Statement of Faith

1.Concerning the Bible

We believe that the Bible, consisting of 66 books, was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it reveals God's mind and will for humanity. It is fully the Word of God and constitutes the sole infallible authority for the believer's faith and life (Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone). The believer must be guided by it and not by human traditions, dogmas defined during councils, or alleged visions or dreams. We believe it is fully sufficient to lead sinners to salvation and to equip believers for every good work. Understanding the Bible is not limited to an enlightened elite, but every child of God, through prayer and the help of the Spirit, can understand its message of salvation (2 Tim 3:16-17, 2 Pet 1:20-21).

2.Concerning the Holy Trinity

We believe in one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While being distinct, they share one and the same divine nature and together constitute one God, not a single person (Gen 1:1,26, Matt 28:19, 3:16, John 14:16,23,26, 16:7-15, 2 Cor 13:14, Heb 9:14, 1 Pet 1:2, 1 Cor 12:4-6).

3.Concerning God the Father as Creator

We believe in God the Father, Creator of heaven, earth, and all that exists in them. Eternal, Almighty, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Self-Existent and Self-Sufficient, Sovereign, Holy, and Most High God, the God of love and mercy. He prepared the plan of salvation from eternity and put it into execution. We believe that worship, prayer, and glory must be directed only to God (Soli Deo gloria) and not to any creature, Mary, saints, statues, or relics.

4.Concerning God the Son as Savior

We believe that Jesus Christ is uncreated and is eternally the Son of God. He became a perfect man without losing His true divine nature. He remained fully man and fully God. Two natures in one person (John 1:1-3,14, Isa 9:6, 40:3, John 1:1, 20:28, Rom 9:5, Col 2:9, Heb 1:8, 1 John 5:20, Titus 2:13). We believe in His atoning death and physical resurrection, His ascension, and His soon visible and glorious return to earth. By His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ became the only sacrifice and mediator between God and man (Solus Christus - Christ alone) (1 Tim 2:5). It is only through His sacrifice that sinners can approach God and obtain forgiveness for their sins. As Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ accomplished the work of salvation planned from eternity by God the Father.

5.Concerning the Holy Spirit as Sanctifier

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. Working in hearts, He convicts man of his sins and leads him to Christ, to repentance (John 16:6-14). We believe that at conversion, the believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit through Christ and thus becomes a member of Christ's spiritual body, the universal Church of God (1 Cor 12:13). We believe that the Holy Spirit accompanies believers to help them reach spiritual maturity (John 14:16,18, 16:13, Rom 8:1-14). He grants various gifts to believers for the purpose of edifying and strengthening the Church (1 Cor 12). The believer must be constantly filled and led by the Spirit. He must serve and worship God through the Spirit (Eph 5:18, John 4:24). Thus, the Holy Spirit, as sanctifier, applies the salvation planned by God and accomplished by Christ in the life of every repentant person.

6.Concerning Angels

We believe in the existence of angels and their action on behalf of believers (Heb 1:14). We also believe in the existence of Satan and demons, evil spirits who are active on earth and constantly fight against God and His people (Eph 6:12-17).

7.Concerning Man

We believe that man is created in the image of God, for the purpose of worshiping Him, serving Him, glorifying Him, and living constantly in communion with Him, enjoying His blessings (Gen 1:26). But man voluntarily rebelled against God and sinned against Him (Gen 3). We believe that because of his sins, man deserves God's wrath and condemnation. He is unable to save himself and needs divine grace (Rom 3:23-24). To be saved and reconciled with God, man needs to personally believe in Jesus Christ and His saving work accomplished on the cross (Eph 2:1-9). We also believe that man is not annihilated at physical death. Resurrection and judgment await him (Matt 10:28, Heb 9:27, Luke 16:19-31, Rev 20:11-15).

8.Concerning Salvation, Regeneration, and Justification

We believe that the sinner can be regenerated, justified, and saved solely on the basis of divine grace (Sola gratia - grace alone), and through personal faith in Christ (Eph 2:5-9) and not by good works, rituals, or ecclesiastical sacraments (Sola Fide - faith alone). Indeed, good works are inseparable from true faith, but they do not form the basis of our salvation or our justification before God. The believer does good works not to be saved, but because he is already saved in Christ. Having faith means putting one's trust in Christ, accepting Him as personal Savior and Lord, and dedicating one's life to Him. We believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates, purifies, justifies, and causes sinners to be born from above at the moment of conversion (John 1:12).

9.Concerning Man's Free Will

We believe that the concept of double predestination or fatalism does not align with the overall teachings of the Bible. Man, through his free will, can accept or reject the offer of salvation (Josh 24:15, Deut 30:19, Acts 2:38, Rom 10:9-10, Mark 16:16). God, perfectly knowing the free choices of men from the beginning, pre-established His program of salvation (Isa 46:10-11, Rom 8:29, 1 Pet 1:2). The plan of salvation established before the foundation of the world states that whoever believes in Christ's work and repents of their sins will be saved, and those who do not believe will be lost as a consequence of their choice (Luke 24:44-47; Mark 16:16; Rom 3:21-28; 2 Thess 2:10-13).

10.Concerning the Church

We believe that all those who are born again by the Spirit of God are part of the universal Church, the spiritual body of Christ. The church has two main ordinances established by Christ: believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper (Matt 28:19, 1 Cor 11:23-25). We believe that the act of baptism is reserved only for those who are spiritually mature enough to understand its meaning and to confess their sins and faith. Baptism does not save but is necessary to publicly testify to our commitment. Through the act of baptism, the believer proclaims that he is dead to his old way of life and raised to a new life with Christ (Rom 6:1-11). We believe that by participating in the Lord's Supper, the believer testifies to his spiritual communion with God, with Christ, and with other believers. He commemorates Christ's atoning death, renews the commitment made at baptism, and thanks God for His great love and salvation (1 Cor 10:16-17). The bread and wine do not in themselves contain any mystical power that provides special grace or the forgiveness of sins (Eph 2:8; 1 Cor 11:29, John 1:12). These emblems also do not transform into the actual body and blood of Christ. They do not renew Christ's sacrifice given once and for all on the cross (Heb 9:24-26, 10:11-14, 1 Cor 11:24-25, John 15:1). We believe that the mission of the Church on earth is to obey Christ's great commission until the end:

« Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age » (Matt 28:19-20).

11.Concerning the Future

We believe in the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the rapture of the Church, the millennium, the final judgment, the eternal punishment of sinners, the eternal life of the righteous, a new earth, a new heaven, and the new Jerusalem.

12.Concerning the Believer's Life

We believe that the born-again Christian is called to live in a manner worthy of the gospel in all areas of his life: family, social, ecclesial, and professional. He is called to live for the glory of God (Phil 2:14-17, 1 Pet 1:14-16, Col 3:1-17, Heb 12:14). The values the Christian adopts must be biblical, not worldly, national, or racial (Rom 12:1-2, 1 John 2:15-17).