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What we believe and teach - The Bible - |
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The Bible
is the Word of God. It is composed of sixty-six holy books whose names are
these: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges,
Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra,
Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (or The
Song of Solomon), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea,
Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai,
Zechariah, Malachi. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2
Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians,
2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1
Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation. All these books are
holy – that’s why they are called ‘Holy Scriptures’ or ‘Holy Scripture’ –
because they are God-breathed (that is, they are given by inspiration of God),
for they were not written by the will of man but holy men of God wrote them
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Therefore whatever these books say and
teach is true because it comes from God, who cannot lie. Therefore we trust in
the Bible with all our heart. The Bible does not contain errors or contradictions.
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The Holy
Scriptures are complete because they contain all the things those who live
far from God need to know to be saved from their sins and be reconciled to
God, as well as all the things we Christians need to know to conduct ourselves
in a manner worthy of the Gospel (that is to say, to live righteously, godly
and soberly), while we wait for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our
great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. |
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The Holy
Scriptures are the final and absolute authority in faith, conduct and morals.
All teachings, all revelations, and all prophecies, must be examined
carefully in the light of the Holy Scriptures to see if they are sound (in
this case they must be accepted) or wrong (in this case they must be
rejected). Any earthly authority that expressly commands us to break the Word
of God must not be obeyed. Therefore, for instance, if the governing
authorities command us not to pray God in the name of Jesus Christ or they
command us not to preach the Gospel of the grace of God, we must disobey
them. |
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By the
Holy Scriptures we are comforted, encouraged, taught, corrected and rebuked,
led in the paths of righteousness, and made wise for salvation through our
faith in Christ Jesus, the Son of God. Therefore we exhort the saints to meditate
on the Word of God continually, to put it into their heart, and to have it
ready on their lips, so that they may comfort one another with it and may teach
and admonish one another with all wisdom. Furthermore we exhort them to
divide the Word of God rightly, that is to say, to interpret it correctly, lest
they give place to false doctrines and be put to shame |
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