Northern Lights International Ministry

GOD

There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existent (John 1:1-3), Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1).

He exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are one in essence, but distinct in person and function (John 15:26, Matthew 3:16-17).

FATHER

The Father is the first Person of the Trinity. He is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:17), of all believers in Christ (Galatians 3:26), of the nation Israel (Exodus 4:22), and over all creation (Acts 17:29).

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity. He is fully God (John 10:30) who took on flesh through a virgin birth (Matthew 1:22- 23) and dwelt on the earth (John 1:14).

He was perfectly sinless (Hebrews 4:15).

He died on a cross as a substitute for our sins (John 19:33), was buried, physically rose from the dead (Luke 24:3-6), and ascended to live eternally with the Father (Acts 1:10-11).

HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, coexistent with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19)

The Holy Spirit indwells a man at the moment of conversion (Acts 10:44, Ephesians 1:13-14).

The Holy Spirit is the chief agent of salvation and holiness in the life of the believer (Romans 15:16).

The work of the Holy Spirit is manifest by fruit (Galatians 5:22-26, Ephesians 2:10) in cooperation with the believer's yielding (Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 5:18).

The Holy Spirit endows each believer with a special gift to minister to the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:7, 11; I Peter 4:10-11).

The Holy Spirit can be quenched (I Thessalonians 5:19) and grieved (Ephesians 4:30-32) by a believer.

MAN

Man is the direct creation of God and made in His image (Genesis 1:26).

Every member of the human race is sinful by nature from birth (Romans 5:12, I Corinthians 15:22).

Every member of the human race has sinned before God (Romans 3:23).

Because of sin, every member of the human race is lost without Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:6, Proverbs 14:12, John 3:36).

SALVATION

The death of Jesus Christ ALONE paid the price for salvation (Romans 5:6-8, Isaiah 53:5).

Salvation is received by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:3-6).

Repentance (turning away) from sin is essential for salvation (Acts 2:38, Acts 26:20, Luke 13:3, II Corinthians 7:10).

Evidence of salvation is confirmed, but not obtained by:

1.  Good works (Matthew 7:17, Galatians 5:22-24).

2.  Water Baptism by immersion (Colossians 2:12, Romans 6:1-3).

Salvation for the believer is secure for eternity (John 10:27-28, Hebrews 7:25, I John 5:13)

THE BIBLE

The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, though written by men, is verbally (word for word) inspired by God (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16) and inerrant in its original writings.

All the words of the Bible are the final, complete, written, and true revelation of God (Revelation 22:18-19).

The Bible is sufficient to meet all the needs of all believers (2 Timothy 3:17, Psalm 19:7-14).

The Bible is understood through the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

The meaning of the Bible is determined by the historical, grammatical, and literary use of the author's language, comparing scripture with scripture (2 Timothy 2:15).

THE CHURCH

The church is a local assembly of baptized believers (Hebrews 10:25, 1 Corinthians 1:2). The supreme Head of the church is Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18).

The church is organized to carry out the mission to evangelize and teach every person (Matthew 28:19), and to carry out the ordinances of the Lord's supper and believer's baptism (Acts 2:42- 47).

The local church is governed by mature, godly men, also known as elders and deacons (Titus 1:5- 9, I Timothy 3:1-13).

The church is self-supporting by the sacrificial giving of her members (I Corinthians 16:1-2).

SECOND COMING

We believe in the literal, visible (Revelation 1:7), personal, and soon return of Jesus Christ for His Church (Revelation 22:12), at which time He will transform our bodies, whether dead or alive, into a glorious body like the Lord’s (Philippians 3:20-21).