The Bible
The Bible is the Word of God. It is our ultimate and all-sufficient guide to everyday life. Every claim we make must line up with the Bible. II Timothy 3:16; John 12:48-49; Hebrews 4:12; John 10:35.
God
There is only one God. He is eternal. He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. He is the Creator of all things. He created us in His image, as His highest creation, and He wants a relationship with us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, to restore us to a right relationship with Him for eternity. God is love. God has many names, representing that He is ALL that we need. Exodus 20:2-6; Genesis 1:27, 31; Psalm 136; John 3:16; Romans 5:10-11; Romans 8:38. God exists in three persons – Father, Son, Holy Spirit – simultaneously and eternally. Genesis 1:2, 26; John 1:1-4; Luke 1:35; Matthew 28:19.
Jesus Christ
Jesus is the Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit to be the Messiah, in fulfillment of prophecy. He is Immanuel, God with us. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Our Salvation comes only through Him, and through Him we come boldly to the Throne of Grace. Matthew 1:18, 22-23; John 14:6-7; John 10:30; Hebrews 4:15-16; Hebrews 5:5-10; Romans 14:9.
The Atonement
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be the all-sufficient, substitutionary, sacrificial Lamb to atone for our sins for all time. Jesus paid our debt in full, once and for all, when He died on the Cross. It is by faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved and given eternal life, our relationship restored with the Father, for all who believe. John 3:17; Hebrews 9:12; Romans 1:16; II Peter 3:9; Romans 5:8; Revelation 5:9, 12.
The Resurrection
Jesus was resurrected from the dead. That same Resurrection power is given to all believers. When we die to sin, Christ gives new life to us. And one day, we will be resurrected into eternal life, in a glorified body, like Jesus. Luke 24:34, 36, 38-40, 46; John 20:17, 19-20; Acts 24:15; Romans 6:5-11; Galatians 2:20; II Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 22:12-13.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God that gave life to Jesus and, by Jesus’ death and Resurrection, we have received the Holy Spirit living within us. He guides us in all things, teaches us God’s Truth, is our Helper, Comforter and Friend. The Holy Spirit in us produces the qualities of God, i.e., the Fruit of the Spirit in us. John 14:16, 26; John 15:26; John 16:13-14; Acts 2:4; I Corinthians 2:10-12; Romans 8:26; Galatians 5:22-23. I rely on the Holy Spirit in all things; He is my daily Teacher and guide in all situations; I follow His promptings and ask that He conform all of my prayers to the will of the Father. He is the Father and the Son living in me. Galatians 5:25; I Corinthians 3:16.
Sanctification
Sanctification is the spiritual growth that follows Salvation and is made possible by God’s grace and by His Spirit living within us. Through sanctification, the Holy Spirit produces a new character in the believer, transforming the believer increasingly into the image of Jesus. Sanctification represents a continuation and deepening of spiritual growth and faith. I continue to ask the Holy Spirit to do a deep work in me, to transform me into the image of Jesus. Sometimes He will have me focus on a particular Fruit of the Spirit to strengthen in me. I continue to see the visible indications of the Holy Spirit’s work in me, through situations in which I speak or act differently than before, and through the way others react to the Fruit of the Holy Spirit within me. Hebrews 2:11; Romans 8:19, 23, 29-30; Hebrews 6:12; Hebrews 10:19-22; II Corinthians 3:12, 18; II Corinthians 6:17-18; Galatians 5:22-23; Revelation 22:14.
Humanity
Humankind is separated from God by sin. The spiritual condition of mankind, apart from Jesus Christ, is death. We are restored to a right relationship with God and to a new life in Christ Jesus only by our acceptance by faith that Jesus died to atone for our sins, and we receive God’s righteousness only by faith, not by our own effort. Jesus is the ONLY way to Salvation and eternal life. Romans 3:10-18, 22-26; Romans 4:3; Romans 5:21; Romans 6:11; John 14:6-7.
Salvation
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. Through Christ’s death, God has cancelled our sin, for all who believe. It is only by God’s grace that we are saved, through faith. God gave us the gift of Salvation out of His mercy and grace; it is not available to us from anything we have done, but only by the death and Resurrection of Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 5:8; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:30-31; Hebrews 9:28.
The Church
The Church is the Body of Christ. Each member of the Body has a unique and important role to play, as planned by God before the beginning of creation. God brings every part of the Church into unity through His Holy Spirit. Matthew 16:18-19; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:20-21; Ephesians 4:3-4, 11-13; I Corinthians 12:27-28; John 17:21-24.
Missions
The mission of the Church is Salvation – to spread the Good News of God’s gift of Salvation; all of the mighty works God does in ministry, through His Holy Spirit, shows that His promise of Salvation is True, and that He will do as He has promised. The Church is also to represent the Light of Christ in the world and to show God’s love to all people. The mission of the Church is also to disciple believers and encourage them in their spiritual growth, so that they, through the Holy Spirit working in their lives, can be about the work of building our Father’s Kingdom. Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 22:37-39; Matthew 9:37-38; Hebrews 5:12, 14; II Peter 3:9.