Table of Contents

A. The Bible
B. God & Trinity
C. Angels & Demons
D. Humans
E. Salvation
F. The Church and Believers
G. Ordinances: Baptism & Lord’s Supper
H. Christians
I. The Family & Marriage
J. The New Heaven and Earth

 

A. THE BIBLE. We believe the Bible is God’s Word given by divine inspiration, the record of God’s revelation of Himself to humanity (II Timothy 3:16) in the way which we are called to serve. It is trustworthy, sufficient, without error - the supreme authority and guide for all doctrine and conduct. (I Peter 1:23-25; John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17.)

 

B. GOD & TRINITY. We believe in the one living and true God, perfect in wisdom, sovereignty, holiness, justice, mercy and love (I Timothy 1:17; Psalm 86:15; Deuteronomy 32:3-4). The Father reigns with providential care over all life and history in the created universe. He hears and answers prayers (I Chronicles 29:11-13; Matthew 7:11).
 

We believe that Jesus, through his death and resurrection, offers reconciliation with God and man that is both abundant and eternal. We believe that it is by grace, and through only Jesus Christ, that one is made right with God (Eph. 2:8). He provided salvation through His atoning death in our place and by His bodily resurrection (I Corinthians 15:3-4; II Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:23-25). He ascended into heaven where He rules over all creation (Philippians 2:5-11). He intercedes for all believers and dwells in them as their ever-present Lord (Romans 8:34; John 14:23).
 

We believe that the Holy Spirit inspired men to write the Scriptures (II Peter 1:21). Through this Word, He convicts individuals of their sinfulness and of the righteousness of Christ, draws them to the Savior, and bears witness to their new birth (James 1:18; John 16:7-11; I Thessalonians 1:5-6; Romans 8:16). The Spirit indwells, seals and gives spiritual gifts to all believers for ministry in the church and society (Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 12:5-8; I Peter 4:10). Christians grow as the Holy Spirit enables them to understand and obey the Word of God (II Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:15; I Thessalonians 3:12).

C. ANGELS & DEMONS. We believe God created an order of spiritual beings called angels to serve Him and do His will (Psalm 148:1-5; Colossians 1:16). Certain angels, called demons, Satan being their chief, through deliberate choice revolted and fell from their exalted position (Revelation 12:7-9). They now tempt individuals to rebel against God (I Timothy 4:1; I Peter 5:8).
 

D. HUMANS. We believe God created man in His own image to have fellowship with Himself and to be steward over His creation (Genesis 1:26-28). We believe that, even though sin is part of the human journey, all people are to be treated with dignity, respect and love. Through the temptation of Satan, Adam chose to disobey God; this brought sin and death to the human race and suffering to all creation (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-21; 8-22) and is born with a sinful nature and needs to be reconciled to God (Romans 3:9-18, 23). Nonetheless, everyone is personally responsible to God for thoughts, actions and beliefs and has the right to approach Him directly through Jesus Christ, the only mediator (Romans 14:12; I Timothy 2:5).
 

E. SALVATION. We believe that the gift of salvation is received through repentance and in faith, as one turns from self and receives Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior). It is offered as a free gift by God to all and must be received personally through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (I Timothy 2:4; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 20:21). An individual is united to Christ by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27). As a child of God, the believer is acquitted of all guilt and brought into a new relationship of peace (Romans 5:1).

F. THE CHURCH AND BELIEVERS. We believe the Church is the body of which Christ is the head and all who believe in Him are members (Ephesians 1:22-23; Romans 12:4-5). We believe that we, as a body of believers, are called to glorify God and edify others; that every believer is called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through word and deed, with integrity and in love.
 

We believe that every member has been given at least one spiritual gift and is called to share his/her gift. Christians are commanded to be baptized upon profession of faith and to unite with a local church for mutual encouragement and growth in discipleship through worship, nurture, service and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world (Acts 2:41-42, 47; Luke 24:45-48). Each church is a self-governing body under the lordship of Christ with all members sharing responsibility (Acts 13:1-3; 14:26-28).
 

We believe that the church, as a community of faith, is called to seek and sustain unity in Christ as we seek to uphold our corporate values and goals, and as we fulfill the vision that God has established for the church. The church is called to create and sustain a nurturing environment that will enable its members to grow in the likeness of Christ and equip them for faithful service.
 

G. ORDINANCES: BAPTISM & LORD’S SUPPER. We believe in our distinctive denominational roots, which include: the ordinances of the Lord's Supper and believer's baptism, the separation of church and state, the priesthood of all believers, and the autonomy of the local church. We believe that prayer is to be an integral part of one's faith journey as one nurtures his/her growing relationship with God.

Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s identification with the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-5). The Lord’s Supper is the partaking of the bread and of the cup by believers together as a continuing memorial of the broken body and shed blood of Christ. It is an act of thankful dedication to Him and serves to unite His people until He returns (I Corinthians 11:23-26).
 

H. CHRISTIANS. We believe Christians, individually and collectively, are salt and light in society (Matthew 5:13-16). In a Christlike spirit, they oppose greed, selfishness and vice; they promote truth, justice and peace; they aid the needy and preserve the dignity of people of all races and conditions (Hebrews 13:5; Luke 9:23; Titus 2:12; Philippians 4:8-9; I John 3:16-17; James 2:1-4). || Christians grow as the Holy Spirit enables them to understand and obey the Word of God (II Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:15; I Thessalonians 3:12).

I. THE FAMILY & MARRIAGE. We affirm the family as the basic unit of society and seek to preserve its integrity and stability (Genesis 2:21-25; Ephesians 6:1-4). We believe the Bible teaches that marriage refers to the covenant relationship exclusively between one man and one woman, as instituted by God in the beginning (Genesis 2:20b-24; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Hebrews 13:4).

 

J. THE NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH. We believe God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring all things to their appropriate end and establish the new heaven and the new earth (Ephesians 1:9-10, Revelation 21:1). The certain hope of the Christian is that Jesus Christ will return to the earth suddenly, personally and visibly in glory according to His promise (Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7; 3:11; John 14:1-3). The dead will be raised, and Christ will judge mankind in righteousness (John 5:28-29). The unrighteous will be consigned to the everlasting punishment prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25-41, 46; Revelation 20;10).
The righteous, in their resurrected and glorified bodies, will receive their reward and
dwell forever with the Lord (Philippians 3:20-21; II Corinthians 5:10; I Thessalonians
4:13-18).

 

 

Prepared By:

 

 

 

Stefany T. Gacula
RABBCCorporate Secretary

Information Committee Leader
 

 

 

Noted By:

 

 

 

Genrev O. Avelino

RABBC Corporate Director

 

 

 

Approved By:

 

 

 

Rev. Eusebio D. Avelino Jr.

RABBC Pastor