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| 1. Scripture: The Bible is the Word of God, written as a "God-breathed" revelation. It is thus verbally inspired and completely without error (historically, scientifically, morally, and spiritually) in its original writings. The Bible is God's complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life. (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21.) |
| 2. God: There is one true God, Creator of all things, eternal and personal, the transcendent Creator and sovereign Sustainer of the universe, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each of these three persons equally shares all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality, and are therefore the same God, coequal in power, nature, and glory. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:18; John 1:1-3,18; Acts 5:3,4.) |
| 3. Person of Christ: Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. We also believe in his eternal preexistence, His attesting miracles, His sinless life, His sacrificial death on the cross, His glorious bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, and His present work in heaven as High Priest and Advocate. Hence, He is perfect deity and true humanity united in one person forever. He will return in glory to resurrect and judge all mankind. (John 1:1,14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:30-37; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:6-11; I Corinthians 15:3,4.) Further, His sinless life and voluntary atonement for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, satisfied divine justice and accomplished salvation for all who trust in Him alone. (I John 3:5; I Peter 3:18; John 10:9,17-18, 14:6; II Corinthians 5:21; I John 4:10; Romans 3:24-26.) |
| 4. Person of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit reveals and glorifies Christ and applies the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws people to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. He guides, gifts as he determines, instructs and empowers the believer for godly living and service. (John 3:5-8; 16:7-15; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:2-4,9; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; I Corinthians 6:19; 12:1-11; Galatians 3:2-3.) Further, every believer is called to, and can live in the power of the indwelling Spirit so that he can live victoriously, and will not fulfill the lust of the flesh and it's consequences, but will bear fruit to the glory of God. (Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 2:6-10; John 1:16; 2 Peter 1:2,3; Romans 6-8.) |
| 5. Mankind: Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God, and is therefore lost and alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation. As a result man and his descendants became guilty, are subject to sin’s power and consequences, inclined toward disobedience to God’s law, and unable to please God apart from his saving grace. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:15-17; 3:1-24: Romans 5:12-21; I Corinthians 15:21-22.) |
| 6. Salvation: Salvation is wholly a work of God's grace apart from any human merit based solely on Christ’s saving work. It is deliverance from alienation, bondage, guilt, and death, as well as restoration to fellowship, righteousness, life, and freedom, for all who by faith alone, trust in Jesus Christ, and him alone. Only those who receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and, thus, become children of God. It is expressed in a lifetime of developing holiness, obedience, service, and love. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:21-26; ch.6-8; 9:30-33; Galatians 3:11-14,22-24; John 1:12; Hebrews 10:14.) |
| 7. The Church: The calling and purpose of the Church and every believer is to be, and make disciples of Christ, from all nations. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all living and dead believers, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly in large and small groups for: worship, mutual encouragement, to demonstrate his gracious character in the world by proclaiming the gospel, equipping for service, observing the ordinances*, maintaining the unity, purity and health of the local church, and seeking to apply the truths of Scripture to the needs of all people. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:46, 5:42, 20:20; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11-16; 5:23-32; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Timothy 4:13; II Timothy 3:16; 4:2; Hebrews 10:23-25; Acts 2:42; 20:7; I Corinthians 12:20-28; 16:1-2.) *Ordinances: Water baptism and the Lord's Supper are to be observed by the Church during this present age. They are not, however, to be regarded as a means of salvation. |
| 8. Future Things: We believe the Lord Jesus Christ at the end of this age will return, personally, bodily, and visibly to establish his glorious reign in a kingdom that will never end. As the sovereign Lord, He will resurrect and judge all humanity. Those who have received His offer of eternal life through the Gospel will go to eternal blessings in heaven; those who have rejected the truth, to everlasting conscious suffering, punishment, justice, and ultimate restraint in hell. We look forward to the blessed hope, Christ's Second Coming in glory. (Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21; Revelation 19:1-22; 21; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:23-29; Matthew 13:40-43.) |