When we started our ministry a few of years ago, we were inspired by the verse 2 Corinthians 3:18, which says:
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
And we took from this verse the idea that we're beholding the glory of the Lord; that within us, we are His image-bearers and furthermore that we are his glory-bearers. So we call ourselves "Imago Dei," - the image of God - because that is who we are. Likewise, we take on the tag line, "Reflecting our creator," because that's our goal. As we go out into the world as his image bearers, we want to live up to the identity he has given to us by reflecting His grace, love, and mercy. And through us, we hope to allow the world to see more of God and his church in action. As a community, we are striving to be worthy representatives of his work, his will for us, and the salvation he is bringing
Scripture
The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, the only inerrant, perfect rule of faith and deed.
God
There is only one God, and man shall worship only Him. There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; He is the triune God. One in trinity, equal in power and glory. God created all things visible and invisible by the power of His word, and preserves and governs them, but God in His nature causes no sin. He does all things by His plan according to His own will and governs all things to fulfill His purpose, which is good, wise and holy.
Humanity
God created man in His own image (Imago Dei) in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness with dominion over every living thing. Therefore, all men came from one source. They are brethren and kin.
Sin
Our first parents being left with the freedom to choose between good and evil through temptation, transgressed the commandment of God. All mankind, descending from Adam by ordinary generation sinned in him and fell with him in that transgression. Man having the ability to commit sin, and a corrupted nature, intentionally committed sin. So, we are justly liable to God's just displeasure and punishment in this world and that which is to come.
Jesus Christ
God sent His eternal, only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to save man from his sin and the corruption and the punishment thereof, in order to give eternal life because of His infinite love. In Jesus Christ, God became flesh, and through Him man can be saved. The eternal man became true man and possessed two distinct natures in His person, eternally as true God and true man. He, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance, born of her, yet was without sin. He obeyed the law perfectly on behalf of sinners and gave himself as a true and perfect sacrifice in order to satisfy divine justice. He did this for the purpose of the reconciliation of man to God. He was crucified on the cross, died and buried. On the third day He arose again from the dead. He is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession for His people. From there He shall come for the resurrection of the dead, and to judge the world.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit eternally proceeding from God the Father and God the Son, works salvation in man, convicts man of his sin and misery, enlightens man's heart to know Christ, renews man's will, exhorts him, empowers him to accept Jesus Christ who offers man the Gospel in grace freely, and works in us to bear the fruit of God's righteousness.
Salvation
Before God created the world, He elected in His love His own people to make them holy and blameless, predestined and adopted His children through Jesus Christ according to His pleasure and will, to the praise of the glory of His grace bestowed freely in one He loves. However, the perfect salvation offered freely so ordered to all mankind that they may repent their sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, rest upon Him and follow Him, obey the revealed will of God, be humble and conduct themselves in holiness, to the extent that whoever believe in Christ and is obedient unto Him shall be saved. The particular benefits that are accompanied with justification, adoption as God's children, sanctification and glorification are for the believers who are assured with God's salvation and joy in this world. The means of the grace are the Bible, sacraments and prayer in particular.
Sacraments
The sacraments instituted by Christ are baptism and holy communion; baptism of washing with water is to be administered in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is the sign and seal of joining in union with Christ, and the promise for our regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit and God's possession of us. Baptism shall be administered to those who make confession of faith in Christ, and to their children. Holy Communion as partaking of the bread and the cup shall be served in remembrance of Christ's death, and in the witness of the seal for the benefit derived from Christ's death with which the believers are in union. Holy Communion shall be observed by God's people until the Day of the Lord's coming, and is a sign of a promise of more faithful service unto the Lord and a sign of communion with the Lord and His people, who believe in Him, and rest upon His atonement from which God's benefit flows to us. The benefits of the sacraments are not found in the sacraments themselves or any virtue of him by whom the sacraments are being administered, but only in the blessing by Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit in those whom by faith receive the sacraments.
Our Duty
All believers shall dutifully join in church membership with instruction, have fellowship with one another among the believers, observe the sacraments and other ordinances, obey all the laws of the Lord, pray always, observe the Lord's Day holy, assemble with believers to worship the Lord and listen attentively to the preaching of the Word of God, render offerings as God provides us abundantly, share with one another the mind of Christ, share also the same mind with all other people, endeavor to promote the expansion of the Kingdom of Christ upon the whole world, and wait expectantly for the appearance of the Lord in His glory.
Belief
The dead shall receive the reward according to the good and evils done in this world before the judgment seat of Christ when they will be resurrected in the last day. Those who believe in Christ, and are obedient unto Him shall be truly forgiven and accepted by Him in glory.
