Essential Beliefs

1Jesus Christ is God the Son and the very Word of God who has existed since time began. 2On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. 3He was born of a virgin, 4lived a sinless life, 5performed countless miracles, 6died on the cross for all mankind and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. 7He rose from the dead on the third day, 8appearing to His disciples and many others, and 9ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father and 10intercede on our behalf, all while preparing a place for us. 12He will come again in power and glory 13to bring eternal salvation to all who eagerly await Him. 

1. Jesus Christ is God the Son and the very Word of God who has existed since time began

• John 1:1-2: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning."

• John 1:14: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

• Colossians 1:17: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

 

2. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man:

• Philippians 2:6-7: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

• Colossians 2:9: "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form."

 

3. He was born of a virgin:

• Matthew 1:23: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us")."

• Luke 1:34-35: "'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'"

 

4. Lived a sinless life:

• 2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

• Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."

 

5. Performed countless miracles:

• John 20:30-31: "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

6. Died on the cross for all mankind and atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood:

• Romans 5:8-9: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"

• 1 John 2:2: "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

 

7. Rose from the dead on the third day:

• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..."

• Luke 24:6-7: "He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’"

 

8. Appeared to His disciples and many others:

• Acts 1:3: "After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God."

• 1 Corinthians 15:5-8: "...and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time..."

 

9. Ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father:

• Acts 1:9: "After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight."

• Hebrews 1:3: "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."

 

10. Intercede on our behalf:

• Romans 8:34: "Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

 

11. He Prepares a place for us.

• John 14:2-3: In My Father’s house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.

12. He will return again in power and glory:

• Acts 1:11: "‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’"

• Revelation 1:7: "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen."

 

13. To bring eternal salvation to all who eagerly await Him:

• Hebrews 9:28: "So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."