About New Life
Our Belief
Holy Bible:
The Holy Bible, and only the Bible, is the authoritative Word of
God. It alone is the final authority for determining all doctrinal truths.
The Bible is inspired, infallible and inerrant (see Prov. 30:5; Rom. 16:25,26;
2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20,21).
Trinity:
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son
(Jesus) and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and co-eternal (see Gen.
1:26; Isa. 9:6; Matt. 3:16,17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; Heb. 3:7-11; 1 John 5:7).
Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On
earth, Jesus was 100 percent God and 100 percent man. He is the only man ever
to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life,
performed miracles, died on the cross for humankind and, thus, atoned for
our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third
day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father,
and will return again in power and glory (see Isa. 9:6; John 1:1,14; 20:28;
Phil. 2:5,6; 1 Tim. 2:5; 3:16).
Virgin Birth:
Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit (the
third person of the Trinity) in the virgin Mary’s womb; therefore, He
is the Son of God (see Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18,23-25; Luke 1:27-35).
Redemption:
Humanity was created good and upright, but by voluntary transgression, it
fell. Humanity’s only hope for redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son
of God (see Gen. 1:26-31; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-21).
Regeneration:
For anyone to know God, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential
(see John 6:44,65).
Salvation:
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ: His death, burial and
resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works
or of any human effort (see Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:16; 3:8; Eph.
2:8,9; Titus 3:5; Heb. 9:22).
Repentance:
Repentance is the commitment to turn away from sin in every area of our lives
and to follow Christ, which allows us to receive His redemption and to be
regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Thus, through repentance we receive forgiveness
of sins and appropriate salvation (see Acts 2:21; 3:19; 1 John 1:9).
Sanctification:
Sanctification is the ongoing process of yielding to God’s Word and
His Spirit in order to complete the development of Christ’s character
in us. It is through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word
of God that the Christian is enabled to live a godly life (see Rom. 8:29;
12:1,2; 2 Cor. 3:18; 6:14-18; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:1-3; Heb. 2:11).
Jesus’ Blood:
The blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary was sinless and is
100 percent sufficient to cleanse humankind from all sin. Jesus allowed Himself
to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who
believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death (see John 1:29;
Rom. 3:10-12,23; 5:9; Col. 1:20; 1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5; 5:9).
Jesus Christ Indwells All Believers:
Christians are people who have invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come and live
inside them by His Holy Spirit. They relinquish the authority of their lives
over to Him, thus making Jesus the Lord of their lives as well as Savior.
They put their trust in what Jesus accomplished for them when He died, was
buried and rose again from the dead (see John 1:12; 14:17,23; 15:4; Rom. 8:11;
Rev. 3:20).
Baptism in the Holy Spirit:
Given at Pentecost, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father.
It was sent by Jesus after His Ascension to empower the Church to preach the
gospel throughout the whole earth (see Joel 2:28,29; Matt. 3:11; Mark 16:17;
Acts 1:5; 2:1-4,17,38,39; 8:14-17; 10:38,44-47; 11:15-17; 19:1-6).
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build
and sanctify the Church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection and
confirm the power of the gospel. The lists of these gifts in the Bible are
not necessarily exhaustive, and the gifts may occur in various combinations.
All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts
in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures
and should never be used in violation of biblical parameters (see Rom. 1:11;
12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; 14:1-40; Eph. 4:16; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:5-16; Heb.
2:4; 1 Pet. 4:10).
The Church:
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit,
with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus’ Great Commission.
Every person born of the Spirit is an integral part of the Church as a member
of the Body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our
Lord Jesus Christ (see John 17:11,20-23; Eph. 1:22; 2:19-22; Heb. 12:23).
- Two Sacraments -
Water Baptism:
Following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new convert is commanded by
the Word of God to be baptized in water in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (see Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38).4
The Lord’s Supper:
A unique time of communion in the presence of God when the elements of bread
and grape juice (the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ) are taken in
remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. (See Matt. 26:26-29; Mark
16:16; Acts 8:12,36-38; 10:47,48; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-26).
Healing of the Sick:
Healing of the sick is illustrated in the life and ministry of Jesus, and
included in the commission of Jesus to His disciples. It is given as a sign
that is to follow believers. It is also a part of Jesus’ work on the
cross and one of the gifts of the Spirit (see Ps. 103:2,3; Isa. 53:5; Matt.
8:16,17; Mark 16:17,18; Acts 8:6,7; Rom. 11:29; 1 Cor. 12:9,28; Jas. 5:14-16).
God’s Will for Provision:
It is the Father’s will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful
in all areas of life. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full
benefits of God’s will while on earth. That fact, though, should never
prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision
in order to serve others.
• Spiritual (see John 3:3-11; Rom. 10:9,10; 2 Cor. 5:17-21).
• Mental and emotional (see Isa. 26:3; Rom. 12:2; Phil. 4:7,8; 2 Tim.
1:7; 2:11).
• Physical (see Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Pet. 2:24).
• Financial (see Deut. 28:1-14; Josh. 1:8; Ps. 34:10; 84:11; Mal. 3:10,11;
Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-10; Phil. 4:19).
Resurrection:
Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body
three days after His death on the cross. As a result, both the saved and the
lost will be resurrected—they that are saved to the resurrection of
life, and they that are lost to the resurrection of eternal damnation (see
Luke 24:16,36,39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-28; 21:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:42,44;
Phil. 1:21-23; 3:21).
Heaven: Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the gospel
of Jesus Christ (see Matt. 5:3,12,20; 6:20; 19:21; 25:34; John 17:24; 2 Cor.
5:1; Heb. 11:16; 1 Pet. 1:4).
Hell:
After living one life on earth, the unbelievers will be judged by God and
sent to hell where they will be eternally tormented with the devil and the
fallen angels (see Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:43-48; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:12-15;
21:8).
Second Coming: Jesus Christ will physically and visibly return to earth for
the second time to establish His kingdom. This will occur at a date undisclosed
by the Scriptures (see Matt. 24:30; 26:63,64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17;
2 Thess. 1:7,8; Rev. 1:7).