STATEMENT OF FAITH
CHRIST FOR ALL NATIONS considers the following truths as being fundamental to an understanding of and a relationship to the one true and living God:
1. 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 (Duet. 6:4; Ex.3:4; 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).
2. THE SCRIPTURES INSPIRED
The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man; the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2Tim. 3:15-17; l Thess. 2:13; 2Pet.1:21).
3. THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIS
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; 2John 3; Heb.1:1-13).
4. ORIGINAL SIN AND FALL OF MAN
Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Gen.1:26,27). The first man, Adam, through disobedience fell from the grace of God, and thus sin entered into the world, and death by sin. 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.7:13-25).
5. 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; 7:13-25).
6. CHRIST THE ONE SHEPHERD
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and the Great Shepherd (Heb.13:20). There is only one spiritual shepherd referred to in the New Testament and Jesus Christ is that one (John 10:16).
7. THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION
The Church is the Body of Christ, the 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 church of firstborn, which was written in heaven(Eph.1:22,23;2:22;Heb.12.23).
Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is 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 1:8; Matt.28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16).
b. To be a corporate body in which man may worship (1 Cor. 12:13).
c. To be a channel of God's purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor.12-28 14:12).
8. THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH
a. Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent of their
sins and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. This is a declaration to the world that
they identify with Christ in His death and 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 or Holy Communion
The Lord's Supper consisting of the elements--bread and the cup of the fruit of the vine--is the symbol
expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet.1:4), a memorial of His suffering
and death (1 Cor.11:26), and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Cor.11:26) and is enjoined on all
believers TILL He comes!
9. 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 enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts or enablement of the Holy Spirit and their uses in the ministry of the body of Christ (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31). This 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).
10. 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; Jas.5:14-16).
11. THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST
The second coming of Christ includes the catching away of the church (1 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 salvation of national 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).
12. THE FINAL JUDGMENT
There will be a 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 and brimstone, which is the second death (Matt.25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev.19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
