At International, we believe that doctrinal positions matter but so does our posture of love and humility.

Regarding the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, we have unity. In non-essential beliefs, we preserve liberty. And in all things, we aim to show charity. 

We are committed to believing and teaching the following historic Christian doctrines:

GOD
God is the Creator and sovereign Ruler of the Universe. He is eternally existent in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are co-equal and are one God. Having limitless knowledge, sovereign power, and infinite love, God has graciously purposed to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new.

THE BIBLE

The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is God’s Word. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote it. Because it is God-breathed, the Bible is divinely inspired truth without any mixture of error. It is the supreme source of truth for Christians to believe and live.

GOD THE FATHER

God the Father is an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. He hears and answers prayer, concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of humanity, and sovereignly disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. The Father has orchestrated salvation from sin and death for all who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is God the Son and is co-equal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit and existed from eternity. He was virgin-born, being supernaturally conceived in Mary. He is truly God and truly man. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humankind by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power and victory over sin, Satan, and death. He ascended to the right hand of the Father and will return someday to Earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ. One of His roles in the world is to make humans aware of their need for salvation. He also comes to live in every Christian at the moment of salvation. He enables Christians to live with power, understand spiritual truth, and do what is right. He sanctifies Christians, endows each with spiritual gifts, and empowers them to live a godly life under His control.

HUMANITY
People are made in the image of God, to be like Him. God creates us as male and female, equally valuable and good, with different roles and purposes. Because people are made in the image of God, every person has inherent dignity, worth, and tremendous potential for good. However, sin entered the world through the Fall, humanity’s willful rebellion against God. Sin leads to death and separation from God. Marred by a sinful nature, all humans live in disobedience to Him and experience many problems in life. We are sinners by nature and choice, alienated from God, and under divine judgment.

SALVATION

Humans need to be saved from the penalty and power of sin. Because God loves us, He provides this salvation as a free gift to us, but we must accept it by faith alone in Jesus Christ. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works; only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued from God’s just judgment, reconciled with him, and spiritually renewed. We are saved when we believe Jesus, as our representative and sinless substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins and arose from the dead. Placing our faith in Christ alone, we receive forgiveness for sin and are raised to new life. Eternal life begins the moment of salvation and is eternally secure in Christ.

THE CHURCH

The true Church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true Church is manifested in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances for the Church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express what Christ does in and for us. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the Church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and spiritually nourish the believer.

CHRISTIAN LIVING
God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with love for one another, compassion toward the poor, and justice for the oppressed. We want all people to experience life as God intended. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

CHRIST’S RETURN
Christians anticipate the personal, bodily, and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The second coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service, and energetic engagement in God’s mission.

ETERNITY

Though God created people to exist forever, sin introduced death into the human experience.  When Jesus returns, God will raise the dead and judge the world. Those who have not accepted God’s invitation to believe the gospel by turning away from sin and receiving Jesus Christ will be eternally condemned to hell. Christians will experience perfect union with God and each other forever in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.

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