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MEMBERSHIP
The reason for us calling the congregation of Bosko Christian Church 'The family' is emphasized in
Ephesians 3:14-15: "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from
whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named...". A family is not a place where
you 'sign in'. A family is a place where you BELONG...
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We, at Bosko, firmly believe that the Body of Christ is not "one" in the unity of doctrine,
but in the unity of faith. We limit "dogma" to the basic tenets of Christianity and accommodate
any doctrine which is not contrary to such essential requirement for salvation. For the benefit of
the enquirer however, we will outline some of the doctrines we believe to be Biblical.
The Word of God - We believe that the scriptures, both Old and New Testament,
are inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man; the infallible, authoritive rule of faith
and conduct (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 10:17). The Bible is inerrant, it contains no contradictions
and no error. All scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, God, the Holy Spirit,
inspired the authors of scripture, revealing to them what he wanted written (Exodus 34:27; 2 Peter
1:20-21; 1 Cor 2:13; 14:37; Jeremiah 30:1-2)
The Godhead - We believe God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable
in his being, goodness, wisdom, power, holiness, justice and truth, and in Whom all things have their
source, support and end (John 4:24; Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1-3; Psalms 103:8-13; 145:8-9).
There is one God, yet he is big enough to exist and manifest himself as three personalities:
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; all distinct, all designated God (Romans 1:7; Hebrews
1:8; Acts 5:3-5)
Jesus Christ - We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he is
the Son of God, God in the flesh. We believe in his virgin birth, in his sinless life, in his miracles,
in his atoning death as our substitute, in his bodily resurrection and in his ascension to the right hand
of the Father (John 1:1-3,18). Jesus Christ is not "a" son of God, but "the" Son of God (John 1:14,18;
Hebrews 1:8; John 5:20). The birth of Christ was supernatural and not natural as in the case of all other
men. Jesus was "virgin-born" of the Holy Spirit, without a human father (Matthew 1:18,23; Isaiah 7:14).
Jesus died for all men, his blood is the only redemption from sin (Titus 2:13; Matthew 20:28;
1 Peter 1:18; 1 Tim 2:5,6; 1 Peter 3:18). Jesus Christ did not only rise spiritually, nor just as a
spirit being, but he rose bodily from the dead and is alive forever, representing us before the throne
of God as a our High Priest and Advocate (Luke 24:39; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 2 Corinthians 4:14;
1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The doctrine of the resurrection - and man's identification with Christ in His resurrection -
is the foundation on which Christianity rests.
As Paul wrote: "And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is a delusion and you are still lost
in your sins (1 Corintians 15:16-17). See also Acts 4:33 and Romans 8:11.
Holy Spirit - We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, separate and
distinct from God the Father and God the Son (2 Corinthians 13:13; Acts 10:30). The Holy Spirit is not
an impersonal force, not a mere influence, but possesses full, distinct personality. This is the clear
and unmistakable teaching of scripture (Ephesians 4:30). The Holy Spirit is personal and is God, the
third person of the Godhead (John 14:16; 16:7-8; Acts 5:3-4)
The fall of man and God's goodness - we believe that God created man and woman
for the sole purpose of loving them. He created them (humanity) in His image, according to His likeness and
therefore perfect in their ways. Humanity then chose to rebel against God and chose the path of death.
From that moment on God dedicated time and eternity to the sole aim of restoring His relationship with "man"
and woo him back to the loving relationship that once was. (Gen.1:26-27; Gen.2:17; Romans 2:4; 1 John 4:16)
Eternal Life and the New Birth - We believe the Bible teaches that eternal
life is a free gift of God to all those who believe in Jesus Christ and call on His name.
Those who receive Christ by grace through faith have their sins forgiven and become children of God, a new creation
in Christ Jesus (Titus 3:4-7; John 1:12-13; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
Salvation - We believe salvation is by grace, through faith.
No one can add anything to the completed work of Christ to receive it. It is received through faith
and faith alone (Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is the hand that offers the gift of eternal
life, but faith is the hand that takes it. Man is justified by faith in the redeeming blood of Jesus
Christ, resulting in the supernatural work of the new birth (Colossians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Man is not justified by trying to keep the ten commandments. He is not justified by works, by
self-effort, natural enhancement or development from within
(Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:20,28; Galatians 2:16). Man is justified by God's immense love and desire to
have His creature with Him - and going along with it!
Sancification (to be made holy, purified) - We believe in the
doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace (2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinth 3:18;
1 Thess 3:13; 5:23; 1 John 3:2). Sanctification is realized in the believer who recognizes his
identification with Christ by constantly reviewing his own reflection in the mirror of God's Word.
Using the supernatural power of such Word to "renew" his mind and "remold" his life so that, by faith,
he can constantly offer every faculty to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:17-23;
Romans 6:6-14; 15-22).
Water Baptism - We believe that baptism in water is by immersion and
is a direct commandment of our Lord. It is for believers only. The ordinance is:
a) A symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection,
b) A public confession of the new believer's faith in Christ. Water baptism is an outward declaration
of an inward condition (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-10; Acts 16:31-33; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).
Baptism by immersion is commanded in the scriptures.
All who repent and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized.
Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised
with him to walk in newness of life. We believe that when water baptism is approached in obedience,
faith and a right heart, it will produce a supernatural purification in the life of the believer
(Exodus 14:28).
Baptism in the Holy Spirit - We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit,
empowering and equipping believers for service, with the accompanying activation of supernatural gifts
of the Holy Spirit (Mark 16:17; Acts 1:8; 2:4,38-39). All believers are entitled to and should expect
the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, as Jesus told us to. This was the normal
experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the endowment of power for life and
service, the energizing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and their uses in the work of the ministry.
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the the experience of the new birth
(Acts 8:14-17; 19:2).
THE NAME BOSKO
The word "bosko" is the Greek word used in the original scripture of John 21:15 for the English word
"feed" - " ...Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?'
He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, feed (Bosko) my lambs.'"
The feeding of His lambs is both literal in the actual feeding of the "underprivileged" and
metaphorical of the "feeding" of God's Word to His people as described in Matthew 4:4:
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God"
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