Essential Beliefs of New Covenant Church
Nature of God
- The Triune God: There is one God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each possessing all the attributes of deity.
- God’s Sovereignty: God will bring His salvation to His people and be glorified in the events of His Church. He exists above all creation and orchestrates history to fulfill His plan for the universe.
Scripture and Authority
- The Bible: The sole basis for our belief is the Bible, which is uniquely God-inspired, without error, and the final authority on all matters on which it bears.
Salvation and Grace
- The Fall and Redemption: God created humans to glorify and have fellowship with Him, but they defied God by sinfully going their own way. As a result, we need God’s saving grace to end our alienation from God. Salvation comes only through God’s grace – not human effort – and must be received personally by repentance and faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ.
- Proclamation of the Gospel: God determines who will be saved and when, so we don’t try to argue anyone into the Kingdom, although we do try to present the gospel to everyone who will listen.
- The Work of Christ: Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, lived a sinless life on earth and voluntarily paid for sin by dying on the cross as our substitute. This accomplished salvation for all who receive grace by trusting in Christ.
- God’s Election: Man is by nature sinful and helpless to save himself. Before the foundation of the world, God chose to bring salvation to individuals not because of any foreseen acts by humans, but just because of His great love. Unless God draws people to Himself through Jesus Christ, no one will be saved.
- The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit draws sinners to Christ and equips believers for personal growth and service to God. The Holy Spirit was sent as a comforter, to bestow spiritual gifts on the Church, to seal each believer in God’s salvation, and to empower the Church in order that it may fulfill the Great Commission.
Church and The End of Times
- The Church’s Mission: The Church’s role is to glorify God and serve those in need.
- Sacred Ordinances: The Bible gives the church two ordinances, which shall be observed until the Lord returns: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
- The Second Coming: Jesus Christ will return to earth to judge the righteous and the unrighteous.
- The Final Judgment: At the end of time, everyone will experience bodily resurrection and judgment. Only believers in Christ Jesus will enjoy eternal fellowship with God. Those who have rejected the Lord will spend eternity in hell.
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