The Bible is God's Holy Word. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God inspired men to write the Bible which reveals His divine plan and purposes for men.

Reference Scriptures:
John 17:17; 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17; 2nd Peter 1:20, 21;

• God, the "Eternal", has no beginning and no end. He, only, possesses inherent immortality. God is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and is the creator of the universe. Among other attributes, God is pure love and light.
  Reference Scriptures:
  Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:1,2; 1st Timothy 6:16; 1st John 1:5, 4:8;
• Jesus Christ is the "only begotten" Son of God. Jesus died as "a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." Prior to his birth in Bethlehem, Jesus preexisted as the "Word". It is through the Word that God created all things.
  Reference Scriptures:
  1st Timothy 2:6; Colossians 1:15, 16; John 1:1-3, 14;

• The Genesis account reveals that when God created Man, he breathed into his nostrils, and "man became a living soul." God's curse on man as a result of sinful disobedience is death; the cessation of life. The Bible teaches that when a person dies, all consciousness ceases. There is no knowledge, wisdom, memory, or thinking in the grave where the dead are placed. Although death is a curse, the Bible further teaches that as a result of Jesus' atoning sacrifice, we can view death as a temporary sleep until Christ's second advent. At His return, the resurrection of the dead will occur, and "this mortal will put on immortality."
  Reference Scriptures:
  Genesis 2:7; Ezekiel 18:4,20; Ecclesiastes 9:5,10;
  1st Corinthians 15:51-58; 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18;
• The grave is the place of the dead. The word "hell" in the Bible, is a translation of the Hebrew word sheol and of the Greek word hades. All three words describe one and the same thing- the place of the dead- which is properly rendered the grave, the pit, or the tomb. The Bible teaches that after God's great Day of Judgement, those that refuse to submit their wills to the will of God will be thrown in the "gehenna", also called the lake of fire. The term "gehenna", comes from the Valley of Hinnon, a valley outside Jerusalem which was used as a garbage dump. Fire always burned in this valley, to destroy all which was tossed there. Gehenna typifies second death; the complete annihilation of obstinate sinners including Satan and his demons.
  Reference Scriptures:
  1st Corinthians 15:51-57; Revelation 20:12-15; 21:8;

The period of time between the ascension of Christ and His second advent is the Gospel or Church age. During the Gospel Age, it is God's purpose to select "a People for his name" individuals who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, and have allowed God to be sovereign in their lives, by doing His will. These individuals, as "living stones", "elect and precious", are chiseled, shaped and polished, being made to conform to the image of Jesus and being thus prepared for the time when the Great Master Workman will bring all together in the First Resurrection. This group, comprising the Church, God's living temple, is also the Bride of Christ. As joint-heirs with Christ they will reign with him forever. Through Christ and His bride, God's blessing will come to all people as they find access to the true source of "living water."

In the mean time, individuals running for the "prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" are to live lives "worthy of the vocation" to which they have been called. They are to serve as "lights" and "salt" in the midst of a dark and decadent world. Christians must be dynamic ambassadors for Christ, constant witnesses of the grace and love of God.

Reference Scriptures:
Matthew 5:13-16; Acts 15:14; Romans 8:29; 1st Corinthians 3:16,17;
2nd Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:10,20-22; 4:1-3; Philippians 3:14;
1st Peter 2:4-9; Rev. 21:2; 22:17;