OUR VALUES

The Bible is God's written revelation to humanity, and thus the sixty-six books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary (inspired equally in all parts) Word of God. Jeremiah 23:28-29; 1 Corinthians 2:7- 14; 2 Peter 1:20-21 We believe the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31-32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32

There is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, redemption, and kingdom. Genesis 1:1, 26; John 1:1, 3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19-20; Ephesians 4:5-6

God the Father is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. We believe that He orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. Luke 10:21-22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:1-2; 2:5-6; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6; Isaiah 46:9-10 God the Father is the absolute and omnipotent ruler in the universe. He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. In His sovereignty, He is neither author nor approver of sin, nor does He waive the accountability of His creations. He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own, not based on anything we have done, but according to His own good pleasure. Genesis 1:1-31; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:36; 1 Timothy 6:13-16; Habakkuk 1:13; John 8:38-47; 1 Peter 1:17; James 1:13; Ephesians 1:4-6; 2:8-9

Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary, propitiatory (satisfaction of His Father's holiness, thereby averting His wrath) death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth. We believe Jesus Christ is coequal, consubstantial (i.e., having the same substance, nature, or essence), and coeternal with the Father. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26- 38; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 14:9; 20:28; Romans 8:46; 9:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30-31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9-10; Hebrews 1:8; 7:25; 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6-7; 2 Peter 1:1 In the Incarnation (God becoming man), Christ surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence, either in degree or kind. Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9 Jesus Christ represents humanity and deity in indivisible oneness. Micah 5:2; John 5:23; 14:9-10; Colossians 2:9 On the basis of the efficacy (effectiveness) of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, every genuine believer is freed from the punishment, the penalty, the power, and one day the very presence of sin; and that he/she is declared righteous (justification), given eternal life, and adopted into the family of God as his personal children. Romans 3:25; 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:14- 15; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18 In the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, God the Father displayed to His creation the deity of His Son and gave proof that He accepted the propitiatory work of Christ on the cross. Isaiah 53:10-12

The Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration. It is His work to indwell, sanctify, instruct, empower for service, and seal until the day of redemption for all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. He is a divine person, eternal, underived (having no beginning or source), possessing all the attributes of personality and deity. In all the divine attributes, He is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father and the Son. John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; John 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 2:15-20; Hebrews 10:15-16; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13

Humanity was directly and immediately created by God in His own image and likeness, free from sin, with a rational nature, intelligence, and volition; yet with a moral responsibility to the God who created him. Genesis 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Genesis 2:7, 15-25; James 3:9 God's intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God by bringing the culture of heaven to earth and enjoying Him forever. Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11 In Adam's sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God, humanity lost its innocence, incurred the penalty of immediate spiritual and impending physical death, became subject to the wrath of God, and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. Thus, every human being is utterly depraved and, having no recuperative powers to enable him to rescue himself, is hopelessly lost. Man's salvation is, therefore, wholly of God's grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; John 3:36; Romans 3:10-11, 23; 5:12; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 1:8; Ephesians 2:8-9 Since all humanity descended from Adam, a nature corrupted by Adam's sin has been transmitted to all of humanity (Jesus Christ, having no human father, being the only exception). All of humanity is thus sinful by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration, spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins, and by nature, children of God's wrath. Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12; Ephesians 2:1-3

Election: Election is the sole act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ all whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies. Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1-2 Sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of human beings to their Creator. Spiritually dead humanity, however, can never be considered righteous, and none will ever understand spiritual truths, much less ever seek after God on their own accord. Therefore, God's sovereign grace includes the only means of receiving the gift of salvation. God's sovereign election always results in what God determines. Therefore, all whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith and all who come in faith the Father will receive. Isaiah 55:6-7; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 3:10-18; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Peter 1:1; Ephesians 2:4-5; John 6:37-40, 44; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28-30; 9:11-16; Ephesians 1:4-11 When God grants grace to utterly depraved sinners, it is not related to any initiative of their own, nor to God's anticipation of what they might do by their own will, but is solely on the basis of His sovereign purpose and will. Ephesians 1:4-8; 2 Peter 1:1; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:1-2 Regeneration: Man was created by God in His own image; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical, spiritual and eternal death, which is separation from God; that as a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners and therefore under condemnation. We believe that those who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior and become new creatures, delivered from condemnation, and recipients of eternal life. Genesis 1:26; 5:2; Genesis 3; Genesis 2:17; 3:19; Ecclesiastes 2: 11; John 3:14; 5:24; John 5:30; 7: 13; 8:12; 10:26; Romans 9:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 19:3, 20; 20:10, 14-15; 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; 5:19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; John 3:16; John 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1 Regeneration is manifested, yet not proven by fruits consistent with repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works will be the proper evidence and fruit of genuine repentance. Matthew 7:18-21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:10 Justification: Justification is the act of God by which He declares man righteous. This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man and involves the imputation of our sins to Christ and the imputation of Christ's righteousness to us. By this means, God is able to "be just, and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:26).Romans 8:33; 3:20, 4:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:26 Sanctification: Every genuine believer experiences justification before God. Therefore, having been justified, we believe that in the daily life of the believer he/she is being progressively conformed to the likeness of Christ. In this respect, every saved person is involved in a daily conflict- the new creation in Christ rummaging through the old dead-man’s closet (indwelling sin). Even though all will still fall short as a new creation, their justification holds steadfastly through God’s grace. By this meaning, that no man is justified by his/her own works but by God through His son Jesus, in like manner no man can revoke his/her justification by works or the lack thereof. John 17:17, 19; Romans 6:1-22; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 5:23; Matthew 24:13 Perseverance of the Saints/Preservation by the Savior: All those regenerated by the Spirit of God will be likewise kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ. John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 5:9-10; 8:1,31-39; I Corinthians 1:4- 8; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 7:25; 13:5; I Peter 1:5; Jude 24 Paralleling the clear teachings concerning the security of the true believer, however, are also warnings to the professing church concerning the perseverance of those who claim the name of Christ (cf., Matthew 24:9- 13; Hebrews 10:23-39; Revelation 2-3). References to those who do "fall away" (Matthew 24:10), whose "love will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12) are references to men and women who claim that they are in Christ. They are not Christ taught that the Kingdom of God (the genuine elect of God) will be infiltrated with tares - those who claim and may even think that they are in Christ but, in reality, are not (Matthew 7:21; 13:24-30, 37-42). These professors or tares may be members of the church in general, but have never been true citizens of the kingdom of God. For these reasons, we believe that these warnings should be taken seriously by all of us who claim the name of Christ, including the leadership of Connect, "so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming" (1 John 2:28). Only the genuine elect of God will ever experience the promise of Christ "that of all that He [the Father] has given Me [Christ] I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day" (John 6:39). Therefore, we teach and encourage all who claim the name of Christ to "test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves" (2 Corinthians 13:5; cf., 1 Corinthians 10:12). It is the privilege of all genuine believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, but we also teach that God's Word clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality. Meaning all have a license to sin, yet how is it formitable or benificial? For that reason, we teach that "faith, if it has no works, is dead" (James 2:17). Romans 6:1-2,15-22; 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13, 25-26; Titus 2:11-14

The universal church is a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, ministry and fellowship. We believe that the reaction to the overflow of the worship will lead the members of the local church to declare and live out their life as a child of God in action and behaivor. Ephesians 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:23-25 Every child of God is baptized by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the bride of Christ, of which Christ is the Head. We also believe that the bride of Christ includes Old Testament saints (Isaiah 54:5-6; 62:4- 5; Hosea 2:19-20). 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23- 32; Revelation 19:7-8; Ephesians 1:22; 23; Colossians 1:18 The establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures and that the members of the one spiritual, universal body are directed to associate themselves together in local assemblies (1 Corinthians 11:18-20; Hebrews 10:25). Acts 13:1-3; 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Romans 16:1-5, 16; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1 The one supreme authority for the church is Christ and church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are elders (also called bishops, pastors, and pastor-teachers; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11). The local congregation is to submit to their leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17). The biblically designated officers serving the assembly under the direction of the elders are deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13). Both elders and deacons must meet biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5). Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18 We believe that these leaders who lead or rule "well" are worthy of double honor before the church, but likewise, those who continue to sin in a manner contradictory to the biblical qualifications while holding the office and responsibility of an elder must be publicly rebuked before the congregation for the purpose of making the church fearful of sinning (1 Timothy 5:17-22). We believe in the importance of discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2) and mutual accountability of all believers to each other (Matthew 18:5-14), Matthew 18:15-22; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; Titus 1:10- 16VIII. A Christian should live for the glory of God and the well being of his fellow men; his conduct should be blameless before the world; he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. Christians should live out a life that is Christ-centered and focused on being a child of God in His earthly kingdom. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 12:1-3; Hebrews 12:1- 2; John 14:15, 23-24; 1 John 2:3-6; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 1:9-10

The Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death and promise. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not believe these ordinances hold any salvific value; that is, they do not convey saving grace upon the recipient. Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Every human being is created in the image of God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority. 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 14:7-9, 12

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and in His eternal kingdom in heaven. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15