Scriptures
| Triune Godhead | Creation
| Man | Satan | Atonement
for Sin | Salvation | Christian
Walk | Great Commission
The Scriptures
We believe
that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2
Timothy 3:16). We understand this to mean that the whole Bible is
inspired, in that holy men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit"
(2
Peter 1:21) to write the very words of Scripture. We believe that
this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of Scripture
as it appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole
Bible in those original manuscripts is, therefore, without error. We
believe that all Scripture centers around the Lord Jesus Christ in His
person, work, and in His first and second coming. Therefore, no portion
of the Old Testament is properly read or understood until it leads to
Christ. We also believe that all Scripture was designed for our practical
instruction. (Luke
24:27, 44; John
5:39; Romans
15:4; 1
Corinthians 10:11; 2
Timothy 3:16)
The
Triune Godhead
We believe
in the one true and living God, the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and
Ruler of all things. He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, and
is revealed to us as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God the Father: God, as Father, reigns over all of His universe
with providential care. He is all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing,
and all-wise. He is fatherly in attitude toward all men but is Father,
indeed, to those who have become children of God through Jesus Christ,
who will deliver them into the Father’s hands. (Genesis
1:1; 1
Chronicles 29:10; Jeremiah
10:10; Matthew
6:9; Acts
1:7; Romans
8:14-15; 1
Corinthians 8:6; 1
Corinthians15: 24; Ephesians
4:6)
God the Son: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal
Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived
of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal
God and redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily
giving Himself as a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross,
thereby satisfying God’s righteous judgment against sin. After
substantiating the accomplishment of that redemption and justification
by His bodily resurrection from the grave, He ascended to the right
hand of His Father, where He intercedes on behalf of those who trust
Him. (Luke
1:34-35; John
1:1, 2, 14, 18; Romans
3:24-26, Romans
8:34)
God the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine
Person who convicts the world of sin (righteousness and judgment); that
He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He
baptizes (or places) all believers into the one true Church, which is
the Body of Christ; that He indwells them permanently, seals them unto
the day of final redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, and
fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him. Every believer is called
to live in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit so that he will not
fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.
(John
3:3-8; 14:16-17;
16:7-11;
1
Corinthians 12:7-11, 13; Ephesians
4:30; 5:18)
Creation
We believe
that man was created directly by and in the image of God. We believe
that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, by direct
act. (Genesis
1:1; John
1:3; Colossians
1:16-17)
Man
Although
man was created in the image of God, he fell into sin and is lost. This
is true of all men; and except a man be born again by the Holy Spirit,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.
(Genesis
1:26-27; John
3:3; Romans
3:10, 23)
The
Devil - Satan
We believe
that Satan is a person, the author of sin, and the reason for the fall
of man, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal punishment in
the lake of fire. (Matthew
4:1-3; Acts
5:3; 2
Corinthians 4:4; Revelation
20:10)
Atonement
For Sin
We believe
that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
as a substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe on Him are redeemed
by His shed blood. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body
of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His ascension into heaven; He is our
High Priest and Advocate. (John
1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7;
Hebrews
10:4-14; 1
John 2:2)
Salvation
We believe
that salvation is the gift of God’s grace. It cannot be gained
or made more secure by meritorious works, but is freely bestowed upon
all who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary.
All who so trust the Savior are forgiven of their sins and born into
the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (John
1:12; Acts
16:30-33; Romans
10:9-10; Ephesians
1:7; 2:8-9)
The
Christian Walk
We believe
that we have a holy calling to walk not after the flesh but after the
Spirit, and so to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit in order
that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The flesh is never eradicated
in this life. Individuals must choose to keep the flesh in subjection
to Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, or it will surely
manifest its presence in life and dishonor our Lord. (Romans
6:11-13; 8:2,
4, 12-13;
Galatians
5:16-23; Ephesians
4:22-24; Colossians
2:1-10; 1
Peter 1:14-16; 1
John 1:4-7; 3:5-9)
The
Great Commission
Until
the return of Christ, it is the Christian’s duty and privilege
to seek the fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission and to minister
in His name to a needy world. We are to be instruments of Jesus Christ
as the Holy Spirit ministers redemption and reconciliation in the world.
(Matthew
25:31-46; 28:18-20)
