Statement of Beliefs

THE BIBLE

We hold firm in our belief that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament, is a divine revelation bestowed upon humanity by God Himself. These Scriptures originated from God, who chose to communicate with us through various individuals over the course of thousands of years. Thus, the Bible possesses the authority of God while also reflecting the unique backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of its human authors. We firmly affirm that these Scriptures are infallible and without error in their original form. They stand as the unparalleled, complete, and ultimate authority on all matters of faith and conduct, with no other writings inspired by God in a similar manner.

GOD

We firmly believe in the existence of one true God, eternally existing in three distinct persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – each possessing all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. God is the creator of all things and, through His sovereign power, continues to sustain His creation. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and omnipresent. God reigns as the supreme ruler over everything and everyone, deserving of all worship and adoration.

HUMANITY 

We firmly hold that all individuals are created in the image of God and are deeply cherished and valued by Him. Originally, humans were designed to enjoy a close relationship with God. However, this relationship was severed when humanity chose to rebel against God and live apart from Him. Consequently, every person is separated from God and desperately in need of divine intervention to rescue them from eternal separation. This intervention came in the form of Jesus Christ, who made it possible for every individual to be reconciled with God through His death and resurrection. Anyone and everyone can enter into a new relationship with God by placing their faith in Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection. Those who do so are saved from eternal separation and receive the gift of eternal life with God, which begins at the moment of their decision. This new life cannot be earned through personal merit or human effort; it is solely a gift of God's grace, received through faith in Christ and His redemptive work on the cross.

JESUS CHRIST 

We firmly believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, fully divine and fully human, the unique and only Son of God. Jesus, existing eternally before time, entered human history by being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a perfect life, fully obedient to God the Father, and willingly offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins. By dying on the cross as our substitute, Jesus satisfied divine justice and accomplished salvation for all who place their trust solely in Him. Jesus physically rose from the dead, triumphing over the power of death. He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus will return to earth in the future, visibly and personally, to bring history to its culmination and fulfill God's eternal plan.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We firmly believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply the saving work of Christ to humanity. The Holy Spirit possesses the characteristics of personality and is not merely a force or a ghost. He enlightens the minds of rebellious individuals, awakening in them an awareness of their need for a Savior. When they respond to His work, He grants them new life. At the moment of decision, the Holy Spirit permanently indwells every believer, serving as a guarantee of their salvation. He is the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom for all believers. The Holy Spirit uniquely equips each believer with spiritual gifts for the purpose of serving others and reaching out to a lost and needy world. He guides believers in understanding and applying the teachings of the Bible to their lives. Through the Holy Spirit, believers can live a life characterized by Christ-like virtues and produce spiritual fruit that brings glory to God.

AFTERLIFE 

We firmly believe that death seals the eternal destiny of each individual. For all humans, there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual realm and a judgment that will determine the fate of each person. Those who reject God's free gift of salvation through Christ will be eternally separated from Him. Conversely, those who accept God's free gift of salvation through Christ will be welcomed into eternal communion with God and rewarded for their good works in this life.

THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS

We firmly believe that, according to the Bible, the term "Church" does not refer to a physical building but rather to a community of people. We affirm the existence of one true universal Church, comprised of all those who acknowledge, accept, and follow Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. The Church, regardless of denominational distinctions or theological variances, recognises Jesus Christ as its supreme leader.

The Bible instructs disciples to gather regularly, devoting themselves to worship, prayer, teaching, service, fellowship, and outreach to the world. These gatherings represent local expressions of the universal Church, consisting of disciples who are united by the Holy Spirit and bound together by a love that transcends race, culture, nationality, gender, and age. While different local expressions may emphasise different aspects, all are commanded to make disciples, engaging in both evangelism and teaching obedience to all that Jesus taught.

Jesus commanded His followers to observe two sacraments – baptism and communion. These sacraments serve as visible signs representing spiritual truths and do not in themselves accomplish salvation. Baptism symbolizes the saving work of Jesus through His death, burial, and resurrection, as well as the transformative effect of this work in the believer's life. Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper, serves as a regular remembrance of Christ's atoning death. It involves partaking in simple, symbolic elements, such as bread and juice, representing the body and blood of Jesus.

We believe that giving is an act of worship and a way to support the work of God's Kingdom. We offer a variety of ways to give, including online giving, PayPal, and in-person giving. Click below to learn more about giving at Gospel Light Oromo Church.