We believe that the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are inspired of God in their original writings (II Timothy 3:16a); that the writers wrote them under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:21); that though there are some passages whose sentiments are not of God (Psalms 14:1; Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5), yet they are recorded accurately. We believe, therefore, that the Bible is the Word of God and our final authority in all matters of faith and practice (II Timothy 3:16b-17).
We believe in the unity of the Godhead (Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6), eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14); that these three Persons are separate and distinct personalities, yet One in divine essence, attributes, and purpose.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), who is Himself God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father (John 1:1; Philippians 2:6), but who humbled Himself and became man for the redemption of the human race (Philippians 2:7-8). He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life (Matthew 1:23; Hebrews 7:26). He died on the cross as a substitute for sinners (1 Peter 3:18), thus providing the only means whereby sinful man can be redeemed (Acts 4:12). As He prophesied, He was raised bodily from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion (Matthew 28:6); He then ascended to the right hand of the Father where He is now the Advocate of believers (Hebrews. 9:24).
We believe in the Holy Spirit who is the Third Person of the Triune God (Acts 5:3-4; I Corinthians 12:3; II Corinthians 3:17-18) whose earthly ministry is to reveal the person and work of the Son to the praise of the Father (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:14). The Holy Spirit convicts men of sin and reproves the world of righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-10). Through Him, regeneration is accomplished in the life of those believing in Christ (John 3:5-6). He indwells all true believers and produces in them the fruits of righteousness (John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit begins at conversion the work of sanctification which continues while the believer is on earth (II Thessalonians 2:13). He instructs believers in the things of God (John 14:26), provides victory over sin, and empowers them to witness for Christ (Acts 1:8).
We believe that through the sin of the first man, Adam, the whole human race sinned and became eternally lost and condemned (Romans 5:12; 3:23; 6:23); that man could not be saved through any merit, or work of his own (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:4-5); that his only hope of salvation is through personal faith in Jesus Christ as his Sin-bearer on the cross of Calvary (I Peter 1:18-19; Romans 3:24-26; John 1:12; Acts 16:31); and that as a result of such faith in His vicarious death a person becomes a new creation in Christ through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5; II Corinthians 5:17).
We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ comprised of all true believers who have been united to Him by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:4-6; 4:11-15); that the visible church is a fellowship of redeemed men who meet for a common worship of God, for mutual edification, and for the proper observance of the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and baptism (Acts 2:42-46; I Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41); that it is a center of witness, through which the Gospel is preserved and propagated to other men (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 8:1-4).
We believe that all the dead will be resurrected, believers unto everlasting life and unbelievers unto everlasting condemnation (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29); that believers will be resurrected when Christ returns for His Church (I Thessalonians 4:17) and will reign with Him on earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6); that believers will live eternally with Him in heaven (Revelation 21:3); that unbelievers will be resurrected after the millennium to be judged at the Great White Throne and will suffer eternal torment in hell (Rev. 20:14-15).
We believe that the presence of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit in the believer is for the expressed purpose of rendering God’s provision for a life of holiness operative and effectual in the life of the individual (I Corinthians 6:19-20); that the source of power and victory over sin resides in the resurrection life of Christ mediated to the Christian by the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:10; Ephesians 5:25-27; Galatians 2:20); that an attitude of absolute confidence in the liberating, uplifting, and empowering control of the Holy Spirit spells victory and a life of holiness for the Christian (John 16:13a; 14:16-17; II Corinthians 3:18).
(As amended on September 20, 2008)