GOD
We believe there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created out of nothing the world and all the things therein, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.
BIBLICAL SUPPORT
Genesis 1:1,
26-27,
3:22;
Psalm 90:2;
Matthew 28:19;
1 Peter 1:2;
2 Corinthians 13:14
COMMENTS
The Bible begins with the phrase, In the beginning, God… God has always existed—His nature and being are eternal. We also learn about God from His revelation to us that three distinct "persons” are called God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Because the Bible clearly teaches there is only one God (not three Gods), we understand that these three persons must fully share the one and only divine nature. We use the term "Trinity” to represent the teaching that God has a singular nature and exists eternally as three persons. This creative God desired to share the "community” that always existed within Him, so He made a universe that would reflect His attributes. All that He created is dependent on Him—He made it out of nothing, keeps it together, can reshape it, and is Master over it. God crowned His creation with man and woman, fashioned in His personal image, with whom He could have a relationship, and who could relate to each other. They would reflect His nature by exhibiting unity in the presence of diversity, love in the midst of differences, ruling while remaining submissive all at the same time.
God has been involved in the affairs of His creation from the very beginning, and continues to play an active role in relating to mankind, specifically in rescuing us from our rejection of His love and His legitimate right to be glorified as our Creator.
SOME PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Knowing God is our highest priority—substituting any activity or allowing any passion to become stronger is idolatry.
We treat creation as something wonderful that God has made; we neither abuse it, nor worship it; we seek to cultivate all that God has shared with us so it can be used to further His purposes, treating it as a stewardship from Him which must be preserved without becoming more important than the people He made to enjoy it.
We cannot agree with any teacher or religious group that rejects God’s revelation of Himself as Trinity (as is common among most cult groups).
We can count on God to be active throughout our lifetime; He will bring us good things, and He will turn evil things into some good; He works in our lives so we develop a vital relationship with Him based on deep trust that supersedes all other loyalties.
