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Inasmuch as Naples Christian Academy
is interdenominational and theologically conservative,
the basis of the Academy is the Word of God and the
great fundamentals of Christianity found in the following
unalterable, irreducible essentials of the Christian
faith:
The Bible, consisting
of the original texts of the Old and New Testaments,
is the inspired Word of God, the written record of
His supernatural revelation of Himself to man, absolute
in its authority, complete in its revelation, final
in its content, and free from any error or defect.
(II Timothy 3:16)
There is one God who exists in three persons, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, eternal in being, identical
in essence, equal in power and glory, and having the
same attributes and perfection. God is the self-revealed
Creator, Upholder, Governor, and Lord of the universe.
He is eternal in his self-existence and unchanging
in his love, goodness, justice, wisdom, and faithfulness.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14)
Creation was a direct
act of God as set forth in the Bible. Man was created
by God in the image and likeness of God and is not
in any sense the product of evolution. Man inherited
a sinful nature due to the disobedience of the first
man, Adam, and as a result, mankind became alienated
from God and is totally unable without God's grace
to reestablish a relationship with God. This sinful
nature separates mankind from God, resulting in spiritual
death, and there is not hope for salvation, eternal
life, or a right relationship with God without the
loving, supernatural intervention of God. (Genesis
1:26, 3:1-25; Romans 3:23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:12)
The Lord Jesus Christ,
the eternal and only Son of God, became man, without
ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy
Spirit and miraculously born of the Virgin Mary, in
order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man.
Jesus showed His power and love by working might miracles
that were not contrary to nature but superior to it.
Jesus was crucified, died, and rose from the dead
with the same body with which He suffered. He ascended
into heaven, where He is with God the Father and fulfills
the ministry of intercession and advocacy. Jesus will
come again to earth the second time personally, bodily,
and visibly. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:16-38; John
1:1-3, 14; Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 15:1-8; Philippians
2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation
1:7)
Salvation of people
is available as a free gift of God, by His grace alone,
and is based solely upon Christ's death and finished
work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
No works of man play any part in salvation. God accomplished
man's redemption through the death of Jesus on the
cross as a substitutionary sacrifice. Salvation is
received by faith. Persons who receive Christ and
His salvation by faith become completely forgiven,
spiritually alive, right with God, born of the Spirit,
children of God, new creations in Christ, and heirs
of eternal life with God. (John 1:12-13; 3:16-17;
Romans 5:1; 10:9-13; I Corinthians 15:17; II Corinthians
5:21; Ephesians 1:7, 2:1, 8-10)
The Holy Spirit
convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
He regenerates believers in Christ, lives within believers
permanently, empowers believers to live godly lives,
and gives spiritual gifts to every believer to be
used for God's purposes. (John 14:16-19; 16:77-15;
Romans 8:9, 11; I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:14-14;
Titus 3:5)
The church,
or the body of Christ, is composed of all true believers
in Him, that is, those who have received Christ by
faith, regardless of denominational affiliation or
church membership. The mission of the church is to
fulfill the command of Jesus to make disciples of
all nations. (Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 12:4-27;
Ephesians 1:22-23)
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