Biblical doctrine is the bedrock of the church. These truths guide every aspect of Maranatha Christian Church.
Trinity, co-equal in glory and power
The only true living and almighty God eternally exists in three persons, co-equal in glory and power: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Mat 28:19; 2 Co 13:14). God is perfect in holiness (Is 6:3), wisdom (Rom 16:27), justice (Rev 15:3-4) and love (1 Jn 4:8). He created and upholds all things (Jn 1:3; Heb 1:3). Humankind was created to worship and serve Him. God alone is to be worshipped and exalted (Ex 20:4-5; Acts 10:25-26).
Deity of Jesus Christ
In order to save the lost, the Son of God became a perfect man in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 3:16). Miraculously, Jesus was born from a virgin (Mat 1:18, 23), lived a perfect life, without sin, fulfilled the law, was crucified for the sins of humankind, raised from the dead (1 Cor 15:3-4) and ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9), where He intercedes continually for the church before the Father (Heb 7:25). Due to His perfect obedience (Phil 2:8-11) the Lord Jesus received from the Father all authority in heaven and on earth (Mat 28:18) and became the Savior (Acts 4:12) to all those who trust in Him (Acts 16:31) and the only mediator between God and men (1 Tim 2:5). Because of this, believers have the privilege to draw near and to pray to God, the Father (Mat 6:9), with the assistance of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:26) and in the name of Jesus Christ (Jn 14:13-14).
The Bible
The Bible is the revealed Word of God—and this includes both the Old and New testament. (2 Tim 3:16-17). Its original manuscripts were fully inspired by the Holy Spirit. Therefore they contain no error (Jn 17:17). It is the only rule of faith and practice for the church (2 Tim 1:3). The doctrines are to be believed, obeyed (1 Peter 1:22) and lived by the church (2 Tim 3:15). The same Spirit who inspired the Bible helps us understand it when we read it. (1 Cor 2:10-12). The Holy Spirit quickens the Scriptures (Jn 6:63) and uses them to reveal Jesus Christ to all people (Jn 15:26) and to glorify Him (Jn 16:14).
Inherently sinful nature of man
All men are sinners and therefore subject to eternal condemnation (Rom 3:23). They may be saved only by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus (Eph 2:8-9; Jn 6:47), as the Son of God and as the Christ (Mat 16:16-17), the only and sufficient Savior. The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus - signified by His blood (Eph 1:7; 2:13)—for the salvation of all those who believe is the summary and essence of the Gospel (1 Cor 15:1-4) and the only source of all spiritual life (Jn 6:53-54; 7:37-39). The believers are elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit (1 Th 2:13; Eph 1:4), for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2).
Christian life, changed life
The way we show our faith in Jesus and our love for Him is by leading a life of obedience (Jn 14:21-23) and good works (Jas 2:17-18; Jn 15:8), which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10). We work hard to live in communion with Jesus (Jn 15:7), walk in the Spirit (Rom 8:9-13; Gal 5:16) and live by faith (Rom 1:17). Believers are led by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:14) and bear the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:18, 22-25). As believers keep hearing and following the good shepherd, nobody shall snatch them out of God’s hand (Jn 10:27-28). The Holy Spirit enables the elect to persevere to the end in faith (Rev 2:10, 26), in sanctification (Heb 12:14), in obedience (Jn 10:27; Rom 6:17; Lu 8:15) and in serving the church (Heb 6:9-12).
Church, the Body of Christ
The church’s purpose is to perform God’s work on earth, preach the gospel (Mat 28:19-20), support its members (Eph 6:18; Gal 6:2, 10), worship God (Acts 2:46-47), baptize the believers in water (Mat 28:19) and celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41-42). The Lord intends His church to be one body, listening closely and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Reve 3:22; Gal 5:18; Rom 8:14). All members are to be united (Eph 4:3), to be led by one Spirit, to have one faith and submit to One Lord, the head of the church (Eph 1:22-23; 4:1-6).
“God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” Eph 3:10
“Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.” 1 Cor 12:13.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit & Jesus' return
When believers are baptized with the Holy Spirit (Jn 1:33; 14:16-17, 23; Eph 1:13; Acts 8:14-17) the purpose is to edify the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:18, 24; 14:4-5, 12), leading the believers into all truth (Jn 16:13-14). Thus, the Lord prepares the church for His second coming, which is its great expectation (1 Cor 1:7-8; Eph 5:25-27; 2 Tim 4:8). The Lord Jesus will return for His church, which is made up of all believers throughout history who trusted only in the blood of the Lord Jesus for their salvation (Rev 7:9, 13-14), at an unexpected day and time (Mat 24:40-42). Those who died in Jesus will rise from the dead and all the believers will receive glorified bodies (1 Th 4:15-17; 1 Cor 15:51-52). Thereafter the church will live in communion with the Lord Jesus in eternity (Rev 21). Those who rejected God’s grace offered in Jesus Christ will be judged and condemned to eternal separation from God (Jn 3:36; Rev 20:12-15).