God

God, by the testimony of Scripture, is one divine Being in three eternal, co-essential, yet distinct Persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the one true God, eternal, immutable, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. He is Creator of heaven and earth, Sustainer of the universe, and Source of human salvation. Though transcendent, God has a direct and personal relationship with human beings. God is love and infinite goodness.

(Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 John 4:8; 5:20;
Titus 2:11; John 16:27; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Corinthians 8:6)

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Jesus Christ

Jesus is the Word, by whom and for whom God created all things. As God manifest in the flesh for our salvation, He was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully human, two natures in one Person. Jesus is the Son of God and Lord of all, worthy of worship, honor and reverence. As the prophesied Savior of humanity, He died for our sins, was raised bodily from the dead, and ascended to heaven, from where He mediates between humanity and God. He will come again in glory to reign as King of kings over all nations in the kingdom of God.

(John 1:1; Colossians 1:16; 1 Timothy 3:16; John 3:16; Matthew 1:20; Acts 10:36;
1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 7:25; Revelation 19:16)

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The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, is the Comforter promised by Jesus Christ, sent from God to the Church. The Holy Spirit lives in us, transforming us through repentance, sanctification, and continual renewal. The Holy Spirit is the Source of inspiration and prophecy throughout the Scriptures, the Source of unity and communion in the Church, the Provider of gifts for salvation and for the work of the gospel, and the Christian's constant Guide into all truth.

(Matthew 28:19; John 14:16-17, 23, 16:13; Acts 2:4, 17-19, 38, 5:3-4, 20:28;
1 Corinthians 12:8-13; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21)

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Sovereignty of God

God is absolute sovereign in creation, revelation, redemption, and final judgment. He has absolute and exclusive right to exercise authority in the universe. He holds this prerogative because of the perfections of His character and because of His position as Creator and Sovereign of the universe. As Creator, His dominion is perfect and His decrees are final. Because of His authority as Sovereign, He is to be obeyed.

(1 Samuel 2:6-8; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Psalm 50:10-11, 95:3-5; Isaiah 44:6;
Acts 17:24-26; Romans 14:11; James 4:12; Revelation 4:11)

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The Holy Scriptures

The Holy Scriptures, the Bible, comprise the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments. They are the inspired Word of God, absolutely inerrant in the original documents, the foundation of truth, and the accurate record of God's revelation to humanity. The Holy Scriptures constitute ultimate authority in all matters of doctrine, and embody the infallible principles that govern all facets of Christian living.

(2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 17:17)

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Humanity

Humanity was made immortal, male and female, in the image of God, and endowed with great mental and spiritual faculties. God formed the first man, Adam, of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. He formed the first woman, Eve, from Adam's own body. They were given dominion over all the earth and the freedom to choose whether to obey their Creator. Because they chose sin, they and their descendants became alienated from God and subject to physical and spiritual death, which can be reconciled only by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His saving work. The destiny of the saints is to inherit eternal life in glory through Jesus Christ in the kingdom of God.

(Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7, 22; Romans 5:9-21; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Romans 6:23)

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Sin

Sin is lawlessness, that is, a state or condition of rebellion against God. From the time sin entered the human race through Adam and Eve, humanity has been under its yoke -- a yoke that can only be removed by God's grace through Jesus Christ. The sinful condition of humanity is manifested in the tendency to consistently choose self and self-interests over God and God's will. Sin causes alienation from God, and suffering and death. Since all humans are sinners, all humans need the salvation God offers through his Son.

(1 John 3:4; 5:17; Romans 1:20-21; 5:12; 7:24-25; Mark 7:21-23; Galatians 5:17-21; Romans 6:23; 3:23-24)

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Salvation

Salvation is deliverance from the bondage of sin and death, and the restoration of human fellowship with God. It is the gift of God, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not earned by personal merit or good works. God gives salvation, not only for the present life, but for eternity, to all who truly accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality.

(John 5:24, 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Romans 5:9-10, 6:15-23, 8:1, 21-23, 31-39, 13:13-14;
1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Ephesians 2:8-9, 4:30; Galatians 5:13, 25-26; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 7:25, 13:5; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 1:4-5; Jude 24)

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Grace

Grace is the free, unmerited favor God bestows on a sinner who repents. In its broadest sense, grace is expressed in every act of God's self-disclosure. By grace, a person comes to know God and Jesus Christ, is justified, and is saved. Through faith in Christ, the Christian remains always under grace.

(Romans 3:24; 5:2, 15-17, 21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:7)

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Election

Election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies. Sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord. Nevertheless, since sovereign grace includes the means of receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, sovereign election will result in what God determines. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith and all who come in faith the Father will receive. The unmerited favor that God grants to totally depraved sinners is not related to any initiative of their own part nor to God's anticipation of what they might do by their own will, but is solely of His sovereign grace and mercy.

(Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-2:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:10;
1 Peter 1:1-2; Ezekiel 18:23-32, 33:11; John 3:18-19, 36, 6:37-44; 5:40;
Romans 9:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Revelation 22:17; Acts 13:48; James 4:8; Titus 3:4-7)

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Justification

Justification is God's gracious act of pronouncing a believer righteous in his sight. It follows repentance and is made possible through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and acceptance of Him as Lord and Savior.

(Romans 3:20, 24-31; 4:1-8; 5:1, 9; Galatians 2:16)

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Faith

Faith is belief and trust in God as our righteous, omniscient, and omnipotent Lord and our gracious, merciful, and faithful Savior. Faith includes the conviction, based on natural and Scriptural evidence, that God exists, that He rewards those who seek Him, and that He gives eternal life to all who are in Jesus Christ. Faith is granted by God's grace.

(Romans 6:23, 10:17; Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:17-18)

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Sanctification

Sanctification is the state of holiness imparted to the believer through the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Though all Christians sin, the Holy Spirit leads them in a life characterized by repentance, obedience, and Christian growth -- that is, a converted, or changed, life evidenced by the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is made possible by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Every saved person is involved in a daily conflict -- the new creation in Christ doing battle against the flesh -- but adequate provision is made for victory through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The struggle nevertheless stays with the believer all through this earthly life and is never completely ended. Eradication of sin in this life is not possible and all claims to the eradication of sin are unscriptural, but the Holy Spirit does provide for victory over sin.

(Romans 5:1, 6:22; Ephesians 4:22-24; Galatians 5:16-25; Colossians 3:9-10;
Philippians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:2, 14-16; 1 John 1:8, 3:5-9)

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Repentance

Repentance is a change of mind and attitude toward God. It follows conviction by the Holy Spirit and is grounded in the Word of God. Repentance entails an awareness of personal sinfulness, accompanied by a positive response to God's call. Repentance toward God leads to faith in Jesus Christ and a converted life sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 2:38; Romans 2:4; 10:17; 2 Timothy 2:25; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11; Matthew 3:8; Romans 12:2)

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Baptism

Water baptism signifies a believer's repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

(Matthew 3:16, 28:19; Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:4-5)

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The Lord's Supper

The evening before Jesus was crucified, he took bread and wine, saying, "This is My body ... This is the new covenant in My blood." At the Lord's Supper service, Christians participate in the new covenant by partaking of bread and wine in remembrance of the Savior, who gave His body and shed His blood for all, to redeem humanity from sin and death.

(Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:1-8)

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Israel

God chose Israel to be a blessing to all nations. The Jewish people, by means of God’s covenant with Abraham, are now and forever, God’s Chosen People. They have a divine right to their promised land, Israel. They cannot receive eternal salvation apart from faith in Jesus as their Messiah. Today, Israel as a nation is experiencing a partial spiritual hardening of heart regarding the gospel, and this will be so until all those whom God wishes to save among the Gentiles are saved. Jesus will one day return bodily and establish His worldwide rule from Jerusalem, and on that day Israel as a nation will accept Him as their Messiah and be saved.

(Deuteronomy 30:1-6; Psalm 89:20-37; Jeremiah 31:35-37; Ezekiel 36:16-36;
Zechariah 12-14; Romans 11; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Galatians 6:14-16; Ephesians 2:11-22)

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The Church

The Church, or the Body of Christ, consists of all who have faith in Jesus Christ and in whom the Holy Spirit abides. The Church is commissioned to preach the gospel, to teach all that Christ commanded, to baptize, and to nurture the flock. In fulfilling its mission, the Church is directed by the Holy Scriptures, led by the Holy Spirit, and looks continually to Jesus Christ, its living Head. Believers are to be one in Christ, and not be divided over peripheral doctrines or issues. In spite of differences that do not contradict the gospel of Christ, believers are not to break fellowship, but love, care for, and encourage one another.

(1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9; Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22; Acts 2:1-47; 2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9-11)

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Evangelism and Missions

It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man's spirit by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; 
Matthew 9:37-38, 10:5-15, 13:18-30, 37-43, 16:19, 22:9-10, 24:14, 28:18-20;
Luke 10:1-18, 24:46-53; John 14:11-12, 15:7-8, 16, 17:15, 20:21;
Acts 1:8; 2, 8:26-40, 10:42-48, 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11;
1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17)

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The Christian

The Christian is the person who lives by faith in Jesus Christ and in whom the Holy Spirit abides. The Christian experiences a new birth through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit and is placed in a right relationship with God and fellow humans by God's grace. The Christian's life is characterized by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 8:9, 14; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:4-6; Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:35;
Galatians 5:22-23)

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The Gospel

The gospel is the good news about salvation by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by works. It is the message that Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to His disciples. It is the good news that the kingdom of God has been inaugurated by the saving work of Jesus Christ.

(Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:14-15; Acts 8:12; 28:30-31; Luke 24:46-48;
1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8-10)

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The Law of Christ

Christian faith includes allegiance and obedience to our Savior, who gave Himself for us. The purpose of this law is summarized in His commands to love God and neighbor. Therefore, faith in Christ leads to works of love and service. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ transforms the hearts of his followers, producing in them the fruit of love, joy, peace, faithfulness, meekness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, righteousness and truth.

(2 Corinthians 5:15; Matthew 22:36-40; Romans 13:9-10; Galatians 5:6, 22-23; Ephesians 5:9)

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Christian Assembly

The setting aside of one day of the week for Christian assembly is part of the regenerated life of faith in Jesus Christ, in whom every believer finds true rest. The weekly seventh-day Sabbath, which was enjoined upon Israel in the Ten Commandments, was a shadow that prefigured the true Reality to whom it pointed -- our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though physical Sabbath keeping is not required for Christians, the Bible commands that Christians meet together to encourage and up build the faith of one another.

(Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 14:4-5; Colossians 2:16-17;
Hebrews 4:3, 8-10; 10:25)

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The Second Coming

According to the Word of God, the next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy will be the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air to receive to Himself into heaven both His own who are alive and remain unto His coming, and also all who have fallen asleep in Jesus, and that this event is the blessed hope set before us in Scripture, and for this Christians should be constantly looking. This first stage of the Second Coming (commonly referred to as the rapture), is imminent, personal, pre-millennial, and pre-tribulation. The second stage of the Second Coming occurs seven years later and involves the Lord Jesus Christ returning to earth with His saints to establish His Millennial Kingdom upon the earth.

(Daniel 9:24-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Zechariah 14:4-11; John 14:1-3;
1 Corinthians 15:40-53; Revelation 1:7, 3:10, 17:14, 19:11-16; 20:1-6;
Acts 1:11, 15:15-17; Matthew 24:15-30, 25:31-46; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18; Jeremiah 33:14-26; Ezekiel 36:25-28, 37:21-28; Romans 8:19-23, 11:23-32,
2 Samuel 7:13-16; Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:11-14; Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 11:9;
1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)

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The Eternal State

At death the spirits and souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the glorified body when Christ comes for His own, whereupon soul and body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in glory; but the spirits and souls of the unbelieving remain after death conscious of condemnation and in misery until the final judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.

(Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-26, 23:42-43; John 5:28-28; Acts 7:58-60;
2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 1:21-24; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7;
Revelation 20:11-15)

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