我們信仰的唯一基礎是聖經,由新舊約六十六卷書所組成。我們相信全部聖經皆源出於神,是藉著祂所揀選的人寫成的。因此,聖經同時帶有神的權威,亦反映了人類作者的背景、寫作風格及詞彙。我們堅信聖經的原稿是絕對真確、毫無謬誤的(infallible and inerrant)。聖經在一切信仰與生活實踐上,是獨一、完備且最終的權威;除聖經以外,再沒有其他著作同樣是神所默示的。
The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated from God and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. Scripture thus at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.
我們相信有一位獨一、聖潔的真神,以聖父、聖子、聖靈三個位格永恆地存在(即三位一體)。每一個位格都同等擁有神性的一切屬性與位格的特徵。起初,神從無中生有創造了世界和其中的萬物,從而彰顯了祂的能力、智慧與良善的榮耀。藉著祂的主權與大能,祂持續托住並維持祂的創造。藉著祂的護理和供應(providence),祂在整個歷史中運行,以成就祂救贖的旨意。
We believe that 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.
神在聖經中啟示的中心目的,是要呼召人與祂相交(建立契合的關係)。人類最初被造是為了與神相交,但人卻悖逆了神,選擇偏行己路,因此與神隔絕,並承受了本性敗壞的後果。人類的救恩完全是出於神白白的恩典,絕不是(無論是全部或部分)源於人的善行。人必須藉著悔改,並相信基督已成就的救贖工作,才能親自領受這救恩。當神在任何人心中動了拯救的善工,祂在聖經中保證,祂必繼續成全這工,直到這救恩完全實現的日子。
The central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his independent way, and was thus alienated from God and suffered the corruption of his nature. The salvation of mankind is wholly a work of God’s free grace, not the result, in whole or in part of human works of goodness, and must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in His Word that He will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation.
耶穌基督是神永恆的兒子,是三位一體中的第二位格。祂藉著奇妙的感孕及童貞女所生,將神性與真實的人性永遠結合。祂在世上過了一個完全順服天父的生活,並甘願作為代替者,死在十字架上為眾人贖罪。這滿足了神公義的要求,並為所有單單信靠祂的人成就了救恩。祂從死裡復活,升天,坐在父神的右邊,不斷地為屬祂的人代求。祂必親自、帶著肉眼可見的榮耀再次降臨地上,以終結歷史並成就神永恆的計畫。
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
與耶穌基督建立真實救恩關係的必然結果,是過聖潔與順服的生活;這是信徒藉著順服三位一體中的第三位格——聖靈,而達成的。聖靈由聖父與聖子差遣到世上,將基督的拯救工作應用在人類身上。祂光照罪人的心靈,喚醒他們認識到自己對救主的需要,並使他們重生。祂永遠內住於每一位信徒心中,成為確據、力量與智慧的源頭,並獨特地賜予每位信徒不同的屬靈恩賜,以建立基督的身體(教會)。聖靈引導信徒明白並應用聖經。信徒藉著信心支取聖靈的能力與引導,使他們能夠活出基督般的品格,並結出果子來榮耀父神。
The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to humankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the up building of the body. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father.
死亡定準了每個人永恆的結局。全人類的身體都必復活,並要面對審判,這審判將決定每個人的最終命運。不信的人將與神隔絕,進入定罪與刑罰之中。信徒將被接到新天新地中,與神享受永恆的契合,並將因今生所作的工得著賞賜。
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all humankind, there will be a resurrection of the body and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God in the new heaven and new earth and will be rewarded for works done in this life.
信徒與耶穌基督聯合的結果,是成為祂身體(即教會)的肢體。宇宙中只有一個真實的普世教會,由所有承認耶穌基督為救主和生命之主的人所組成。聖經吩咐信徒要聚集在一起,委身於敬拜、祈禱、教導神的話語、遵守耶穌基督所設立的洗禮和聖餐禮儀、團契相交、服事教會肢體,並在世上作好管家。無論在哪裡,神的子民若順服這命令而經常聚集,那裡便是教會在地方上的彰顯。在牧者的帶領下(牧者蒙賜予裝備神子民參與事奉的責任),教會成員蒙召去完成大使命。
The result of union with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body, the church. There is one true church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of Baptism and communion as the sacramental ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body and stewardship of the world. Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the leadership of pastors, who are given the responsibility to equip God’s people for ministry, its members are called to fulfill the Great Commission.