The doctrine of the church is subject to the teaching of the Bible, and we do not claim to understand everything perfectly. However, we believe the Bible teaches the doctrines described here. We welcome people to join us even if they think differently. We respect everyone’s right to their own convictions and hope that the identity of the church is also respected – and we can investigate the Bible together and learn from each other.
God is eternal and the Creator of the universe. He is uncreated. God is triune, meaning one God eternally existing in three equal persons. The persons are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
God has revealed himself in creation and especially in the Bible. The Bible is inspired by God and is a true and trustworthy source of doctrine for the church. The church’s teaching and practice should be founded on the Bible.
Humanity was created in God’s image and is therefore immeasurably valuable. God created humans to live in fellowship with him, but the fall into sin broke that fellowship. People cannot make amends to God for their transgressions. Therefore God sent his Son to the world to die for people and to atone for the sins of mankind.
God’s Son, Jesus Christ, was born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified, and died to atone for the sins of mankind. He was buried, rose from the dead on the third day, and ascended to heaven. He will judge the living and the dead. He is fully human and fully God in one person.
By believing in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, a person is forgiven and receives eternal life. This salvation is a gift of God and is given apart from human deeds or merit. Eternal life means that life continues with God after death. Jesus is the only way to eternal life and to God. Those who never receive the gift of eternal life will be separated from God forever; Jesus died so that no one would have to experience this.
Eternal life is everlasting, as the word implies. It does not end if a person loses faith or falls into sin. Salvation is an irrevocable gift. 1
The Holy Spirit regenerates a person when he or she believes in Jesus Christ. The person becomes a child of God, receives the Holy Spirit, and is baptized in the Holy Spirit to be part of the universal church, which the Bible calls the Body of Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is different from water baptism. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to the regenerated for building up the church. 2
The Great Commission is given to the church and includes evangelism, teaching, and baptizing. Water baptism is for those who already believe and is thus different from the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Communion is a memorial meal in which the bread represents the body of Jesus and the fruit of the vine represents the blood he shed on the cross, which is the basis of the new covenant. 3
The time of the church began on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to the church. The time of the church ends with the rapture. After this there will be a time of tribulation during which God pours out his wrath on the earth; this time is described in the book of Revelation. After the tribulation, Jesus will return to earth to establish his kingdom for a thousand years. After the thousand years follows eternity. 4
After the rapture of the church, believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. This judgment concerns only regenerated, saved people and will not result in anyone’s eternal destruction. At this judgment God will reward believers for their walk on earth, thereby revealing the value of a life lived for him. 5
- In this respect, the doctrine of the church follows free grace theology (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_grace_theology). This is distinct from the view that one can lose salvation by losing faith or by sinning, and also different from the view that a saved person cannot lose faith or live in sin for an extended period. ↩︎
- This contrasts with the view that a person is regenerated in water baptism. ↩︎
- The doctrine of the church understands water baptism as believer’s baptism and communion as a memorial meal, not as a sacrament that mediates God’s grace. Views within Christianity vary on both points. ↩︎
- The church’s view concerning the end times is premillennial and pretribulational. This means Christ will return to earth to establish the millennial kingdom. This is preceded by a time of God’s judgment called the tribulation. The rapture of the church refers to an event when God takes the saved out of the world; see 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. There are various views among Christians about the millennial kingdom and the rapture. ↩︎
- Some Christians believe there is one final judgment for both saved and unsaved; others believe, following Revelation, that there is a separate judgment for the unsaved. We hold the latter view. ↩︎