Our Core Beliefs

What We Believe

“In the essentials, we need unity; in the non-essentials we need liberty; but in all things we need charity.” (Rupert Meldenius)

At Sonrise International we sincerely try to follow the Bible, its teachings, and the leading of the Holy Spirit. However, our ability to logically figure everything out is not the basis of our acceptance before God, but rather what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. As we have come to know God’s story through Scriptures, we have agreed on the following core beliefs:

There is one true, holy God, who has eternally existed in three distinct persons, as the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are co-equal and co-eternal. In the beginning God created all things out of nothing, demonstrating His power, wisdom, and goodness. Out of His absolute love, He is sustaining His creation and operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes. (Genesis 1:1, 26, Matthew 28:19, 3:16-17, Luke 1:35, Isaiah 9:6, Ephesians 3 :9-11)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, co-equal with the Father. Jesus Christ on earth was 100% man and 100% God, conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary, a virgin. 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 rose from the dead after three days, demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return. (John 1:1-5, 14, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Acts 1:9-11, Philippians 2:5-6, Hebrews 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:5, 3:16, Matthew 1:18, 20,23, Luke 1:27-35, Isaiah 7:14)

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to persuade men everywhere of their need for Jesus Christ and to empower the Church, Christ’s body, to be effective witnesses to every people group, resulting in disciples being made among them, thus fulfilling the Great Commission. He indwells every Christian, empowering them to walk in the obedience of faith in life, understand the spiritual truth He teaches them, and follow Jesus. He distributes spiritual gifts to each believer as He wills to empower them for service. (Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 3:17, John 16:7-13, 14:16-17, 1 Corinthians 2:12-13, 3:16, 12:4-11, Ephesians 1:13, 5:18)

The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, authoritative Word of God originated entirely by God through chosen men. Though the Scriptures reflect the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors, they speak with the authority of God and 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. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)

People are made in the image of God to enjoy a relationship with Him and be like Him in character. However, all have sinned and separated themselves from God, becoming alienated in our relationships with Him through our attitudes and actions of disobedience. Incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own efforts because of our sin, we are dependent on Him for His solution. His solution is found in the Person of Jesus. (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7, Romans 3:23, 6:23, John 14:6)

We are reconciled with God through faith in Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. His blood shed on the cross of Calvary is sufficient to cleanse us of all sins when appropriated individually through repentance and faith. Our salvation is an unearned and unmerited gift to us from God out of His grace, as opposed to any good works or efforts. (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16, Galatians 2:16, 3:8, Titus 3:5, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31, Hebrews 9:22, 1 John 1:7, Revelation 1:5, 5:9)

The Church is the living expression of Christ on earth, and He is the head of it. There is one true, universal church, made up of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is not defined by the limits of any particular denomination or organization but includes all true believers in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers the Church throughout the world through His presence in individual believers. The purpose of the Church is to glorify God by loving Him, loving each other and loving the lost. The Church is also charged with the responsibility of making Christ known to a lost world. (Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22, 5:23, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:12)

The Scriptures state that God created man and that He created them male and female. As such He created them different so as to complement and complete each other. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. Therefore, we believe a marriage is biblically defined between a man and a woman only. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 4:16-18; Romans 1:18- 32; I Corinthians 5:11, 6:9-11, 6:18-20, 7:1-3 and 7:8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:9-11)

We are eternal beings. Jesus Christ was physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body and lives on eternally. One day all people will be resurrected to stand before God. Those whom Christ acknowledges as His own will spend eternity in His presence. Those whom He does not acknowledge will spend eternity in hell without Him. (Luke 24:15, 26, 39, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 2 Corinthians 5:10, John 2:19-21, 20:26-28, 21:4, Acts 24:15).