies at that time (Christians at the time of the Rapture, Old Testament and Tribulation saints at the time of His Second Coming to earth). On the other hand, those who die without believing in Christ will be judged by the White Throne at the end of the Millennial Kingdom, go to eternal destruction, and suffer eternal torment.
29. [End Times]: New Heaven and New Earth
At the end of the Millennial Kingdom, the current Earth will also disappear. However, there will be a new heaven and a new earth prepared by God, where all who are saved will dwell forever. The city there will be the New Jerusalem.
