WE BELIEVE
The Scripture is the infallible Word of God.
The Scripture, the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament are the infallible Word of God, source and rule of all our faith and practice. (a) They are designed to lead us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. They are fully inspired by God and therefore serve as an authoritative guide for Christian understanding, life and ministry. (b) The Scriptures accordingly in all that they affirm are without error, in the whole and in the part, and therefore are completely trustworthy. (c) The Scriptures are not to be added to, superseded or changed by latter tradition or supposed revelation. (d) Every doctrinal formulation whether of creed, confession or theology must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in the Holy Scripture. (e) All redemptive understanding of the Scriptures depends upon the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the most accurate, factual knowledge attained through exegesis, exposition and interpretation does not bring about conversion or spiritual comprehension without the Holy Spirit creating understanding through the Word and applying its message to the heart. (f)
(a) Psalm 119:89, 105 (b) II Timothy 3:15-17 (c) John 10:35, 17:17; Matthew 24:35 (d) Isaiah 8:20; Galatians 1:8-9 (e) Matthew 22:29-33; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 28:23 (f) I Corinthians 2:7-16.
God is Triune.
There is but one God infinite, eternal, almighty and perfect in holiness, truth and love. (a) In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-existent, co-eternal. (b) The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Holy Spirit, yet each is truly deity. One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the foundation of Christian faith and life. (c)
(a) Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4,6; Isaiah 44:6-8, 57:15; 1 John 4:8; Genesis 17:1; Psalm 145:3 (b) Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; I Corinthians 12:4-6; II Corinthians 13:14 (c) John 14:23-26, 15:26, 16:13-15.
God is the Creator of heaven and earth.
God is the Creator of heaven and earth. (a) By His Word all things were made, and through the same Word He daily sustains all His creatures. (b) He is faithful to every promise, works all things together for good to those who love Him and in His unfathomable grace He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, for mankind’s redemption. (c) He made man for fellowship with Himself and intended that all creation should live to the praise of His glory. (d)
(a) Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3; Psalm 33:9 (b) John 1:3,10; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2-3; Psalm 147:14-16 (c) Psalm 147:13; Romans 8:28; John 3:16 (d) Romans 11:36; Revelation 4:11.
Male and Female was created in the image of God.
4. Man—male and female—was created in the image and likeness of God. (a) Through the original sin of man, Adam and Eve, mankind has fallen from God, becomes corrupt in his whole nature and is totally incapable by himself of returning to God. (b) Fallen sinful men, whatever their character or attainments are lost without hope apart from salvation in Christ. (c)
(a) Genesis 1:26-27 (b) Romans 5:12, 16-17; Jeremiah 17:9; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 6:44 (c) John 3:3-7; Acts 4:12.
Jesus Christ is fully God
Jesus Christ the Son is fully God and fully man: the only Savior for the sins of the world. (a) He was the Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary and was perfect in nature, teaching and obedience. (b) He died on the cross as the vicarious sacrifice for all mankind, rose from the dead in His own glorified body, ascended into Heaven and will return in glory. (c) He is the head of His body (the Church), Victor over all the powers of darkness and now reigns at the right hand of the Father. (d)
(a) John 1:1, 20-28; Colossians 1:19; I Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 2:14-18 (b) John 1:14, 8:29; Matthew 1:18, 22-23; Luke 1:35 (c) John 19:33-37; Romans 4:24-25; I Corinthians 15:1-3; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24; I John 2:2; Acts 1:9; I Thessalonians 4:16-17 (d) Colossians 1:18, 2:15; Hebrews 1:3-4.
Salvation is a gift of God provided through faith in Jesus Christ.
Salvation, the gift of God, is provided solely by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (a) Turning from sin in repentance, looking to Christ and His vicarious death, man is born anew into eternal life by the Holy Spirit. (b) There is no other name except Jesus Christ by which men may be saved. (c) Through His great redemptive act there is forgiveness of sin, liberation from bondage to the world and freedom in His Spirit. (d)
(a) Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:1 (b) Acts 2:38; 3:19-21, Titus 3:4-7 (c) Acts 4:12 (d) Ephesians 1:7; Galatians 6:14-15.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, unites man to Jesus Christ in faith, brings about the new birth, dwells within the regenerate, producing in them the fruit of the Spirit and enables them to grow in sanctification. (a) The Holy Spirit inspired prophets, judges and kings in ancient times, anointed Jesus for His ministry, filled the church with Pentecostal power and will transform the mortal bodies of believers into one like His own immortal body in the glory of the resurrection. (b)
(a) John 3:5, 15:8-10; I Corinthians 6:19, 12:11-12; Romans 8:9-11; Galatians 5:22-23; II Corinthians 3:17-18 (b) I Peter 1:2,10-12; II Peter 1:20-21; Luke 4:1, 18-21; Acts 2:4, 4:31; Romans 8:11; Philippians 3:21; I Corinthians 15:51-52.
The Church
The Church, which is the body and the bride of Christ, is dedicated to the worship and service of God, the observance of the sacraments or ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper and the practice of good works. (a) The primary task of the Church in all ages is to teach all nations and make disciples, bringing the gospel to bear on every aspect of life and thought. The ultimate mission of the Church is the redemption of souls. When God transforms human nature, this then becomes the chief means of society’s transformation. (b)
(a) Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 2:10, 22; 5:23, 26-27; 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10; Titus 2:14 (b) Matthew 28:19-20; II Corinthians 10:4-5.
Consummation
The consummation of all things includes the visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. (a) Satan with his hosts, and all men outside of Christ, are finally separated from the presence of God, enduring eternal conscious punishment. (b) All who have been redeemed by Christ into the kingdom of light will be in the presence of God forever, giving Him unending praise and glory. (c)
(a) I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 1:7, 20:11-15, 21:1-4; Acts 1:11; II Corinthians 5:10 (b) Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:47-48; II Thessalonians 1:7-10 (c) Revelation 21:1-4.