Statement of Faith

The Bible

All 66 books in the Protestant canon are God’s own Word. Men of old wrote them as God’s Spirit led them, making the Bible both a fully divine and fully human book. Coming from God who has authority above all things, it is authoritative in every aspect of life. While it does not contain all knowledge possible in the world, it is sufficient to be the infallible guide for the Christian in every aspect of life. As it came from the God who cannot lie and is the Truth Himself, it is true and inerrant.

God

We believe in the only one living God who exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. His existence depends upon Himself. He exists for Himself. He is eternal, existing before the creation of the universe. He transcends all spatial limitations. He is in control over all things and works them all freely according to the all-wise counsel of His will, for His own glory. Regardless, this great God reveals Himself in creation, most clearly in the Bible.

Creation

We believe that everything in existence was created out of nothing by God’s powerful Word. This includes heaven and earth, things visible and invisible. After the creation week, God did not stop working in creation but continues to sustain and govern it. Thus, from the beginning to the end, creation is not separate from God but is contingent upon God’s will and care. Being created by God, creation reveals His attributes and glory.

Human beings

We believe that human beings are made in the image of God. God created us male and female. As both genders are equally image of God, we are of the same dignity, yet with different roles. As the images of God, we resemble Him the most, and so represent God in this created world. God calls His representatives to multiply, not just physically but spiritually by bringing people to become Christ’s disciples. Other than that, we are also called to cultivate the world with loving care that reflect God. All aspects of life ought to be lived in obedience to the loving commandments of God. In the final analysis, we were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Sin

Sin is rebellion against God’s righteous laws, and everyone who sins deserve the just wrath of God. We believe that Adam, the first human being, was the representative of us all. In breaking God’s law, he fell into sin and thus sin entered every human being. Every human being since Adam are dead in their sins, unable to truly seek for God. Every aspect of human life has been affected. No amount of good deeds could pay for or cleanse one’s sins. This left everyone without hope and without help for salvation.

Covenant of grace

We believe that God in eternity has chosen some people to be saved. He made a covenant with His chosen people, with Jesus Christ as the second and perfect Adam. Through His perfect obedience and substitutionary death on the cross, Christ satisfied the demands of God’s wrath against His people. Through the power of His resurrection, God continually calls and gathers His people from all ages and nations to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation for His glory.

Jesus Christ

We believe in Jesus Christ, the second person of the Triune God. In the appointed time, He incarnated and took on humanity, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He was the perfect revelation of God Himself. He lived a sinless life. He was crucified, died, and was buried. On the cross, our sins were counted against Him. On the other hand, the perfect righteousness He gained by living a sinless life is credited to us. On the third day He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father as Lord over everything, who continually intercedes for His people. He will come again in His glorious body to judge the living and the dead.

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Triune God. He was the One who inspired the Bible. He unites believers with Christ and applies His work on them. He convicts people of sin. He gives new life to people. He sanctifies and equips believers with power to obey God’s law. He gave the Church gifts for the good of the whole body.

The Church

We believe in the one, holy, universal Church, composed of all the elect of God. The local church is important, as it is a manifestation of the universal body of Christ. Even at this very moment, God continually calls and gathers His people from all ages and nations to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation for His glory. We believe in two sacraments: (i) baptism, signifying the cleansing of sins and our death and resurrection with Christ & (ii) the Lord’s Supper, signifying Christ’s death and giving away of Himself for His Church.

Last things

We are expecting a renewal of all creation, the new heavens and new earth. Christ will bring the end of the age with His second coming. There will be a resurrection of the body of both the elect and the reprobate. There will be judgment. Those who are in Christ will live in eternity and enjoy the Triune God forever. Those who are not in Christ will live in eternal torture forever.