New Life Statement of Faith
THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a Divine Revelation, fully inspired by God, and is the authoritative Word of God. It constitutes the only perfect rule and is the final authority in all matters pertaining to Christian faith and practices.
THE GODHEAD
We believe that there is only one living and true God Who eternally exists in three Persons, namely, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Who are equal in their Divine perfection and harmonious in the execution of their distinct offices.
HUMANKIND
We believe that man was created by a special act of God, in His own image and after His likeness, and is the crowning work of His creation. However, man yielded to temptation in the Garden of Eden, and rebelled against God’s commands. As a consequence, he was alienated from God, and became depraved physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. We believe that only by the grace of God can man be restored to fellowship with God and be empowered to fulfill his God-given creative purpose.
SALVATION
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood shed on the Cross obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes justification, regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.
THE CHURCH
We believe that the church is a spiritual organism composed of all born-again believers. Its local expressions are the companies of believers who gather together in a locality in a spirit of covenant for worship, prayer, mutual edification, involvement in carrying out Christ’s Biblical commands, and observing the ordinances.
ORDINANCES
We believe that Christian ordinances are outward rites appointed by Christ, not as a means of obtaining salvation, but as visible signs and seals of the facts and realities of salvation. Baptism, the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a public act of obedience and confession acknowledging Christ as Lord and Savior. Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is the partaking of bread and wine in obedience to the command: “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Communion is open to all believers who are in a right relationship with one another and with God.
LAST THINGS
We believe that Jesus Christ will return to earth at the end of the age, that the dead shall be raised bodily, that they shall be judged by God, that those redeemed will enter into full possession of eternal bliss in the presence of God, and that the wicked shall be condemned to eternal punishment.