The Godhead

There is one self-existent living and true Godwho is one in essence and eternally existing in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are equal in every divine characteristic, attribute, and nature. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth from nothing (ex nihilo). He is the pre-existent, uncaused causer of everything and everybody.

God the Father

God the Father is perfectly holy, the essence of wisdom, supremely powerful and all-knowing. He reigns over the universe (the heavens and the earth) with sovereignty and justice along with mercy and grace according to His own will.He loved the world so much that He gave his only begotten Son to bear man’s sin debt.Only through faith and belief in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, does He save man from eternal separation from Himself.

God the Son

God the Father’s one and only begotten Son voluntarily laid aside the glory of heaven to take on human flesh. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin and named Jesus as instructed by the angel Gabriel. He lived a sinless life, performed miracles, and taught His followers during approximately three years of earthly ministry. He voluntarily offered Himself as God’s perfect lamb, the perfect sacrifice in His death on the cross for the redemption of those who believe on Him. He arose from the grave, instructed His followers and ascended into heaven at the right hand of the Father where he reigns and makes intercession for those belonging to Him. He will personally return to earth to subdue His enemies, judge and reign.

God the Holy Spirit

God the Holy Spirit came forth from and is joined with the Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment which is a necessary work in bringing people to salvation. He lives within the saved person from the moment of conversion, bears witness to them being a child of God by adoption, and provides direction and power for following Jesus. He endows each believer with special gifts for service.

Salvation

God created man in His own image in a sinless state with freedom to choose right or wrong. In response to Satan’s temptation and of his own choice, man sinned and thereby incurred physical and spiritual death as the just wages of sin.This intrusion of sin into the human race resulted in a bent toward sin which is manifested by the presence of sin in every individual. Thus, natural man is separated from God by sin and stands in a state of condemnation before God. No amount of good works can remove the penalty for sins committed. Thankfully, God loved the world so much that He gave his only begotten Son to die in our place thereby paying the penalty for our sins if we humble ourselves as a child, repent of our sins, and seek forgiveness. This act of volunteer humiliation by each individual is prompted by the Holy Spirit’s conviction and drawing to the Father and the Father is pleased to accept Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for our sins and grant to us the free gift of salvation.Jesus took our sins and suffered the consequences for us; when we put our trust in Him, His righteousness is applied to our account. What a transaction! Eternal life begins at this same moment and the Holy Spirit comes to abide within the believer. The saved individual is kept by the power of God for all eternity; he has passed from death to life. Good works will follow in the life of the true believer as evidence of his right standing with God and will continue as he is shaped more like Jesus Christ according to the will of the Father.

The Christian Walk

The Christian life is characterized by aneffort to glorify God and demonstrate compassion and concern for the physical and spiritual well being of their fellow man. Christians are commanded to constrain their sin nature leaving behind the things of the world and pressing on toward the high calling of God's will in their lives. Biblical standards in all areas of lifeincluding human sexuality and marriage as instituted by God are the basis for the Christian’s faith and practice.Christians are called to befaithful stewards of their spiritual giftsas they press on towardmaturity in Christ Jesus.

Church

There is one church universal comprised of all who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus Christ is the head of the church which is His body. Local bodies of believers who meet with pastoral leadership and exercise the disciplines and functions of the church according to the New Testament constitute local churches. These local bodies are to walk together in unity and love and seek to glorify God as they pursue His mandate to make disciples in all the world.

Last Days and Last Things

In these last days God has spoken in a special and consistent way through His Son, by His Spirit, and through His written Word, the Bible. Jesus Christ is coming again in the same manner that he left to defeat His enemies, judge everyone from all ages, receive His own, establish His kingdom, and reign forever and ever. This final judgment will result in eternal joy for the saved andendless suffering of the unsaved.

Baptism

Water baptism is an act of obedience for the believer that should closely follow trust in Jesus Christ. It is a testimony of the believer’s death to sin, burial of the old way of life, and resurrection to a new life following Jesus. Baptism symbolizes Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Immersion is the mode of Baptism that best portrays its Biblical meaning.

Scripture References

The Bible: Ps 19:7-8, Acts 15:5, II Tim 3:16; II Peter 1:20.21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31, 32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32: Heb 4:12

The Godhead: Gen 1:1, 26; Duet. 6:4; John 1:1-3; Matt 28:19; John 4:24; Rom 1:19-20; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph 4:5-6

God the Father: Isa. 48:3-5; Luke 10:21-22; Matt 23:9; John 3:16, 6:27; Acts 15:8; Rom 1:7; I Tim 1:1-2; 2:5-6; I Peter 1:3; 1 John 3:20; Rev 1:6 God the Son:Matt 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1, 20:28; Rom 9:5, 8:46; II Cor 5:21; I Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30-31; Matt 20:28; Eph 1:4; Acts 1:11; Rom 5:6¬8, 6:9,10; Heb 3:1, 7:25; Heb 9:28; I Tim 3:16; Rev. 21:3

God the Holy Spirit: Gen 6:3; Matt 28:19; John 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; John 16:9-14; Rom 8:9; I Cor 3:16, 6:19, 12:13; 2 Cor 13:14; Gal 5:22-26; 1 John 2:20, 27; Acts 2:4

Salvation: Gen 1:26, 5:2; Gen 3; Gen 2:17, 3:19; Ecci 2:11; John 3:14, 5:24; John 5:30, 7:13, 8:12, 10:26; Rom 9:22; II Thess 1:9; Rev. 19:3,20, 20:10, 14,15; 21:18; Psalm 51:7; Jer 17:9; James 1:14; Rom 3:19, 5:19; Prov 28:13; I John 1:9; John 3:16; John 1:13; II Cor 5:17, 21; Rom 8:1, 10:9, Eph 1:3

The Christian Walk: ICor 10:31; Rom 12:1-3; Heb 12:1-2; John 14:15,23-24; I John 2:3-6; II Cor 5:7, 9:6-9; I Cor 4:2; Col. 1:9-10

Church: Eph 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Eph 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Heb 10:23-25, Rom 1:18

Last Days and Last Things: Matt 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Phil. 3:20; I Thess 4:15; II Tim 4:1; Titus 2:13; I Cor 4:5, 15; II Thess 1:7-10; Rev 20:4¬6,11-15

Baptism: Rom 6:4-7; Matt 28:18-20; Acts 8:35-38