Doctrine
The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word, written down by men but inspired by Him. It contains no errors as originally written. It is the unique, complete and final authority on all matters on which it comments. (Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, Matt. 5:18, 2 Tim. 3:6-7, 2 Peter 1:20-21.)
God
There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – each of whom possesses equally all of the attributes of God and elements of personality. (Deu. 6:4, Psalm 90:2, Matt. 28:19, Acts 5:3-4, 2 Cor. 13:14, Rev. 1:4-6).
Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, born of a virgin and morally perfect. By His death as a substitute for sinners he satisfied God’s justice and accomplished salvation for all who trust in Him. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended to His Father in heaven where He now intercedes as our Great High Priest. He will come again for His followers, to judge the world, and establish His kingdom on earth. (Matt. 3:17; Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1-14; Acts 1:10-11; Romans 3:24-25, 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:12; Hebrews 9:23-28).
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son into the world to apply the benefits of the saving work of Jesus. He enlightens the minds of sinners and convinces them of their need of a Savior. From the moment of faith in Christ the Holy Spirit permanently indwells every believer and insures their salvation until they go to be with Christ. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the available source of power, comfort, and teaching for all believers. (John 3:5-8, 14:16-26, 16:5-15; Romans 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:11; Gal. 5:22-23).
Humanity
The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created in the image of God. Through disobedience Adam chose to go his own independent way and thus was separated from God, dying spiritually, suffering corruption of his nature, and leaving him unable to please God.
This fall took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals born since suffer these same consequences, are rebellious and lost and are thus in need of the saving grace of God. (Genesis 3:1-9; Romans 3:10-23, 8:12-21; Eph. 2:1-3).
Salvation
God, out of love for the human race, sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners. Jesus paid the full penalty for man’s sin when He died on the cross. Any person who trusts in Jesus as their only hope of heaven receives the full gift of eternal life which, once granted, can never be lost. However, a Christian can, through sin, lose his fellowship, joy, power, reputation, reward, and incur the Father’s discipline.
Relationship is eternal, being established by spiritual birth through the Holy Spirit; fellowship, however, is dependent upon obedience to the Word of God. (John 3:16-18, 5:24, 6:47, 10:27-30; Romans 3:21-25, 4:8, 8:38-39; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:1-10; 1 Tim. 1:15; Titus 3:3-7; Rev. 22:17).
The Church
The Church
All believers in the present age are members of the Church, the body of Christ and they are united to Jesus and to one another by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Bible commands believers to gather together in local congregations, to devote themselves to worship, prayer and the teaching of the Bible, observance of Baptism and Communion, the uplifting of the group, and as an active witness to the rest of the world.
The church is not a building or an organization but a group of sinners who have joined together because Jesus has saved them and is bringing them into maturity. (Matt. 4:10; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Cor. 1:2, 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:11-16, 5:24-30; Col. 3:16; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Hebrews 10:23-25).
Eternity
When a believer dies they immediately enter into an eternal, conscious fellowship with Jesus, but the unbeliever enters into eternal, conscious separation from Him. All bodies of all the dead shall be raised; those of believers to glory in heaven, those of unbelievers to a resurrection of separation and punishment in hell. (Luke 16:19-31, Phil. 1:23, Rev. 20:1-22).
