WHAT WE BELIEVE
The Doctrinal Statements of Faith of THEIOS DIVINUS ALTAR CHURCH (TDAC)
Rooted in the Word of God. Established in the Truth of Christ. Empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Our Foundational Beliefs
At THEIOS DIVINUS ALTAR CHURCH (TDAC), we believe that there are essential truths of the Christian faith upon which our doctrine, ministry, worship, fellowship, and Christian conduct must firmly stand. These foundational beliefs guide our understanding of God, His eternal purposes, the salvation of humanity, the mission of the Church, and the Christian life.
We are committed to ensuring that our teachings, ministries, publications, educational resources, and spiritual activities remain faithful and consistent with the foundational truths revealed in the Holy Scriptures.
We also recognize that Christian theology encompasses broader doctrinal questions that require careful study, prayerful reflection, spiritual discernment, and a sincere commitment to the truth of God's Word. Therefore, our resources are intended not only to communicate what we believe but also to help believers establish a biblically sound theology, grow in spiritual understanding, mature in their Christian faith, and deepen their knowledge of God and His Word.
We pursue this growth within a community of grace, where believers are encouraged to learn, serve, encourage one another, and walk together in the truth and love of Jesus Christ.
Our desire is to see every believer firmly grounded in Scripture, spiritually mature in Christ, fruitful in Christian service, and faithful to the calling of God.
The following statements summarize the principal doctrines and beliefs that guide the faith and ministry of THEIOS DIVINUS ALTAR CHURCH.
1. THE HOLY BIBLE — THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD
Our supreme authority for faith, doctrine, and Christian living
We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God and that the original writings of both the Old Testament and the New Testament are without error. We believe that Scripture constitutes the complete revelation of God's will concerning the salvation of humanity and serves as the divine and final authority for all matters of Christian faith and life.
When we affirm the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, we mean that the Bible is verbally and plenarily inspired by God, infallible in its divine purpose, and inerrant in its original writings. Its words are given by divine inspiration, and its entire message is authoritative for the faith and conduct of God's people.
We believe that the Holy Scriptures must not be added to, subtracted from, or superseded by any human tradition, personal opinion, philosophical system, or alleged revelation that contradicts their divine authority.
The Bible is the foundation and source of Christian doctrine, instruction, correction, and reproof. Through its teachings, God reveals His character, His purposes, His standards of righteousness, His plan of redemption, and His expectations for those who belong to Him.
We therefore affirm that the Scriptures contain everything necessary to guide believers in godliness, spiritual growth, moral integrity, and practical Christian conduct. Every teaching and ministry of THEIOS DIVINUS ALTAR CHURCH must be examined in the light of God's Word, with a sincere desire to understand and obey the truth.
Biblical foundation: 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Psalm 119:105; John 17:17; Revelation 22:18–19.
2. GOD THE FATHER — THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS
One God, eternally existing in three Persons
We believe in one true and living God, the Creator of all things, who is infinitely perfect, eternal, sovereign, and unchanging in His divine nature. We believe that the one God eternally exists in three distinct Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The Father is not a separate God from the Son or the Holy Spirit. Rather, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct Persons who share the one divine nature. Together, they are revealed in Scripture as the one God whom we worship, serve, and obey.
We acknowledge God the Father as the Creator of heaven and earth, the source of all creation, and the One whose purposes are accomplished according to His sovereign will. His wisdom, holiness, power, love, and faithfulness are without limit.
As His people, we are called to honor Him, trust His wisdom, submit to His will, and glorify His name in every aspect of our lives.
Biblical foundation: Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 13:14.
3. GOD THE SON — JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR
True God and true Man, our Redeemer, High Priest, and Advocate
We believe that Jesus Christ is both truly God and truly Man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, taking upon Himself human nature without ceasing to be divine.
According to the Scriptures, Jesus Christ willingly died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins. Through His death, He provided the atoning sacrifice necessary for our redemption. His sacrifice was not merely an example of love or suffering; it was central to God's saving work on behalf of humanity.
We further believe that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead, demonstrating His victory over sin and death. After His resurrection, He ascended bodily into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High.
There, He continues His heavenly ministry as our great High Priest and Advocate, interceding for His people and representing those who come to God through Him.
We confess Jesus Christ as Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, and the only Mediator between God and humanity. Our faith rests upon His person, His finished work, His resurrection, His present heavenly ministry, and His promised return.
Biblical foundation: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18–23; John 1:1, 14; Acts 1:9–11; Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 John 2:1–2.
4. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT — OUR COMFORTER, GUIDE, AND EMPOWERER
The divine presence who glorifies Christ and transforms believers
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to carry out God's saving and sanctifying work in the lives of believers.
In this present age, the Holy Spirit convicts humanity concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. He brings about the new birth in those who believe, regenerates the repentant sinner, and indwells those who belong to Christ.
We believe that the Holy Spirit guides, instructs, comforts, strengthens, and empowers believers to live godly lives and to serve God faithfully. He enables Christians to understand and apply the truth of God's Word, resist sin, cultivate spiritual maturity, and participate in the mission of the Church.
The Christian life cannot be lived according to God's will through human strength alone. Believers depend upon the Holy Spirit for spiritual transformation, faithful service, and the development of Christlike character.
We therefore acknowledge the Holy Spirit as essential to the life, ministry, worship, and spiritual growth of the Church. We seek to honor His presence, follow His guidance in accordance with Scripture, and live in a manner that glorifies Jesus Christ.
Biblical foundation: John 14:16–17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7–14; Romans 8:9–14; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 5:16–25.
5. MANKIND — CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
Human dignity, the reality of sin, and the necessity of salvation
We believe that human beings were created by God Himself in His image and likeness. Every human life therefore possesses dignity and significance because humanity is the work of the Creator.
However, we also believe that humanity fell into sin and became separated from God. Sin affected the human condition and left humanity in need of divine forgiveness, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal. Consequently, human beings cannot obtain salvation through their own wisdom, strength, goodness, or achievements.
We believe that salvation and spiritual life are received through personal, repentant, and obedient faith in Jesus Christ, together with the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
Humanity's greatest need is not merely external improvement but reconciliation with God and the transformation of the heart through the saving work of Jesus Christ.
We therefore proclaim the Gospel as God's gracious provision for fallen humanity and affirm that every person is invited to turn to Christ, receive His salvation, and enter into a restored relationship with God.
Biblical foundation: Genesis 1:26–27; Genesis 3:1–24; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1–5; Titus 3:5.
6. THE SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
The only foundation of our justification and salvation
We believe that the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead provide the only ground for the justification and salvation of all who believe in Him.
Jesus Christ took upon Himself the burden of our sins and offered Himself as the sacrifice through which redemption is made available to humanity. His death and resurrection stand at the very heart of the Gospel and constitute the foundation of our hope before God.
We believe that those who receive Jesus Christ through faith are born of the Holy Spirit and become children of God. This new relationship with God is not earned through human merit but is made possible through the grace of God and the redemptive work of His Son.
Justification is grounded in what Christ has accomplished, not in our ability to establish our own righteousness. Through faith in Him, believers receive forgiveness and are brought into a restored relationship with God.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ confirms His victory over death and assures believers that their hope rests in a living Saviour who has conquered the grave.
We therefore proclaim the crucified and risen Christ as the centre of our message, the foundation of our faith, and the only sufficient basis for reconciliation with God.
Biblical foundation: Isaiah 53:4–6; Romans 4:24–25; Romans 5:1, 8–9; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24.
7. SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT OF GOD, NOT THE RESULT OF WORKS
Saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ
We believe that salvation is the free gift of God, graciously provided through the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is not earned by human effort, good works, religious performance, personal achievement, or any claim of human merit. Salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8–9 declares:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
This passage establishes the foundation of our understanding of salvation: it originates in God's grace, is received through faith, and leaves no room for human boasting.
We believe that salvation rests entirely upon the merits of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No human being can earn the righteousness required to stand accepted before God by personal effort alone. Christ has accomplished what fallen humanity could never accomplish through its own works.
The biblical response to God's offer of salvation involves personal repentance, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the personal reception of Him as Lord and Saviour. Through faith in Christ, the believer is justified and, through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, is born again and brought into new life in God.
Repentance is a genuine turning away from sin toward God. Faith is a personal trust in Jesus Christ and in the saving work He has accomplished. Receiving Christ as Lord and Saviour means acknowledging His rightful authority and placing one's confidence in Him.
We emphasize that good works are not the price of salvation. Rather, they are the fruit that should follow a life transformed by God's grace. We are not saved because our works make us worthy; we are saved by grace and called to live in a manner that reflects the goodness, holiness, and love of the One who saved us.
Biblical foundation: John 1:12–13; John 3:3–8; Acts 2:38; Acts 16:30–31; Romans 3:24–28; Ephesians 2:8–10; Titus 3:4–7.
8. THE CHURCH — THE BODY OF CHRIST AND THE HABITATION OF GOD
One body under the lordship of Jesus Christ
We believe that the true Church is composed of all people who, through personal faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and brought into the body of Christ, of which Jesus Himself is the Head.
The Church is not merely a physical building, a religious organization, or a gathering of people. It is the spiritual community of those who belong to Christ, united through faith in Him and made alive by the Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church. Every local church or community of believers is responsible to govern its affairs under the authority of Christ and in accordance with the teaching of Scripture.
We understand the Church to be the Body of Christ and the habitation of God among His people through the Holy Spirit. It is a community in which believers worship God, receive instruction in His Word, exercise their God-given gifts, encourage one another, grow in holiness, and participate in the work of the Gospel.
We believe that every believer who has been born of the Spirit has a place within the Church, designated according to God's purpose. Each member is called to contribute to the spiritual life and mission of the body, recognizing that the Church is made up of many members who serve under one Head, Jesus Christ.
Within the Church, Christ continues His work in the lives of those whom He has called out of the world to belong to Him. He raises and equips ministers to serve His people and to participate in the Great Commission: to go into all the world and make disciples of every nation.
We therefore believe that the Church exists to glorify God, proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, nurture believers, serve humanity, and bear witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ.
Biblical foundation: Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 2:42–47; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Ephesians 1:22–23; Ephesians 2:19–22; Colossians 1:18.
9. THE ORDINANCES OF WATER BAPTISM BY IMMERSION AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
Public identification with Christ and remembrance of His sacrifice
We believe in the biblical ordinances of water baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. These ordinances were given to the Church as meaningful expressions of obedience to Christ, public testimony, remembrance, and participation in the life of faith.
A. Water Baptism by Immersion
We believe in water baptism by immersion, following the example of Jesus Christ when He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
Matthew 3:13–17 records:
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him…”
We understand water baptism as an outward sign of the work God has already begun in the life of the believer. It is a public testimony that the individual has placed faith in Jesus Christ and now identifies as belonging to Him.
Baptism symbolizes identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It expresses the believer's identification with Christ's death to sin and the new life that comes through His resurrection.
We believe that Christian baptism is administered in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in obedience to the command of Jesus Christ. We also affirm the importance of the name of Jesus in the proclamation of the Gospel and in the apostolic witness to faith in Him.
Baptism does not replace the saving work of Christ or become a means of earning salvation. Rather, it is an act of obedience and a public confession of faith by a person who has received the Gospel.
Biblical foundation: Matthew 3:13–17; Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3–5; Colossians 2:12.
B. The Lord's Supper
We believe in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, established by Jesus Christ as a sacred act of remembrance and participation in Him.
The Lord's Supper commemorates the death of our Lord Jesus Christ and is observed in remembrance of Him until He comes again. Through the bread and the cup, believers remember His body given for them and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins.
The Lord's Supper is a testimony to the central place of Christ's sacrifice in our faith and a proclamation of His death in anticipation of His return. It also expresses the believer's participation in Christ and the fellowship of His body, the Church.
We therefore approach the Lord's Supper with reverence, gratitude, self-examination, and renewed commitment to the One who gave Himself for our redemption.
Biblical foundation: Matthew 26:26–29; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.
10. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE — CONSECRATION, HOLINESS, AND GRADUAL MATURITY
Growing in Christ through grace, perseverance, and spiritual transformation
We believe that the Christian life is a life of consecration, devotion, holiness, and continuing spiritual growth. Having received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are called to walk with God, submit to His Word, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform their character and conduct.
Christian maturity is a progressive journey. Although believers are accepted by God through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, their practical experience of sanctification and spiritual growth continues throughout their earthly lives.
We recognize that Christians may continue to experience physical limitations, personal weaknesses, and shortcomings as they grow in maturity. These limitations remind us that the process of sanctification is still progressing and that our complete perfection is not achieved through human effort alone.
The Christian life is also marked by trials, tests, temptations, and spiritual warfare against a spiritual enemy. Believers must therefore remain watchful, steadfast in faith, committed to prayer, grounded in Scripture, and dependent upon the strength of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that those who abide in Christ Jesus and remain faithful to Him until death or His return have the promise of eternal blessing in the presence of God.
Our calling is not merely to begin the Christian journey but to continue growing in Christ, demonstrating love, righteousness, humility, perseverance, and faithful service.
Biblical foundation: John 15:4–5; Romans 12:1–2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22–25; Philippians 2:12–13; Hebrews 12:1–2; 1 Peter 1:15–16.
11. ESCHATOLOGY — THE RETURN OF CHRIST, THE RESURRECTION, AND FINAL JUDGMENT
Our hope in the coming King and the eternal purposes of God
We believe in the bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the bodily resurrection of the dead.
We believe that the return of Jesus Christ is a central promise of the Christian faith. The same Lord who died for our sins, rose bodily from the grave, and ascended into heaven will return in accordance with the Scriptures.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous. The resurrection of believers will lead to everlasting blessedness and joy in the presence of the Lord. The resurrection of unbelievers will lead to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.
We also affirm the biblical teaching concerning the millennium and the final judgment. At the final judgment, the eternal destiny of humanity will be revealed, and God's righteous judgment will be executed.
We believe that the final judgment will establish the eternal status of both the saints and unbelievers, with their standing before God understood in relation to the New Covenant and their relationship to Jesus Christ. Salvation is found in Christ, and our eternal hope rests upon God's saving work through Him.
The doctrine of the last things calls believers to live in readiness, holiness, faithfulness, and expectation. The promise of Christ's return encourages us to persevere in the faith, serve faithfully, and remain steadfast in the hope of eternal life.
Biblical foundation: Matthew 25:31–46; John 5:28–29; Acts 1:9–11; 1 Corinthians 15:20–26, 51–54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 20:1–15.
12. THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
Confidence in the saving power and keeping grace of God
We believe that those who are truly born of God and regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit are secure in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Our confidence rests not in the perfection of human performance but in the completed work of Christ, the faithfulness of God, and the keeping power of His hand.
John 10:28 declares:
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
This promise assures believers that eternal life is a present gift received through Jesus Christ, not merely a hope that begins after physical death. Although the human body will eventually die, the eternal life given by God is not extinguished by physical death. The believer's hope rests in Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life.
We believe that absolute and perfect righteousness is found in Jesus Christ. No person can establish perfect righteousness before God through personal goodness or human works. This is precisely why salvation is given as a gift of grace: Jesus Christ fulfilled the righteous requirements that humanity could never fulfill through its own efforts.
This truth does not make repentance, obedience, holiness, or good works unimportant. On the contrary, believers are called to repent continually, turn away from wrongdoing, pursue holiness, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform their lives.
Daily repentance reflects an ongoing desire to walk in the light of God's truth. Christians must sincerely strive to abandon sin and grow in righteousness, even while acknowledging that they may still have shortcomings and need God's mercy and correction throughout their earthly lives.
We believe that salvation extends beyond the imperfect record of a believer's works because its foundation is the grace of God and the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, good works remain important in the life of every believer. They are the fruit of faith, expressions of obedience, evidence of spiritual growth, and the basis for the rewards God promises to His people according to His Word.
We therefore distinguish between salvation and heavenly rewards. Salvation is God's gracious provision through Christ for entrance into eternal life; good works are the believer's response to that grace and are significant in relation to the rewards God gives. Good works do not purchase salvation or earn entrance into heaven, but believers are called to live faithfully and to do what is pleasing to God.
Once Saved, Always Saved
In keeping with this understanding of God's preserving grace, we affirm the doctrine commonly expressed as “Once saved, always saved.” We believe that when a person is truly born of God, regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and brought into a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ, that person is secure in God's saving purpose.
Nothing in heaven or on earth can separate God's people from His love in Christ Jesus. The security of the believer rests upon God's faithfulness and the saving work of His Son, not upon the claim that human beings can achieve sinless perfection through their own strength.
Romans 8:39 assures us that nothing in all creation can separate believers from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 3:15–16 declares God's promise of eternal life to those who believe in His Son. John 5:24 speaks of the believer's possession of eternal life and deliverance from condemnation, while John 11:25–26 presents Jesus Christ as the Resurrection and the Life.
These Scriptures strengthen our confidence in Christ and encourage us to remain rooted in Him, walk in obedience, pursue holiness, and live faithfully in the assurance of His promises.
We therefore proclaim that salvation is received by grace through faith, secured in the saving work of Jesus Christ, and accompanied by a transformed life that seeks to honour God.
Biblical foundation: John 3:15–16; John 5:24; John 10:27–29; John 11:25–26; Romans 8:31–39; Ephesians 1:13–14; Ephesians 2:8–10; 1 Peter 1:3–5.
OUR COMMITMENT TO BIBLICAL TRUTH
At THEIOS DIVINUS ALTAR CHURCH, we remain committed to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, upholding the authority of the Holy Scriptures, honouring God the Father, exalting Jesus Christ the Son, and depending upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
We seek to nurture a community of believers who are firmly grounded in sound doctrine, united in Christ, growing in holiness, serving faithfully, and participating in the Great Commission.
We recognize that sound doctrine must shape not only what we confess with our mouths but also how we worship, how we treat one another, how we serve our communities, and how we live before God. Therefore, we endeavour to combine biblical truth with genuine love, spiritual maturity, humility, integrity, and compassionate service.
Our desire is to see lives transformed by the Gospel, believers established in the truth, families strengthened through Christian faith, ministers equipped for service, and communities reached with the hope of Jesus Christ.
We invite every believer and seeker to examine these statements prayerfully in the light of the Holy Scriptures, to grow in the knowledge of God, and to pursue a life of faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ.
May everything we believe, teach, and practise bring glory to God and bear witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
THEIOS DIVINUS ALTAR CHURCH (TDAC)
The Fire Must Be Kept Burning on the Altar.
Leviticus 6:13