The Trinity
It is the testimony of both the Old Testament and the New Testament that God is both One and Triune. The biblical revelation of the Godhead testifies that there is only one God existing eternally as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17; John 14:16-20; Genesis 1:2,26-27)
- Father: God the Father is the creator of the universe, all things visible and invisible. In love, He created man in His own image for fellowship and called man back to Himself through His Son after the rebellion and fall of man. (Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24-28; John 3:16-17)
- Son: Jesus Christ is eternally God. He was together with the Father and the Holy Spirit from the beginning, and through Him all things were made. For man’s redemption, Jesus left heaven and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary. The resurrected Son is forever one Christ with two natures—God and man—in one person. (John 1:1-3, 6:38-39; Philippians 2:7-8)
- Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is God. He was active in the Old Testament and was sent to the Church in fullness on The Day of Pentecost. He empowers believers for service and to witness, cleanses man from the old nature, conforms us to the image of Christ, releases spiritual gifts, and produces the fruit of the Spirit. (John 16:5-15; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4; ; Acts 8:14-17; Galatians 5:22-25)
The Holy Scripture
The Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is alone the infallible, inspired Word of God; its authority is ultimate, final, and eternal. God’s Word cannot be added to, subtracted from, or superseded in any regard. The Bible is the source of all doctrine, instruction, correction, and reproof. It contains all that is needed for guidance in godliness and Christian living. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:14-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Original Sin & The Atonement
Mankind was meant to have fellowship with God, but through Adam’s disobedience, sin separated us from God. All of us have sinned and have fallen short of God’s glory. It is Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross that paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world, but its benefits are only applicable to those who receive Jesus – by grace and through faith – as their Savior. (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:10; Romans 3:24-25)
Salvation
The Bible clearly conveys that salvation is a free gift of God, based solely on the merits of the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of His Son, and is appropriated by faith – not by our works. This gift of salvation is offered to all people by grace and is received by faith in the Lord Jesus (justification). The new life in Christ includes the privileges of adoption and inheritance in God’s kingdom. Furthermore, salvation is appropriated by repentance and belief in response to God’s love and provision for all mankind. It is predestined only in the sense that God, through His omniscience, foreknew those who would choose Him. It is secure in the eternal and unchanging commitment of God who does not lie and is forever the same. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 2:11; John 1:12-13; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 8:17; John 10:28-29; John 3:16)
Baptism & Communion
The Bible assigns two ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ to the church. While water baptism does not provide salvation, it is a prescribed act of obedience commanded by Jesus and identifies the believer with the death and resurrection of Christ. Communion is a commemoration of the death of the Lord and is done in remembrance of Him until He comes again; it is a time of encounter and a sign of our participation in Him. Both water baptism and communion are restricted to believers in Jesus. (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16)
The Church
The church is the body of Christ, the ambassadors of God who are called out of darkness to proclaim His glorious light to the rest of the world while continuing His work on the earth. The goal of the church is to make disciples of all nations and to present the saints (believers) complete in Christ. Christ is the head of the church and has sovereignly assigned the role of shepherd/overseer/elder to faithful men. (Matthew 16:17-19; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Timothy 3:1-7)
The Christian Life
We believe that the Scriptures portray the life of the Christian in this world to be one of balance between what is imputed to us and what is imparted to us according to our faith and maturity. Hence, God’s provision for His children is total, and the promises are final and forever. Salvation in Christ should produce an active lifestyle of loving obedience and service to God. God’s grace that saved us also helps us progressively and successfully live the Christian life (sanctification). While the Christian life is filled with trials, tests, and warfare against the flesh and a spiritual enemy, God has given us spiritual weapons and persevering grace. For those abiding in Christ until they die, or He returns, the promises of eternal blessing in the presence of God are assured. To remain faithful through all circumstances of life requires dependence upon the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 2:11-13; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; 2 Corinthians 1:20)
The Family & Marriage
Marriage and family is the first institution created by God and therefore foundational for all human society. The Bible clearly defines marriage as being the lifelong covenantal union between one biological man and one biological woman. The husband and the wife are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, while the husband is called to be the spiritual covering and servant-leader of the family. It is the duty of parents to train up their children in the ways of our Lord. We are grateful that God gives special grace to single parents, enabling them to accomplish this kingdom task. (Genesis 1:27-28; Ephesians 5:21-33; Proverbs 22:6)
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is the immersion in the power of the Holy Spirit, which is evidenced through boldness to preach the Gospel and by the active gifts of the Holy Spirit. Believers are encouraged to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts and use them in a manner that strengthens the church and reveals God’s power to unbelievers. (Acts 2:1-4; Acts 1:8; John 16:5-15; Luke 3:16; Acts 8:14-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Corinthians 14:1,26,39-40)
Eschatology
We affirm the bodily, personal, second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the saints, the millennium, and the final judgment. The final judgment will determine the eternal status of both saints and unbelievers, as determined by their relationship to Jesus Christ. We affirm with the Bible the perfect final state of the new heavens and the new earth. (Matthew 24:30; 1 Peter 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 21:1-5)