Agape Bible Church Core Beliefs

Bible

We believe that the Bible is the only true Word of God. The Bible in the original writings was inspired by the Holy Spirit, infallible and inerrant. It is God’s sole authority for faith and practice. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.

God

We believe in one true God, creator of all things, eternally existing in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom is fully and equally God, possesses all of the divine nature and attributes, and is totally worthy of worship and service. Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-2; John 10:30.

The Father

We believe that God the Father is the first person of the triune God. All things are done for His glory. He is the almighty sovereign Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. He is over all things seen and unseen. Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 40:21-28; Ephesians 4:6.

Jesus Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the second person of the triune God. We believe He was supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His deity, sinless life, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection, ascension to the right hand of God the Father, and His return to gather His people. We believe in His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins. We believe He was fully man and fully God. He is the only begotten eternal Son of God. Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1, 14, 18; John 3:16; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Philippians 2:5-8.

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune God. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates the Believer, baptizes the Believer into the Body of Christ, and indwells and seals the Believer at the point of salvation. The Holy Spirit enables Believers to bear fruit (live a godly life) and empowers Believers to live a life free from sin’s dominion. We believe the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to Believers for the purpose of building up the church. John 6:63; John 14:15-26; John 16:7-15; Romans 8:5-13; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30.

Mankind

We believe humans were created in the image and likeness of God. Mankind was created to glorify, worship and serve God. Man sinned in willful disobedience, and as a result death passed down to the entire human race. The unsaved person is separated from God and unable to please Him or have fellowship with God. Mankind is doomed to eternal damnation (punishment) except for the grace of God. Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-12; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9.

Salvation

We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the sole basis for forgiveness of sins and salvation, which is the free gift of God’s grace. Salvation is not something we can earn: it requires confessing and repenting of our own sin, and believing in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The sinner is redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and regenerated by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Believer is eternally secure in Christ and will persevere in the Faith. While salvation cannot be lost, a Believer can be out of fellowship with God. John 3:1-7; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:7, 13-14; Ephesians 2:8-10.

the church

We believe the Church is the body of Christ and is made up of all who have received the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. We believe the Church is represented by local communities of Believers who desire to worship and praise God. The purpose of the church is to make Christ known to a lost world, to make disciples by equipping them for God’s service, and to glorify God on earth. God has given the church two practices to follow that remind Believers of the core truths of our faith: Baptism and Communion (also known as the Lord’s Supper). Baptism is to be by immersion whenever possible and practical. Matthew 26:26-29; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 8:34-39; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:12-16; Hebrews 10:24-25.

the church life

We believe that every Believer should walk by the Spirit and engage in practices that stimulate spiritual maturity. Christians grow as they worship and serve the Lord, study the Scriptures (The Bible), pray, and live in fellowship with other Believers. By ever-increasing obedience to the Word of God, each Believer should mature and progressively become more like Jesus. In the power of the Spirit, each Believer should live a holy life, not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, exercise his/her spiritual gifts to build up the Body of Christ, share the Gospel of Christ with others, be personally involved in making disciples in order to fulfill the Great Commission, perform good works and bear fruit to the glory of God. Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:11-13; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:22-24; 1 Peter 4:10-11.