The Bible
The Bible in its entirety originated with God, and it was given through the instrumentality of chosen human authors. The Bible is the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God. The Bible is infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. (Psalm 119:89; Ephesians 6:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
God
There is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons --Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- each of Whom possesses equally the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created out of nothing the universe and all living things, thus revealing the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. (Genesis 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-3; Romans 1:20; 2 Corinthians 13-14; Ephesians 2:18; Colossians 1:15-16; Hebrews 11:3; Revelations 1:4-6, 4:11)
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is true God and true man, was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died in our place on the cross, and rose bodily from the grave. He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. (Matthew 1:18-25; 24:37-44; John 1:1-3 Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Hebrews 9:24; Revelation 19:11-16)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person who works in convicting people of sin. In the life of a believer, He is involved in the new birth, the sealing of salvation, dispensing of spiritual gifts, and developing holiness (John 3:5-6, 14:16-17, 16:8-11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:13-14).
Humanity
God made humankind in his own image, but because of Adam, humankind fell into sin. Because we are now sinners, both by nature and by choice, only God’s favor through the work of Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit can restore us. (Genesis 1:26; 2:17; John 5:40; Romans 3:9-10, 19-23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 3:8)
Salvation
Salvation comes to us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ apart from any human merit. Jesus Christ is the only ground for our legal standing before God, which includes both forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Once made children of God by adoption and grace, we will never cease to be his children. (John 1:12, 5:24; 6:3; 7-44; Romans 3:20, 27-28; 5:1-7; 7-8; 10:9-10; 13; 1 Corinthians 1:29-31; 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 1:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:4-5; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 2:19; Jude 1:24)
The Church
All those who have experienced salvation are members of the church universal, which is the body of Christ. The Bible commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and the Lord’s Table, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. Wherever God’s people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Jesus Christ is the head of the church and every local church has the right under Christ to govern itself. Under the watchful care of elders and other supportive leadership, its members are to work together in love and unity. (Matthew 16:18-19; 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47; 13:1-3, 20:28; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:1-16, 5:25-27; Colossians 1:17-18; Hebrews 10:25; I Peter 5:1-2)
Christ has commanded Baptism and the Lord’s Table. Water baptism is an outward sign of the forgiveness of sins and the cleansing from sin that the Holy Spirit has performed, and will continue to perform, in the believer. Baptism, however, does not in any way merit salvation for the believer. At Christ’s request and until His return, we regularly observe the Lord’s Table as the table of acceptance, of forgiveness, of celebration and of responsibility. (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-27; Ephesians 2:8; Colossians 2:11-13)
Human Destiny
All people will experience the resurrection. God will receive believers into eternal communion and will reward them for their obedience. He will eternally separate unbelievers into condemnation. (John 5:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:11-15)
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