Jesus, the Bible and us

 He has eternally existed as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three are coequal and are one God. 

(Genesis 1:1, 26, 27, 3:22, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19)

He is coequal with the  Father and Holy Spirit. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered  Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a  cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power  over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday  to earth to reign as King. 

(Matthew 1:22, 23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-5, Hebrews 4:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:3-4, Acts 1:9-11, Colossians 2:9-10, 1 Timothy 6:14-15)

 The Holy Spirit is  coequal with the Father and Jesus the Son of God. He is present in the world  to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He provides  Christians with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and  guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts  when they are saved. As Christians we seek to live under His control  daily.

( Acts 1:8, John 14:16-17, 16:7-13, Galatians 5:25, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16, Ephesians 1:13, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2)

The Bible was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, and thus it is the living Word of God. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs about living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without error.

( 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6, Proverbs 30:5, Isaiah 55:11)

People are made in the  spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Although every  person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin." Sin separates us from  God and causes many problems in our life.

( Genesis 1:27, Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:23, Isaiah 59:1-2, Psalm 139:13-16, Colossians 2:13-15)

We can never make up for our sin by  self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in 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 the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his  life by faith.

( Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6, Romans 5:1, 5:8, 10:9-10)

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 eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and hell are real  places of eternal existence.

( John 3:16, 14:17, Romans 6:23, Revelation 20:15, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 25:31-34 , Matthew 25:41)

Once  we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, baptism is a way for us  to publicly declare our new life in Christ. It is also a step of  obedience based on God’s commands and allows us to follow the example of  Jesus, who submitted himself to baptism to "fulfill all righteousness.”  Through baptism we declare our new identity in Christ, and our new  identity as part of his people, the Body of Christ, aka, the church.

( Matthew 3:16-17, 28:18-20, Acts 2:41, 8:12, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12)

"Accept the one whose  faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are  you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master servants stand  or fall… So then each of us will give an account of ourselves to God… So  whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and  God." 
Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22

"I have the right to do anything," you  say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do  anything"--but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their  own good, but the good of others. 
1 Corinthians 10:23-4

The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC)—a  rapidly growing multi-ethnic denomination in the United States and  Canada with ministries on five continents of the world. Founded in 1885  by Swedish immigrants, the ECC values the Bible as the Word of God, the  gift of God's grace and ever-deepening spiritual life that comes through  faith in Jesus Christ, the importance of extending God's love and  compassion to a hurting world, and the strength that comes from unity  within diversity.

What makes the Covenant unique from other  denominations is the fact that while it strongly affirms the clear  teaching of the Word of God, it allows believers the personal freedom to  have varying interpretations on theological issues that are not clearly  presented in Scripture.