THE BIBLE

The Bible is God's Word to all humanity. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance and revelation of the Holy Spirit. It was inspired by God and, therefore, it is supreme truth, infallible, and without any mixture of error. It is final, complete, and eternal. The Bible is the source of all correct doctrine, instruction, and truth.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Deut. 4:1-2; Isa. 40:8; Rom. 15:4; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:25

THE TRINITY

The Bible clearly testifies that there is only one God and that He eternally exists in three Persons--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each member of this Trinity may serve different functions but they are co-equal in power and authority.

Gen. 1:1, 26-27, Psa. 90:2; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16-17; Matt. 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 10:30; 1 Cor. 8:6; 2 Cor. 13:14; James 2:19

THE FATHER

God the Father is the Creator, the sustainer, and the ruler of everything. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever present at all times. He is perfect, holy, just, true, merciful, faithful, and good. He is unchanging. He created man in His own image for fellowship. He has called man back to restored fellowship through Christ after man's rebellion, sin, and fall.

Gen. 1:1, 26-27; Exod. 3:14; Num. 23:19; Lev. 11:44; Mal. 3:6; John 3:16; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6

THE SON

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is eternally and completely God. He was together with the Father and the Holy Spirit from the beginning and through Him all things were created. He came into the earth, fully human and yet fully God, and lived a sinless human life. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice on a cross to pay for all of man's sins and resurrected from the grave three days later to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He alone is the way to salvation and eternal life.

Isa. 7:14, Isa. 9:6; Matt. 1:22-23; Matt. 28:5-6; Luke 24:46-49; John 1:1-5; John 11:25; John 14:6-7; Rom. 3:25; Rom. 8:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Acts 4:12; 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 Cor. 15:3; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-16; Titus 2:13; 1 John 2:2; 1 Tim. 2:5-6

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. His presence is to make humanity aware of their need for Jesus Christ and to assure believers of our relationship with Christ. He is the Spirit of Truth and convicts people of their sin and God's righteousness. He guides believers into all truth, empowers believers for service and witness, and cleanses them and conforms them to the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit enters and lives in every believer from the moment of salvation. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, subsequent to conversion, releases the fullness of the Spirit and is evidenced by the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Gen. 1:2; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Luke 11:13; John 15:26; John 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 19:1-6; 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Cor. 12-14; 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13-14; Gal. 5:22-23; 2 Pet. 1:20-21

SALVATION

Salvation is a free gift from God. It is a free gift from God because of the full price that Jesus paid on the cross by shedding His blood for us. Salvation can never be attained or earned by man's own merits or efforts of righteousness or good works. People receive this free gift from God when they repent of their sins and place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for all their sins. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. This salvation of eternal life is secure for eternity since it is maintained by the grace and almighty power of God and not by the self-effort of the Christian.

Matt. 1:21; John 14:6; Acts 2:21; Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:16-18; Rom. 3:23-26; Rom. 6:23; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:8-10; Heb. 9:24-28; John 10:29; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 7:25; Heb. 10:10; 1 Pet. 1:3-5

MAN

Man is made in the image of God, to be like Him in character, and the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated from Him through sinful disobedience. Man's sin separates him from God who is holy. Man in this fallen, sinful state cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own efforts.

Gen. 1:27; Gen. 1:26-31; Gen. 2:18-22; Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 5:19; Acts 17:26-31; Rom. 1:19-32; Rom. 3:10-18; Rom. 7:14-25; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; Eph. 2:8-10; Col. 1:21-22

ETERNITY

Man was created to exist forever. So he will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with God is eternal life and heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.

Matt. 25:31-46; John 3:16; Rom. 6:23; 2 Peter 3:13; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Rev. 20:15

BAPTISM & COMMUNION

The Bible teaches about two perpetual ordinances of the LORD Jesus Christ--baptism and communion. Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and is the believer's public declaration that one has personally accepted Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior. It is the outward sign of what God has already done in the person's life and is a public testimony to all. Baptism does not save a person but shows the world that the person has already been saved, is not ashamed of Christ, and is a part of God's covenant community. Baptism is not required for salvation but is still a biblical command and demonstrates one's love and obedience to Christ.  Communion, or the LORD's Supper, is the other ordinance to remember and commemorate the sacrificial death of Christ for us. The bread and wine or juice elements are symbols of Christ's broken body and shed blood. Communion does not save a person but is rather a testament of the believer's faith in the atoning work of Christ.

Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41; Rom. 6:3-4; Eph. 2:8-9; Col. 2:12

Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-29

THE CHURCH

The Church is the community of believers redeemed, sanctified, and united through faith in Christ Jesus. This community exists both as local communities of believers and as the larger, overall, global community of all Christian believers around the world. The goals of the Church are to fulfill the Great Commission of sharing the Good News, to make disciples of all nations, and to teach, equip, and build up the saints to live for, serve, and glorify Christ. The Church is the body of Christ and exists to serve His purposes. The Church adheres to all of the teachings of the Bible.

Matt. 16:18-19; Matt. 18:15-20; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 5:11-14; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 14:23; Acts 16:5; Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 12;28; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 2:19-22; Eph. 4:11-12; Eph. 5:22-32; Col. 1:18; Col. 3:15; Jas. 5:14