COTW essential biblical beliefs
The following is a list of what the Coalition of the Willing (COTW) considers to be the essential biblical beliefs.
THE TRINITY (GODHEAD)
There is one God, co-existent, co-equal and co-eternal in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4). The Bible teaches that God is Triune (Trinity), which means God is one and in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This view of God is different than any other view of God in the world. Therefore, we believe that He is the foundation of all things. God experiences within the Trinity perfect love, joy, relationship, communication, etc.
THE Father
The first person of the Trinity orders and directs all things according to His own purpose and pleasure. He authored, created, and sustains all things in the universe without any means other than His own pure nature and power. By His grace, He involves Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all that come to Him through Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:9; Ephesians 1:3; John 5:19).
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
He existed eternally as the second person of the Trinity. By His virgin birth, He came to earth as fully God and fully man, and lived a sinless life. He authored, created, and sustains all things in the universe without any means other than His own pure power. His death on the cross paid the penalty for man’s sin, evidenced by His bodily resurrection from the dead. He physically ascended to the right hand of God the Father, and He will return in power and glory (John 1:14; Colossians 1:16; 2:9; Acts 2:33).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
He existed eternally as the third person of the Trinity. He convicts men of sins, regenerates, baptizes, indwells, instructs, and sets apart believers unto a holy life. We encourage all believers to seek a life of obedience to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We believe this step is essential for empowering believers for victorious living and ministry through the gifts given by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16).
THE BIBLE
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the complete, inerrant (without error), divinely inspired, infallible (trustworthy) Word of God. The Bible is the supreme authority and guide for our Christian faith and living (2 Peter 1:20; Hebrews 4:12). There are many ways we are to interact with God’s Word: Hear (2 Timothy 4:2), Read (2 Timothy 3:16-17), Study (2 Timothy 2:15), Memorize (Psalm 119:11), Apply (Ezra 7:10), Meditate (Psalm 119), and Obey (Joshua 1:8).
THE NATURE OF MANKIND
Mankind was created in God’s own image and likeness. He voluntarily fell into sin by personal disobedience to the will of God. As a result, apart from Jesus Christ, all people are spiritually dead or separated from God. The fall of humanity was a once-for-all historical fact. Its effect spread to all men, each of whom is born with a sinful nature and is in need of salvation (Ephesians 2:1; Romans 3:10, 23-24).
THE NECESSITY OF SALVATION
Salvation (justification) is by grace through faith, a gift of God not by works. Salvation (justification) includes repentance, a turning from one’s own way to God’s way. All who receive Jesus Christ are born again, regenerated (made new) by the Holy Spirit, and become the children of God. Our relationship with Christ is secure not by our actions but by the sustaining power and love of God. A changed life follows the work of God in a person’s salvation (sanctification) (Titus 2:11; 1 John 1:9; 1 Peter 2:2).
THE CHURCH
The church is the eternal body of believers, the bride of Christ, consisting of all born-again persons without respect to race, culture, age, or background. Directed by Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the church is taking the Good News of salvation to the whole world. Our fellowship is inclusive rather than exclusive and stresses love for God and one another, the unity of all believers, and obedience to the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-21; 3:10).
ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence (John 3:16; 14:1-4; Romans 6:23; 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15).