God

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. To him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal God reveals himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. (Ephesians 4:6, Exodus 15:11-13, 1 Timothy 1:17, 2 Corinthians 13:14)

 

Jesus Christ

Christ is the eternal Son of God. With his Incarnation as Jesus Christ, he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He honored the divine law by his personal obedience and in his death on the cross. He made provision for the redemption of human beings from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God. He is the One Mediator between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world. (John 1:1-18, Matthew 1:18-23, Colossians 1:13-22, Philippians 2:5-11, Acts 17:30-31)

 

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. As Christians we daily seek to live under his control. (John 14:16-17,26; Romans 8:14-16, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:10-14)

 

The Bible

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Matthew 5:17-18, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:19-21)

 

Human Beings

Human beings were created by the special act of God, in his own image. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. By their free choice humans rebel against God and, through this rebellion (or sin), separate themselves from him. Only the grace of God can bring us into fellowship with him and enable us to fulfill the creative purpose of God. (Genesis 1:26-30, Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 2:1-22, Colossians 3:9-11)

 

Salvation

Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as our Savior are our sins forgiven and salvation received. We are saved when we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Christ into his life by faith. (Ephesians 2:8-10, Colossians 1:19-22, Titus 2:11-14)

 

Eternal Security

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” your salvation. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us security. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they bring reproach on the cause of Christ, and temporal judgments on themselves, but they will be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. (John 10:29, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 10:14, 1 Peter 1:3-5)

 

The Church

A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, committed to his teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word, and seeking to extend the Gospel to the ends of the earth. (Acts 2:41-42, Ephesians 2:19-22, Revelation 21:2-3)

 

Eternity

Human beings were created to exist eternally. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or exist eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. Eternal separation will be in Hell, while those who receive salvation will exist in Heaven with God. (John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:17-18, 1 Corinthians 2:7-9)