A Church of Faith, Hope, and Love for a Better World

We believe that the Holy Bible is the Word of God through the Holy Spirit, and is the Perfect treasure of heavenly instruction, our Divine inheritance and guide for our daily life (1); that it has God for its author, salvation for its end (2), and truth without any mixture of error for its cause (3); that it reveals the principles on which God will judge us (4); and therefore it is and remains until the end of the world the true center of Christianity (5), and the highest standard upon which all human conduct, beliefs and opinions should be based (6).

  1. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16; 3:21; John 10:35; Luke 16:29-31; Psa. 119:11; Rom. 3:1-2
  2. 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; Acts 11:14; Rom. 1:16; Mark 16:16; John 5:38-39
  3. 30:5-6; John 17:17; Rev. 22:18-19; Rom. 3:4
  4. 2:12; John 12:47-48; 1 Cor. 4:3-4; Luke 10:10-16; 12:47-48
  5. 3:16; Eph. 4:3-6; Phil. 2:1-2; 1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Pet. 4:11
  6. 1 John 4:1; Isa. 8:20; 1 Thess. 5:21; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:6; Jude 3:5; Eph. 6:17; Psa. 119:59-60; Phil. 1:9-11

In the true God

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, Almighty GOD, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth (1); expressly glorious in Holiness (2), and worthy of all possible honor, trust and love (3); that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (4); equal in every divine perfection (5), and performing separate but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption (6).

  1. John 4:24; Psa. 147:5; 83:18; Heb. 3:4; Rom. 1:20; Jer. 10:10
  2. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; Rev. 4:6-8
  3. Mark 12:30; Rev. 4:11; Matt. 10:37; Jer. 2:12-13
  4. 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7
  5. John 10:30; 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; Phil. 2:5-6
  6. 2:18; 2 Cor. 13:14; Rev. 1:4-5; comp. 2, 7

In the trap of man

We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker (1); but through voluntary transgression that holy and happy state fell (2); whereby all men are now sinners (3), not by compulsion, but by choice (4); by nature completely void from that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under righteous condemnation to eternal destruction (5), without defense or excuse (6).

  1. 1:27, 31; Eccl. 7:29; Acts 16:26; Gene. 2:16
  2. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12
  3. 5:19; John 3:6; Psa. 51:5; Rom. 5:15-19; 8:7
  4. 53:6; Gen. 6:12; Rom. 3:9-18
  5. 2:1-3; Rom. 1:18, 32; 2:1-16; Gal. 3:10; Matt. 20:15
  6. 18:19-20; Rom. 1:20; 3:19; Gal. 3:22

In JESUS ​​CHRIST: The Way of Salvation

We believe that the salvation of sinners is entirely by grace (1), through the sacrificial works of the Son of God (2); who, by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon himself our nature, but without sin (3); honored the divine law by his personal obedience (4), and by his death made a complete atonement for our sins (5); that He, risen from the dead, is now enthroned in heaven (5); and uniting in His wondrous person the tenderest sympathies with the divine perfections, He intercedes for us as our merciful, and an all-in-one deadly Savior (7).

  1. 2:5; Matt. 18:11; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; Acts 15:11
  2. John 3:16; 1:1-14; Heb. 4:14; 12:24
  3. 2:6-7; Heb. 2:9, 14; 2 Cor. 5:21
  4. 42:21; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 3:21
  5. 53:4-5; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 4:25; 3:21-26; 1 John 4:10; 2:2; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Heb. 9:13-15
  6. 1:8, 3; 8:1; Col. 3:1-4
  7. 7:25; Col. 2:9; Heb. 2:18; 7:26; Psa. 89:19; Psa. 14

In the reasoning

We believe that the great evangelical blessing that JESUS ​​Christ (1) assures, such as believing in Him, is justification (2); that justification includes the forgiveness of sin (3), and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness (4); that it is given, not with regard to any works of righteousness that we have done, but solely through faith in the blood of the Savior (5); on the basis of which faith its perfect righteousness is freely ascribed to us from God (6); that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing that is necessary for time and eternity (7).

  1. John 1:16; Eph. 3:8
  2. Acts 13:39; Isa. 3:11-12; Rom. 8:1
  3. 5:9; Zech. 13:1; Matt. 9:6; Acts 10:43
  4. 5:17; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Pet. 3:7; 1 John 2:25; Rom. 5:21
  5. 4:4-5; 5:21; 6:28; Phil. 3:7-9
  6. 5:19; 3:24-26; 4:23-25; 1 John 2:12
  7. 5:1-3, 11; 1 Cor. 1:30-31; Matt. 6:33; 1 Tim. 4:8

In the free redemption

We believe that the blessings of salvation through the gospel (1) have been made available to all; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them through heartfelt and obedient faith (2); and that nothing stands in the way of the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth except his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel (3); which rejection involves him in an aggravating condemnation (4).

  1. 55:1; Rev. 22:17; Luke 14:17
  2. 16:26; Mark 1:15; Rom. 1:15-17
  3. John 5:40; Matt. 23:37; Rom. 9:32; Prov. 1:24; Acts 13:46
  4. John 3:19; Matt. 11:20; Luke 19:27; 2 Thess. 1: 8

In Grace in the Regeneration

We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again (1); that regeneration consists of giving a holy disposition to the spirit (2); that it happens in a way that is beyond our understanding through the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with the divine truth (3), to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel (4); and that the proper proof thereof appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life (5).

  1. John 3:3, 6-7; 1 Cor. 1:14; Rev. 8:7-9; 21:27
  2. 2 Cor. 5:17; Ezek. 36:26; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29; 5:5; 1 John 4:7
  3. John 3:8; 1:13; James 1:16-18; 1 Cor. 1:30; Phil. 2:13
  4. 1 Pet. 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11
  5. 5:9; Rom. 8:9; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 3:8-10; 7:20; 1 John 5:4, 18

In repentance and faith

We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the restoring Spirit of God (1); and, deeply convinced of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation through JESUS ​​Christ (2), we turn to God with unfeigned repentance, confession and supplication for mercy (3); At the same time, we wholeheartedly receive the Lord JESUS ​​Christ as our Savior, Redeemer, Priest and King, and we trust in Him alone as Our Redeemer (4).

  1. Mark 1:15; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8; 1 John 5:1
  2. John 16:8; Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31
  3. Luke 18:13; 15:18-21; James 4:7-10; 2 Cor. 7:11; Romans 10:12-13; Psa. 51
  4. 10:9-11; Acts 3:22-23: Heb. 4:14; Psa. 2:6; Heb. 1:8; 8:25; 2 Tim. 1:12

In God’s purpose of grace

We believe that election is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously restores, sanctifies, and saves sinners (1); that it is entirely in accordance with the free choice of man and understands all means in connection with the end (2); that it is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, which is infinitely free, wise, holy, and unchangeable (3); that it completely excludes pride and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and the active imitation of His free mercy (4); that it encourages the use of means to the highest degree (5); that it can be established by its effects for all who truly believe the Gospel (6); that it is the basis of Christian assurance (7); and that establishing it with regard to ourselves requires and deserves the greatest possible zeal (8).

  1. 2 Tim. 1:8-9; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 1:1-2; Rom. 11:5-6; John 15:15; 1 John 4:19; Hos. 12:9
  2. 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 13:48; John 10:16; Matt. 20:16; Acts 15:14
  3. 33:18-19; Matt. 20:15; Eph. 1:11; Rom. 9:23-24: Jer. 31:3; Rom. 11:28-29; James 1:17-18; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rom. 11:32-36
  4. 1 Cor. 4:7; 1:26-31; Rom. 3:27; 4:16; Col. 3:12; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 15:10; 1 Pet. 5:10; Acts 1:24; 1 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 2:9; Luke 18:7; John 15:16; Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess. 2:12
  5. 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Cor. 9:22; Rom. 8:28-30; John 6:37-40; 2 Pet. 1:10
  6. 1 Thess. 1:4-10
  7. 8:28-30; Isa. 42:16; Rom. 11:29

2 Pet. 1:10-11; Phil. 3:12; Heb. 6:11

In de heiliging

Wij geloven dat heiliging het proces is waardoor we, volgens de Wil van God, deelgenoten worden van zijn heiligheid (1); dat het een progressief werk is (2); dat het in de wedergeboorte begint (3); en dat het in de harten van de gelovigen wordt voortgezet door de aanwezigheid en de kracht van de Heilige Geest, de Verzegelaar en Trooster, in het voortdurende gebruik van de aangewezen middelen – met name het Woord van God, zelfonderzoek, zelfverloochening, waakzaamheid, en gebed (4).

  1. 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Cor. 7:1; 13:9; Eph. 1:4
  2. 4:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Heb. 6:1; 2 Pet. 1:5-8; Phil. 3:12-16
  3. John 2:29; Rom. 8:5; John 3:6; Phil. 1:9-11; Eph. 1:13-14
  4. 2:12-13; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 13:5; Luke 11:35; 9:23; Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18; 4:30

In de volharding van de heiligen

Wij geloven dat alleen zij die tot het einde toe volharden, ware gelovigen zijn (1); dat hun volhardende gehechtheid aan Christus het grote merkteken is dat hen onderscheidt van oppervlakkige denkers (2); dat de Heer waakt over hun welzijn (3); en dat zij door de kracht van God bewaard worden door het geloof tot de eeuwige verlossing (4).

  1. John 8:31; 1 John 2:27-28; 3:9; 5:18
  2. 1 John 2:19; John 13:18; Matt. 13:20-21; John 6:66-69; Job 17:9
  3. 8:28; Matt. 6:30-33; Jer. 32:40; Psa. 121:3; 91:11-12
  4. 1:6; 2:12-13; Jude 24-25; Heb. 1:14; 2 Kings 6:16; Heb. 13:5; 1 John 4:4

In de Harmonie van de Wet en het Evangelie

Wij geloven dat de wet van God de eeuwige en onveranderlijke regel van zijn zedelijk bestuur is (1); dat deze heilig, rechtvaardig en goed is (2); en dat het onvermogen dat de Schrift aan de gevallenen toeschrijft om haar voorschriften te vervullen volledig voortkomt uit hun liefde voor de zonde (3); hen te bevrijden van wat, en hen door JEZUS CHRISTUS te herstellen tot ongeveinsde gehoorzaamheid aan de heilige wet, één groot doel is van het evangelie, en van de genademiddelen die verbonden zijn met de vestiging van de zichtbare kerk (4).

  1. 3:31; Matt. 5:17; Luke 16:17; Rom. 3:20; 4:15
  2. 7:12, 7, 14, 22; Gal. 3:21; Psa. 119
  3. 8:7-8; Josh. 24:19; Jer. 13:23; John 6:44; 5:44
  4. 8:2, 4; 10:4; 1 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 8:10; Jude 20-21; Heb. 12:14; Matt. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 12:28

In een Evangelische Kerk

Wij geloven dat een zichtbare Kerk van Christus een gemeente is van gelovigen die gedoopt zijn in water en in de Heilige Geest (1), verbonden door een verbond in het geloof en de gemeenschap van het evangelie (2); het naleven van de verordeningen van Jezus Christus (3); beheerst door zijn wetten (4), en het uitoefenen van de gaven, rechten en voorrechten die in zijn Woord (5) zijn vastgelegd; dat de enige bijbelse functionarissen apostelen, profeten, evangelisten, predikanten, leraren, ouderlingen en diakenen (6) zijn, waarvan de kwalificaties, aanspraken en plichten zijn vastgelegd in de brieven aan Efeziërs, Timoteüs en Titus.

  1. 1 Cor. 1:1-13; Matt. 18:17; Acts 5:11; 8:1; 11:31; 1 Cor. 4:17; 14:23; 3 John 9; 1 Tim. 3:5
  2. Acts 2:41-42; 2 Cor. 8:5; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 5:12-13
  3. 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:23; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:6; 2 Cor. 2:7; 1 Cor. 4:17
  4. 28:20; John 14:15; 15:12; 1 John 4:21; John 14:21; 1 Thess. 4.2; 2 John 6; Gal. 6:2; all the Epistles
  5. 4:7; 1 Cor. 14:12; Phil. 1:27; 1 Cor. 12:14
  6. 4:11; Phil. 1:1; Acts 14:23; 15:22; 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1

In the Water Baptism

Christian baptism is the immersion  in water of a believer in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; to show in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, resulting in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life.  (Matthew 3:13-17)

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the visible sign of membership in the Body of Christ. We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as described in the Bible (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 1:5; Acts 2:38; Matthew 3:11; John 3:5; Acts 2:4; Acts 1:8; Acts 11:16; Matthew 28:19; Acts 19:6; Acts 19:1-6; Acts 2:1-4; Mark 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 11:15-16; Mark 16:15-18…) it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to proclaim the gospel throughout the earth.

In the gifts of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit manifests Himself through a variety of spiritual gifts to build up and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection, and confirm the power of the gospel. The Bible lists these gifts, and they can occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of these gifts in their lives. These gifts always work in harmony with Scripture.

  1. Acts 8:36-39; Matt. 3:5-6; John 3:22-23; 4:1-2; Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 16:32-34; 18:8
  2. 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Gal. 3:27-28
  3. 6:4; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:20-21; Acts 22:16
  4. Acts 2; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts and Epistles
  5. 1 Cor. 11:26; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20
  6. 1 Cor. 11:28; 5:1, 8; 10:3-32; 11:17-32; John 6:26-71

In the Lord’s Supper

Believers in Jesus must commemorate the love of Christ together through the sacred use of bread and grapes; always preceded by a solemn self-examination.

On the Lord’s Day

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day (1) and should be kept holy for religious purposes (2) in preparation for the remainder that is left for the people of God (3).

  1. Acts 20:7; Gene. 2:3; Col. 2:16-17; Mark 2:27; John 20:19; 1 Cor. 16:1-2
  2. 20:8; Rev. 1:10; Psa. 118:24; Heb. 10:25
  3. 58:13-14; 56:2-8; Psa. 119:15; Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 11:26; 13:44; Lev. 19:30; Exod. 46:3; Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2, 3; Psa. 26:8; 87:3; Heb. 4:3-11

In the civil government

We believe that the civil administration is of a divine nature, for the interests and good order of human society (1); and that magistrates should be prayed to, conscientiously honored and obeyed (2); except in matters contrary to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ (3) who is the only Lord of conscience, and the Prince of the kings of the earth (4).

  1. 13:1-7; Deut. 16:18; 1 Sam. 23:3; Exod. 18:23; Jer.30:21
  2. 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13; 1 Tim. 2:1-8
  3. Acts 5:29; Matt. 10:28; Than. 3:15-18; 6:7-10; Acts 4:18-20
  4. 23:10; Rom. 14:4; Rev. 19:16; Psa. 72:11; Psa. 2; Rom. 14:9-13

In the Rapture and the new world to come

We believe that the end of the world is approaching (1); that on the last day Christ will descend from heaven (2), and will raise the dead from the grave for final retribution, and will conquer the ruthless (3); that then a solemn separation will take place (4); that the wicked will be condemned to endless punishments, and the righteous to endless joy in Heaven (5); and that this judgment will forever determine the final state of people in heaven or hell, on principles of justice (6).

  1. 1 Pet. 4:7; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Have. 1:10-12; Matt. 24:35; 1 John 2:17; Matt. 28:20; 13:39-40; 2 Pet. 3:3-13
  2. Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Have. 9:28; Acts 3:21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18;5:1-11
  3. Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:12-59; Luke 14:14; Than. 12:2; John 5:28-29; 6:40; 11:25-26; 2 Tim. 1:10; Acts 10:42
  4. 13:49, 37-43; 24:30-31; 25:31-33
  5. 25:35-41; Rev. 22:11; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Mark 9:43-48; 2 Pet. 2:9; Jude 7; Phil. 3:19; Rom. 6:32; 2 Cor. 5:10-11; John 4:36; 2 Cor. 4:18
  6. 3:5-6; 2 Thess. 1:6-12; Have. 6:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:5; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:2-16; Rev. 20:11-12; 1 John 2:28; 4:17