REFUGE FELLOWSHIP'S CORE BELIEFS

SCRIPTURE:

The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian belief and living. Because it is inspired by God, it has salvation for its end and is truth without any mixture of error.

GOD:

God is the Creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

MAN:

People are made in the image of God and are the supreme object of God's creation. All of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called sin. Sin separates people from God and causes many problems in life.

SALVATION:

Salvation is God's free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins at the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation forever.

THE CHURCH:

A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by their common faith and fellowship with Jesus. A local church is to observe the two ordinances: baptism and the Lord's Supper. The church should exercise their God-given gifts and extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. All members are equally responsible as they serve with the scriptural officers of the church, the pastors, and the elders.

BAPTISM BY IMMERSION:

We believe that scriptural baptism must be by being completely immersed in water and after salvation. Jesus was immersed and all baptisms in the New Testament were by immersion. These two facts set the standard for baptism today.

THE LORD'S SUPPER:

The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby believers remember the death of the Lord Jesus and anticipate His second coming. The bread is symbolic of His body and the juice represents His blood.