Succoth Church Core Belief Statements

THE BIBLE

The Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, verbally inspired in all parts, and therefore wholly without error as originally given of God (II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:21).

THE ONE TRUE GOD

In the unity of the Godhead, there exist three co-eternal, coequal persons--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14).

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

His pre-existence and deity (John 1:1-3), incarnation by virgin birth (John 1:14; Matt. 1:18-23), sinless life (Heb.4:15), substitutionary death (II Cor. 5:21), bodily resurrection (Luke 24:36-43), ascension into heaven and present ministry (Heb. 4:14-16), and coming again (Acts 1:11).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

His personality (John 16:7-15), His role as Comforter, and Convicter of Truth (John 14:17, 26), and deity (Acts 5:3-4), and His work in each believer, baptism and indwelling at the moment of regeneration (I Cor. 12:13, Rom. 8:9), and filling (Eph. 5:18) to empower for Christian life and service (Eph. 3:16: Acts 1:8; Gal. 5:22-23).

MAN

His direct creation in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-28), his subsequent fall into sin resulting in spiritual death (Gen. 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12), and the necessity of the new birth for his salvation (John 3:3-5).

SALVATION

A complete and eternal salvation by God's grace alone, received as the gift of God through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His vicarious atonement through the cross (Eph. 2:8,9; Titus 3:5-7; I Peter 1:18-19).

THE CHURCH

One true Church, the body and bride of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25- 32), composed of all true believers of the present age (I Cor. 12:12-13), and the organization of its members in local churches for worship, for edification of believers, and for world-wide gospel witness, each local church being autonomous but cooperating in fellowship and work (Eph. 4:11-16).

CHRISTIAN LIFE

A life of righteousness, good works, and separation unto God from the evil ways of the world (Rom. 12:1-2), manifested by speaking the truth (James 5:12), maintaining the sanctity of the home (Eph. 5:22-6:4), settling differences between Christians in accordance with the Word of God (I Cor. 6:1-8), not engaging in carnal strife but showing a Christ-like attitude toward all men (Rom. 12:17-21), exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit.

ORDINANCES

The Christian is required to observe the ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ which are baptism of believers by immersion (Matt. 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11:23-26).

SATAN

A created spirit being (Ezek. 28:13-15) possessing personality. The great adversary of God and His people (Rev. 12:1-10), his judgment (John 12:31), and final doom (Rev. 20:10).

SECOND COMING

The personal, visible, and imminent return of Christ to remove His Church from the earth (I Thess. 4:16-17) and the establishment of His millennial kingdom upon the earth (Rev. 19:11-20:6).

FUTURE LIFE

The conscious existence of the dead (Phil. 1:21-23; Luke 16:19-31), the resurrection of the body (John 5:28-29), the judgment and reward of believers (Rom. 14:10-12; II Cor. 5:10), the judgment and condemnation of unbelievers (Rev. 20:11-15), the eternal life of the saved (John 3:16), and the punishment of the lost (Matt. 25:46; Rev. 20:15).