Foundational Values for Experiencing and Reflecting God's Love

1.      God – There is only one living and true God.  He is a personal God interested in and caring about my daily life.   (Psalms 121:1-2)

2.      Trinity – God is the creator and ruler of the Universe.  He has eternally existed in trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  These three are co-equal and are one God.  (II Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:19)

a.      God – God the Father reigns with providential care over His universe, creatures, and the flow of human history according to the purpose of His grace.   (Gen 1:1, 26-27; Ex 3:14; Deut 6:4; Isa. 42:5-8; Jer. 10:10; Matt 23:9, 28:19; Mark 1:10-11; John 4:24; Rom. 8:14-15)

b.      Jesus Christ – Jesus Christ is the Son of God and co-equal with the Father.  He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross.  He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death.  He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  (Matt. 1:22-23; Isa. 9:6, 53:1-12; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; 1Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:14-15; Titus 2:13.)

c.       Holy Sprit – The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and Son of God and is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ.  He lives in every Christian and provides power for living, understanding of spiritual truth and guidance in doing what is true and right.  As a follower of Christ we seek to live under his control and listen to him at all times.  (2 Cor. 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:12, 3:16; Eph. 1:13, 5:18;  Gal 5:25.)

3.      The Bible – The Bible is God’s Word to us and our handbook for living.  It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.  Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without the mixture of error.  (2 Tim. 3:16, 1:13; 2 Pet 1:20-21; Psa. 119:105, 160, 12:6; Prov. 30:5)

4.      Human Beings – People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character.  All people are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”.  The attitude separates people from God and is the source of problems in life.  All people need Jesus Christ as their Savior.  (Gen 1:27; Psa. 8:3-6; Isa. 53:6a, 59:1-2; Rom 3:23)

5.      Salvation – Only by trusting Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty.  As an individual accepts, by faith, God’s free gift, the journey of eternal life begins.  (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9, 8:38-39; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5-6; Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1)

6.      Eternity – People are created to exist forever – we will either exist eternally separated from God or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation.  To be eternally separated from God is Hell.  To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life or heaven.   (John 3:16, 12:25, 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15)

7.      The Church – The church is the local body of believers who have been spiritually regenerated by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  These believers are seeking to experience God’s love together and to share that love with the world.  (2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 5:25-27, 4:4-6, 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:13, 26-27, 3:16-17;  Col. 1:18)

8.      Satan – Satan and his demons are active in blinding mankind to spiritual truth in order to keep them from a personal relationship with God and eternal life.  (Gen 3:1-19; Luke 10:18; John 8:43-44; Eph. 2:1-3, 6:10-19; James 4:7-8; 1 Pet. 5:8-9; Rev. 12:13, 20:10; Col. 2:15, 2 Cor 4:4)