1. There is only one God
(Deuteronomy 6:4), the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus
3:6), who is infinitely perfect (Matthew 5:48) and exists
eternally in three persons (the Trinity): Father,
Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
2. Jesus Christ is both God and man (Philippians 2:6-11). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:36-38). He died upon the cross, the just for the unjust, the pure sacrificial lamb (I Peter 3:18, John 1:29), to substitute Himself for us (Hebrews 2:9). All that believe in Him are justified by reason of His shed blood (Romans 5:9). Jesus arose from the dead according to the Scriptures (Acts 2:23–24). He is now at the right hand of our Father on high as our great High Priest (Hebrews 8:1). He will come again to establish His kingdom, righteousness and peace (Matthew 26:64).
3. The Holy Spirit is
God, part of the Trinity (Luke
3:21-23), sent to dwell, guide, teach, empower the believer (John 16:13), and convince
the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:7–11).
4. The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice (2 Peter 1:20–21, 2 Timothy 3:15–16).
5. Mankind was originally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27) and fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All people are born with a sinful nature (Romans 3:23), are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20–23). The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment (Revelation 21:8); and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss (Revelation 21:1–4).
6. Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all people (John 3:16); and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God (Titus 3:4–7). We can call to Him, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15) God is patient and is not willing that any should perish, but wants us all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
8. It is the will of God
that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly (1 Thessalonians
5:23), being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated
to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service (Acts 1:8). This is both a crisis and a progressive experience
wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion (Romans 6:1–14).
9. Provision
is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body
(Matthew
8:16–17). Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are
taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age (James 5:13–16).
10. The Church consists of
all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are
born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church (Ephesians
1:22–23), which has been
commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all
nations (Matthew
28:19–20). The local
church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God,
for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the
gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:41–47).
11. There shall be a bodily
resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life (1 Corinthians
15:20–23); for the
latter, a resurrection unto judgment (John 5:28–29).
12. The second coming of the
Lord Jesus Christ is imminent (Hebrews
10:37) and will be
personal, visible, and premillennial (Luke
21:27). This is the believer's blessed hope and is a vital
truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service (Titus
2:11–14).
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