The Statement of Faith is not exhaustive of the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the ultimate source of what we believe.

+++We believe that God is real. He not only reveals Himself to us directly (some examples would be the Bible, prayer and the “thing” that guides you inside of what to do.) and also indirectly (examples of this include of but are not limited to speaking through other people, through books, and through His own Creation.).

A list of Bible references that prove God is real:
http://www.thegoodnews.org/FriendsForever/scripture1.html

+++We believe that God created everything. He made the Heavens, Earth, plants, people and everything else in between (Genesis 1). He made man in his own image (Genesis 1:27).

+++We believe that every word of the Bible is true and reliable. In Romans 3:2, it says that the Bible is the “very words of God” and it was written by men who were led by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).

+++We believe that we are sinful people. Nothing we do can ever be as pure, holy and righteous as God. Why are we sinners? This all started back with the first man (Adam) and the first woman (Eve) who were in the Garden of Eden. God had told them not to eat from a specific tree (but they had the freedom to eat from any other tree) but the fall of man occurred when Eve was tempted by the Serpent (the Devil) to eat from that tree. The Serpent told her that her eyes would be opened and she would know good and evil and be just like God (Genesis 3:5). At first she had tried to resist Satan’s attempts to tempt her but in the end that didn’t work. She saw that it was good for food, gaining wisdom and it probably looked really good, too. She took it and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, Adam.

When they realized they had disobeyed God, they tried to hide but God found them because God is everywhere and sees everything (Psalm 139:2 & 8). After He had seen what they had done, they were punished and were taken out of the Garden of Eden.

After this, sin entered the human race thus making us all sinful from conception. Also, just because you are a “good person”; that’s not going to save you.

+++We believe that God sent His perfect Son to die on the cross for everyone. As it’s already been stated, God sent His one and only, perfect son to die on a cross for us. Why? Because God loves us. He made us and wants a personal relationship with us. He wanted us to know this by not only His words in the Bible (John 16:27) but He demonstrated His love for us by showing it to us thru His action of giving His SON as a sacrifice (Romans 5:8). This is the ultimate act of love. According to Romans 5:7, it’s rare that someone would die for a righteous man but Jesus died for a bunch of sinners!

God longs to have a personal relationship with you. He loves you, He made you, and He wants to bless you, hold you, comfort you, protect and use you for His glory. If you already haven’t, why don’t you take the time today to ask Him to come into your heart?

Remember though, it wasn’t the nails on that cross that held him there- it was the love that He has for you and I that made Him stay there.

+++We believe that it is salvation and faith in God that “secures a spot” for you in Heaven; not the works of man. No need for good works or for fretting over a tiny mistake, here. If you have already received Christ into your heart as your personal Savior than that’s it! But that doesn’t mean it will be easy.

Although it says we do not believe it is works that get you to Heaven, we also believe that faith is dead without actions (James 2:26). This means that as a child of God, you can’t be lazy and not do things for God. You also need to realize that this doesn’t mean you have to overwork yourself to make sure that God sees that you are doing things for Him. Remember to keep God the focus of your priorities and He will always be honored.

+++We believe that you cannot enter Heaven an unsaved person. Three good questions have probably come to your mind right about now. The first one being, “How do you enter into Heaven?” and the second one being, “What does it mean to be ‘unsaved’? How do I become saved?” and the final one being, “What exactly is Heaven?”

Let’s tackle that second question first. To be unsaved means that you have not accepted Christ into your heart, given your life to Him or asked Him for forgiveness for past/present/future sins. It means that right now, you haven’t been cleansed by Christ’s blood that He shed for you on the cross (Revelation 5:9- “…and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”) Yes, you!! He thought of you while He was on that cross. God gave us His son as the ultimate sacrifice. He did this to show us that He was willing to give up His only Son; His perfect Son for us sinners! He did this because He loves us and desires a personal relationship with us (John 3:16) But how does that link the desire for a personal relationship with me and the death of His son together? Good question! It shows that He was willing to give it all for us- no matter the cost. He longs for the day that He will have a relationship with you. He already knows you and knows all about you; He’s given you the choice to accept His gift of love or to deny it.

Now onto the third question, “What exactly is Heaven?”

Heaven is the place that God has gone to prepare a place especially for us- His children- to live in forever; for all eternity. In Revelation, it describes the throne of Heaven (See Revelation Chapter 4), the way things will be in Heaven (Revelation 21) and the River of Life (Revelation 22). Heaven is a place where we will constantly rejoice, praise and talk with and to God. It is a place where pain and sorrow do not exist and where joy is constant. It is the place where all of out desires and needs will be fully met and the place where we will meet the Lord. Heaven is where we will be able to have the “perfect life” we’ve always dreamed of. Wouldn’t you like to live that life?

And now back to the first question of “How do you enter into Heaven?” How this is done is you hand your life over to God.

The first step is to repent; to realize your mistakes, sins and faults and ask God to forgive you for them. Ezekiel 18:30 says the following:
 

“Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.”

God tells us to turn from our sin and ask for forgiveness (that’s what repentance is) because He is a holy God and a pure God; He cannot stand to have sin in His sight or kingdom.

+++We believe in the church. No, being a Christian does not mean you HAVE to go to church, but you SHOULD go to church. The church is corrupt at times, but there are still good ones out there with good people. Joining with fellow Christians in fellowship is a good for developing your knowledge of the Bible and personal walk with Jesus.

+++We believe in not only a Heaven, but a Hell. Hell is definitely a place you don’t want to end up in. It’s not full of little red guys with tails, a pitchfork and a red jumpsuit on running around laughing. It’s more like a really hot fiery pit with eternal pain. This is because you are forever separated from God (2 Thessalonians 1:9) Once you’re here, there’s no turning back- you made the choice not to follow God and His instructions to obey Him.

Hell is described a good bit in the book of Revelation. Twice, it’s stated that there’s a “fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Rev. 20:10 & again in Rev. 21:8). Hell is the place where the unsaved and the people who haven’t been cleansed by Christ’s blood will go. Why? Because it is a punishment for sins and unbelief (2 Thessalonians 1:9). It will last forever (Matthew 25:46) and you will be separated from God (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Hell will be the “second death” (Rev. 21:8) and what this means is that the first death is a physical death; one that separates us from life whereas the second death is a death that separates us from the author of life- God. Heaven is eternal life for the believer while Hell is an eternal death for the unbeliever.

+++We believe that everyone has a purpose for God here on Earth and that no one was an “accident”. God doesn’t make accidents; He knows everything before hand. He made you and knew you before you were born. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. He knew about all the sins you would commit in your lifetime before you were born. He planned the day that you would be born and how you would be born. He knows everything about you. God loves you- despite your sins and flaws. God wants to have a personal relationship with you because He made you and loves you deeply. (Psalm 139)

God has huge plans for you, too! He won’t make plans for you to fail or to be hurt; He loves you so why would He do that? Rather He has plans for you to prosper and to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11).

++++After you’ve done this, the second step would be to pray and ask God into your life. Ask Him to lead and guide you in His will and wisdom. Ask Him to come into your heart and take ownership and to help you to grow in Him each day. Ask Him to teach you things, show His will to you and to use you. Seek Him in everything possible and you will find Him (“ ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.’ ” -Matthew 7:7 & 8)

++++The third step is to do your best to resist the old temptations to fall back and keep sinning. As it’s already been stated; God is a pure and holy God who cannot bear to have sin near Him. This is why He tells us to “rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed” and to “get a new heart and a new spirit” as it’s said to in Ezekiel 18:31. God has also set standards for us and expects certain things of us and to sin is definitely not on that list.

++++Finally, you need to live a life pleasing to God (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12). Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) and seek fellowship with other Christians (Hebrews 10:25). Continue along the narrow path (Matthew 7:13 & 14) and never forget the Lord (Deuteronomy 4:9 & 8:18-20).