The Holy Scriptures, which consist of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the complete written Word of God. The Holy Spirit guided the human authors of Scripture so that they wrote the exact words that he desired them to write. The words in Scripture penned by human authors are thus the very words of God himself. As inspired by God, the Scriptures are completely free from error in the original writings, and serve as the inerrant, infallible, and final rule for life and faith. The Scriptures are the supreme authority for Christian life and doctrine comprising the record of God’s self-disclosure to humanity. Therefore, the Scriptures alone speak with complete authority about every matter they address and rule in complete, and absolute, authority over all humanity.

Ps. 19:7-9; Isa. 40:8; Matt. 5:17-18; 24:35; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:24-25

There is only one living and true God who eternally exists as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He is immortal, invisible, unchanging, almighty, in every way infinite, wise, self-sufficient and holy.

This infinite God exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each divine Person is fully God, and none is before or greater than the others, each being co-equal, co-eternal and not manifestations of God or parts comprising the whole. The unity and distinction of the divine Persons is revealed in all the works of God including creation, providence, and redemption.

Gen. 1; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 44:6-7; John 1:1, 14; Acts 5:3-4; Col. 1:15-20; Heb. 1:1-3

God the Father is the eternal Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. He determined in eternity past all things that were, are or will be according to the counsel of his own will, and he carries out his will in perfect righteousness to the praise of his glory. In love and mercy, the Father purposed before the foundation of the world to redeem a people to himself from every tongue, tribe and nation.

Gen. 1:1-31; 1 Chr. 29:11-12; Dan. 4:34-35; Jer. 32:17; Luke 12:32; Rom. 8:28-38; Eph. 1:11

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is truly God and co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. God the Son took on human flesh when he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He is therefore now and forevermore both fully God and fully man. Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to the law and will of God the Father, having never sinned in thought, word or deed. Jesus gave his life on the cross as the perfect substitute for sinners, completely satisfying the wrath of God for repentant sinners, reconciling them to the Father. Jesus was buried, rose again on the third day and ascended bodily into heaven where he now sits in triumph at the right hand of God the Father, ever living to intercede for the people of God.

Mt. 1:23; Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 1:15-17; Jn. 1:1; 14:7-8; Heb. 1:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:12-19

The Holy Spirit is fully God, co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is the divine Person sent by the Father and Son as the Comforter to those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and he is the efficient agent of regeneration. The Holy Spirit baptizes believers at the moment of conversion into Christ Jesus and thus seals, indwells, fills, sanctifies, convicts, gifts, and guides believers in accordance with the revealed Word of God in this life and for the life to come.

Gen. 1:2; Jn. 3:5-8; Rom. 8:9-11, 16; 1 Cor 2:10-16; 12:4-12; 13:8-12; 14:1-40; 2 Pet. 1:19-21; Eph. 1:13-14; 3:16; 4:7-12, 30; 5:18; Heb. 2:1-4

God created human beings male and female in His own image. The first man and woman were created by the direct acts of God as described in Genesis. Human life begins at conception, and every man or woman born since are direct descendants of the first man and woman. As people made in the image of God, man and woman were created to love God and enjoy fellowship with Him, yet through the willful transgression of God’s command by the first man, Adam, that original blessed state was lost. As a result, all creation is now fallen, subject to the curse of that disobedience. All people have inherited the sinful nature from Adam and have added their own sins. Human beings are corrupted in their being, alienated from each other and from God, and dead in their sins. Apart from the gracious intervention of God, humanity is condemned to death, Hell and are objects of God’s wrath.

Gen. 1:27, 28-30; 2:7-8, 18-23; 9;1; Acts 17:26; Ps. 139:13-16; Jer. 17:9; Jn. 6:44; Rom. 1:18-32; Eph.2:1-3; Heb. 2:3,4

God Himself initiated salvation, wholly of His grace, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, applied by the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God alone. By His sinless life and obedient death on the cross, Jesus paid the full penalty sufficient for all human sin, thus satisfying the wrath of God. By His resurrection from the dead, Jesus declared complete victory over sin and death. Salvation from death and the wrath of God are found in Jesus Christ alone. This message is called the Gospel, or good news. All who by faith repent and believe the gospel are forgiven all their sins, reconciled to God, born again, justified, baptized with the Holy Spirit, saved forever and assured of eternal life in the presence of God.

Jn. 3:3-6, 16; 10:28, 29; Acts 13:39; Rom. 2:4; 4:2-9, 25; 5:1, 9; 8:16, 28-29; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Titus 3:8; Heb. 7:25; 1 Pet. 1:18-23; 2 Pet. 1:4

All who have been saved now belong to the family of God, the Church. The Church must be considered in two aspects: the local church and the universal church, which is the entire body of believers in Christ, in heaven and on earth. A local church is an organized assembly of believers, baptized upon credible profession of faith, and gathers together for worship, teaching, witness and fellowship. Christ is the Head of His Church, and under Christ the local church recognizes two offices. The office of spiritual leadership and ministry of the Word is reserved for qualified men and is called elder, overseer, or pastor. The office of service is called deacon.

Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 10:44, 45; 11:15, 16; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22, 23; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 2:11-14; 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Heb. 12:23

The Lord Jesus has committed two ordinances to the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, representing the believer’s death to sin, resurrection to new life, and union to Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ to commemorate His death and is to be observed by believers until His return and should be preceded by humble self-examination and confession of sins.

Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-47; 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 11:23-28

God’s grace has already set believers free from sin and its power, so believers should live holy lives separated from sin and set apart to God. Believers are to live out their faith in growing, joyful obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit and to progressively be changed into the image of Christ. Each believer receives spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit, and believers must use those gifts to build up the church, to do the work of ministry, and to obey our Lord’s command to make disciples.

Matt. 28-18-20; Jn. 15:1-17; Rom. 6:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:18-20; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 2:8-10; 5:18; James 2:14-26; 1 Jn. 2:3-6

God created man and woman as biologically unique persons. God’s design for the union of marriage is that a biological man and a biological woman covenant to be one flesh for life in a monogamous union that is spiritual, emotional, and physical. God’s design for sexual union is for its expression to be only within the bounds of this male and female marital union. We believe that a person’s true identity is found and fulfilled in Christ alone and in a relationship with Him.

Gen. 1:27-28; 2:24; Matt. 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9

God created perfect spirit beings called angels to worship and serve him and minister to humanity. One of these beings known as Satan, or the Accuser, became proud and rebelled against God. God judged Satan and the angels who chose to align with his rebellion. These beings are now known as evil spirits or demons, and they seek continually to frustrate the plans of God and cause humans to sin against him. Satan and his forces have real but limited power in this world, having been defeated by Jesus at the cross and will one day be judged and cast forever into the Lake of Fire.

2 Kings 6:16,17; Job 1:12, 2:6; Is. 14:12-17; Eze. 28:11-19; 2 Cor. 4:4; 11:13-15; Eph. 1:20-21; 2:2; Col. 2:15; Heb. 1:14; 2:14; 12:22; Rev. 12:9

The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be both personal and visible. At His Second Coming to Earth, the Lord Jesus will appear in power and glory to manifest His kingdom reign in the presence of all. Satan, after leading a final rebellion, will be cast into the lake of fire, along with death, hell, and the unrighteous dead. The Lord Jesus in triumph will judge the whole world.

There will be a future bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust. The just, those who have been redeemed, will spend eternity in full enjoyment of God’s presence. The unjust, those who through impenitence and unbelief in their earthly life refused to accept God’s offer of mercy, will spend eternity in everlasting punishment. We believe the final destiny of the righteous saints is the New Heavens and New Earth where God will dwell with humanity for all eternity. On that day, the Bride of Christ, composed of believers from all ages, will be presented faultless before God. God will be all in all, and His people will glorify and enjoy Him forever.

Ps. 16:11; Dan. 12:2,3; Jn. 5:28,29; Matt. 13:31-33; 24:36-42; 25:46; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 1Cor. 15:50-56; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 5:1-4; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; 2:1-10; 2 Pet. 3:1-10; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 19:13-16; 20:1-15; 21:1