洛城基督福音教會

Rockville Evangelical Mission Church

  
  

Scriptures

We believe the Scriptures - the 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament - provide God's authoritative written revelation to mankind (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Galatians 1:12). God interacted with the human writers of those books so that every word of the original texts was exactly as He wanted (2 Peter 1:20-21) and without error (John 17:17). The Scriptures are the supreme and final authority (Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12) for the faith and practice of saints.

God
We believe there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 2:5) in three persons1—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; John 6:27; John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 3:16); one in nature, attributes, and glory. These three are one God (2 Corinthians 13:14), infinite (Malachi 3:6; Acts 17:24), eternal (Hebrews 1:8), unchangeable (James 1:17), all wise (Romans 11:33), all powerful (Isaiah 40), all knowing (Psalm 147:5), holy (Isaiah 6:3), just (Psalm 9:16), loving (1 John 4:7-21), gracious (Romans 3:23-24; Galatians 3:18), good (Psalm 100:5), and true (Isaiah 45:19). God is everywhere present, yet not part of His creation (Psalm 139:7-12).
GOD the FATHER
We believe that the Father is God (Isaiah 64:8). He begins and ends all things according to His own purpose and grace (Psalm 90:2). He is the Creator (Revelation 4:11) and Sustainer (Psalm 104) of all things, and the spiritual Father of believers (1 John 5:11). He expresses Himself in relationships with those whom He chooses in Jesus Christ, binding Himself to them by His eternal promises (Genesis 9:9; 17:7-9; 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 8:29-30; Hebrews 10:16). God is loving (Ephesians 2:3-5), long-suffering, and not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and be saved (John 3:17; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).
GOD the SON
We believe that Jesus Christ is God (John 10:30; Colossians 1:17; Titus 3:4-5). He is fully God (John 1:1-2, 14; John 17:1-5) and fully man (Philippians 2:5-8). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25), lived a holy and sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15), performed miracles (Matthew 11:4-5; John 2:11), died on the cross as the only sufficient sacrifice for our sins, and was buried (Matthew 20:28; John 1:29; Romans 3:25; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Hebrews 10:5-14; 1 Peter 3:18). He was resurrected bodily on the third day (Matthew 28:5-10), appeared to the apostles and other witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5-8), ascended to heaven after 40 days (Acts 1:9), was taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:9), now intercedes for believers (Romans 8:34), and is coming back again (John 14:3).
GOD the HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). He convicts people of sin (John 16:8-11) and restrains the extent of sin in the world (Genesis 6:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7). He opens the hearts and minds of people (Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14) to turn from sin (2 Corinthians 3:2-3; Romans 8:1-14), believe in the Son (1 Thessalonians 1:2-5), and be born again (John 3:3-7). At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit comes to live within every believer forever2 (John 14:16; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30). He fills believers with His power (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16), enables them to live in obedience to the will of God (Galatians 5:16-26), teaches them (1 Corinthians 2:13-15; 1 John 2:27), and gives them His gifts “to each one individually just as He wills”, to serve the church (1 Corinthians 12:7,11; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Peter 4:10; Ephesians 4:11). The Holy Spirit provides gifts to believers to build up the body of Christ and to reach the world with the gospel (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Peter 4:10). Spiritual gifts should be used in a proper and orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:40), in love (1 Corinthians 14:1), and without causing division (1 Corinthians 12:25). Spiritual gifts are not an indication of spiritual maturity and they should not be used for self-promotion (1 Corinthians 12:11-12). Instead, spiritual maturity is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Angels

We believe that God created angels as spiritual beings to glorify and serve Him (Psalm 103:20; Colossians 1:16). Angels also act as God’s messengers and minister to believers (Hebrews 1:13-14). Although powerful, they are never to be worshipped (Colossians 2:18; Revelation 22:8-9). Satan, an angel of high rank, led many angels in a rebellion against God, bringing judgment against himself and his followers (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; John 16:11; 2 Peter 2:4). Satan tempted Adam and Eve into rebellion against God (Genesis 3:1-19; 2 Corinthians 11:3) and continues, with other fallen angels (demons), to deceive and tempt all of mankind and actively oppose the purposes of God (2 Corinthians 11:14; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 12:9). By His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus Christ defeated Satan and his demons; they will be thrown into the lake of fire forever at the last judgment (Matthew 25:41; John 12:31-32; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 20:10).

Origins

We believe that God spoke the heavens, the earth and all living things into existence in six days. God directly created the original kinds of plants and animals and ordered them to reproduce after their kinds. In its original form, the creation was very good and untouched by sin. Man (men and women) is unique, created in the image and likeness of God, and did not originate or evolve from any other living thing (Genesis 1 & 2; 5:1-2; 9:6; Exodus 20:11; Psalm 33:6-9; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17). Man was given dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28).

Sin

We believe that God created Adam and Eve, the first humans, without sin and in perfect fellowship with Him (Genesis 1:26-28, 31; 2:18-24; James 3:9). They chose to sin by disobeying God and incurred His judgment. Their sin separated them from Him and brought suffering and death upon themselves, their descendants, and the whole creation (Genesis 3; Psalm 14:1-3; 51:5; Romans 8:20-22). Mankind's continued unbridled wickedness brought further judgment, which destroyed the earth in a world-wide flood (Genesis 6-8; 2 Peter 2:4-5). After the flood, humankind's continued rebellion at Babel brought God's judgment in confusing their language and scattering them over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:1-9; Luke 1:51). We inherit Adam’s sin nature (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12), are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), and are sinners ourselves (Romans 3:10, 23; 5:12). There is no one righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10). Consequently, none of us are able by our efforts to reconcile ourselves to God (Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 8:8).

Salvation

We believe that we are given salvation from sin and its penalty as a free gift from God (Romans 6:23) through faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone, unaided by human effort (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7). The death of Christ on the cross is full payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 9:11-15; 1 Peter 1:18-21) and satisfies the just requirement of God (Romans 3:23-26; Hebrews 10:1-10). Therefore, if we confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9). Made alive by God (1 Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 2:4-7; 1 Peter 3:18), we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6), but are children of God (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:26). We are disciples of Christ having spiritual life, set apart to a life of spiritual growth, ministry, love for God and our neighbors, and good works through the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:10-14; 3:12-17; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:2). Believers have forgiveness for every sin (Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:9), past, present and future, and rest secure in eternal life. For those who are saved, Jesus says that, “no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hands” (John 5:24; 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 5:9-13).

Family

We believe that God created and blessed the family as the foundation of society. Marriage unites one man and one woman before God in a lifetime commitment to each other (Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:4-6). Marriage provides for intimate companionship, pure sexual expression (Genesis 2:25; Ephesians 5:31-33), procreation and nurture, and reflects the relationship of Christ and the church (Genesis 1:28; Proverbs 5:15-19; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5). A husband is commanded to love his wife as Christ loved the church. A wife is commanded to submit to her husband as the church submits to Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33). Children are a gift from God and are fully human from conception (Psalm 127:3; 139:13-16). Parents are to care for the needs of their children (2 Corinthians 12:14; Ephesians 6:4). They are to lead their children to faith in Christ, teach them the Scriptures, help them to develop their spiritual gifts for ministry, model a godly life, discipline them in love, and provide a resource of wisdom and counsel (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Proverbs 1:8-9; 13:24; 22:6). Children are to obey their parents with respect and honor, caring for them in the time of their dependency and old age (Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 19:32; Proverbs 23:22; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20; 1 Timothy 5:8).

Church

We believe that Christ established the church. The church comprises believers from its beginning at Pentecost until the return of Christ (Acts 2; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58). Christ is the Head of the church (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18). Church is his body, (Ephesians 1:22-23) the fullness of him who fills all in all. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the church carries out Christ's work in the world (John 15:26; Acts 1:8). The purpose of the church is to worship, praise, and glorify God by proclaiming the gospel of Christ Jesus to the entire world (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8); by teaching His Word (Colossians 1:24-28; 1 Timothy 4:11); by seeking Him through earnest prayer (Acts 2:42); by equipping the saints to walk, serve, and fellowship in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:42-46; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 14:26); by loving one another deeply (1 Peter 1:22); and by keeping the ordinances established by Christ (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25; Matthew 28:19). All saints are to support one another and encourage one another to grow in Christ until Christ is formed in you (Galatians 4:19). We believe that the Lord gave two ordinances to the church: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is for believers and is a public testimony of faith in Christ in obedience to His command (Matthew 28:19). Baptism identifies the believer with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Colossians 2:12) and is best represented by immersion (Acts 8:36-39). The Lord's Supper is the believer’s remembrance of our Lord's death until He comes and should be preceded by careful spiritual self-examination of the participant (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28). We believe that the church is expressed in local congregations of believers established under the headship of Christ and the authority of Scripture (Galatians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Revelation 1:11). To equip the saints for ministry and build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16), individual congregations are to be governed by elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7), men meeting biblical standards, who are responsible to guard the purity of church doctrine (Titus 1:9), to shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:1-3), and to oversee church matters (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17). Deacons are responsible for assisting the elders in the work of the ministry (Acts 6:1-6; Philippians 1:1; 1Timothy 3:8-13).

Future

We believe that Jesus will come back in physical form and we will meet him in the air. (John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Believers should be always prepared for His coming (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6; Revelation 22:20). At that moment, the dead in Christ and living believers will be given their eternal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). Believers will enter a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1-22:6) prepared for them to enjoy perfect, everlasting fellowship with God.