Essential Beliefs

DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

We teach that the Bible is God's written revelation to man, verbally inspired in all parts by God (2 Timothy 3:15-17), and expressed by human authors, according to their individual personalities and writing styles, as they were “carried along” by the Holy Spirit in this work of dual-authorship (1 Corinthians 2:7-14; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Thus the sixty-six books of the Bible are completely inerrant in their original form, and constitute the only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice for man (Psalm 19:7-9; Matthew 5:18; John 16:13; 17:17).

DOCTRINE OF GOD

We teach that there is only one living and true God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Ephesians 4:4-6), eternally existing in three holy persons: Father, Son and Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14), who is of infinite worth and definitive beauty. He is the all-powerful, all-wise creator and sovereign sustainer of all things (Genesis 1; Ephesians 3:9-10), who is invisible, personal, omnipresent spirit (John 4:24), dependent and reliant upon none (Isaiah 50:7-12). He is perfect in love, grace and mercy, as well as in justice, righteousness and truth (Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 86:15; 145:8; Isaiah 5:16; Jeremiah 9:24; 1 John 4:8).

God the Father
We teach that God the Father, the first Person of the Trinity, decrees and disposes all things according to His own good purpose, ultimately for His glory (I Chronicles 29:11-12; Romans 11:33-36; Ephesians 1:11). He is Father to all men by creation, but He is spiritual Father only to those who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-15; Galatians 4:5; Hebrews 12:5-9). His fatherhood also involves His designation within the Trinity, where the Son and the Holy Spirit are functionally subordinate to Him (John 3:16-17; 14:10; 17:1-4; Galatians 4:4).

God the Son
We teach that God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity, is of one substance and coeternal with the Father, sharing all the divine excellencies (John 10:30; 14:9-10).

We teach that it was through the Son that God created all things, and that it is the Son who continues to uphold all creation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2).

We teach that in His incarnation, the eternally existing second Person of the Trinity took on all the essential characteristics of humanity, and so united to His fully divine nature the full nature of man (Micah 5:2; John 1:1, 14; 14:9-10; 17:5; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9), which came about through a virgin birth (Matthew 1:23, 25; Luke 1:26-35), in order to reveal God, redeem men, and reign over His kingdom (Psalm 2:7-9; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:29; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 7:25-26; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

We teach that the incarnate Son, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, accomplished redemption for believing sinners through His perfect righteousness and sacrificial death on the cross, and that His death was voluntary, substitutionary, and propitiatory (John 10:15; Romans 3:24-25; 5:8; 1 Peter 2:24).

We teach that in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; Acts 2:30-31), God confirmed His Son as Lord, and gave proof that God has accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and thus guaranteed the future resurrection life of all believers (Psalm 2:7; John 5:26-29; 14:19; Romans 1:4; 4:25; 6:5-10; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23). The resurrected Jesus Christ is the believer’s Mediator before God (Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1), the Head of His Church (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18), the coming universal King, who will reign on the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:31-33), and the final Judge of all (Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 14:10; Revelation 20:11-15).

God the Holy Spirit
We teach that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is God (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 28:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; and Jeremiah 31:31-34 with Hebrews 10:15-17), being eternal (Hebrews 9:14), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10), omniscient (Isaiah 40:13-14) and omnipotent (Romans 15:13). We also teach that the Holy Spirit possesses the attributes of personality, including intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10-13), emotions (Ephesians 4:30) and will (1 Corinthians 12:11).

We teach that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute God’s will on earth; He was involved in creation (Genesis 1:2), the incarnation (Matthew 1:18), written revelation (John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21) and salvation (John 3:5-8). The broad scope of His work includes convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11); glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and transforming believers into Christ’s image (John 16:14; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22; 4:12-16). The Holy Spirit also regenerates, instructs, empowers and seals His own people for the day of redemption (2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13; 1 John 2:20, 27).

We teach that a unique work of the Holy Spirit began at Pentecost (John 16:7; Acts 2:4), when He came from the Father and the Son (John 14:16-17; 15:26) to build Christ’s church by uniting believers to Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Colossians 1:18). We teach that the Holy Spirit permanently indwells every believer from the time of conversion (Romans 8:9-11), and that it is the duty of those so indwelt to yield to His control (Ephesians 5:18).

We teach that the Holy Spirit sovereignly distributes to every member of the church gifts of service for the edification of the church body (1 Corinthians 12:4-31; 14:1-19). We teach that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles were for the purpose of authenticating the work of the Holy Spirit in establishing the church, and were never intended to be normative characteristics in the lives of believers (1 Corinthians 13:8-10; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-16; Hebrews 2:1-4), and that any contemporary ostentatious display of these violates God’s intention for them

DOCTRINE OF MAN

We teach that man was directly created by God in His image, free of sin and morally responsible for the choices he would make (Genesis 2:7, 15-25; James 3:9). We teach that God's purpose for the creation of man is His own glory, and that man’s greatest good is accordingly realized when he worships God above all and in all, walks in fellowship with Him, lives in obedience to Him, and carries out His purpose in the world (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 4:11).

We teach that through Adam’s sin against God (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-19; Romans 5:12; 1 Timothy 2:13-14) man became subject to God’s wrath, incurring the consequences of spiritual and physical death, and inheriting a corrupt nature utterly incapable of choosing to do anything acceptable to God (1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1-3), Jesus Christ being the only exception. All men are thus sinners both by nature and by choice (Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12; 1 John 1:8). With no ability to restore himself, man is hopelessly lost. Man's salvation is thereby wholly of God's grace through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:36; Romans 6:23).

DOCTRINE OF SALVATION

We teach that the salvation of man is a work of God by His grace on the basis of the atoning work of Jesus Christ, and not on the basis of human merit or works (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19). On the basis of the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the believing sinner, having been declared righteous, joined to Him and adopted into the family of God, has been freed from sin’s condemnation of death, has the bondage to sin broken and after the Lord’s return will be free from the very presence of sin (Romans 3:21-26; 5:8-9; 6:3-11; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18).

Regeneration
We teach that regeneration is a work of the Holy Spirit by which the heart of man is supernaturally changed (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5), through the instrumentality of the Word of God (John 5:24; Romans 10:13-7; 2 Thessalonians 2:14), and by which the sinner responds in repentance and faith, embracing God and His ways and trusting His provision of salvation. Genuine regeneration is shown by righteous attitudes and conduct (1 Corinthians 6:20; Ephesians 2:10), and will be enjoyed to the extent that the believer submits his life to the control of the Holy Spirit through faithful obedience to the Word of God (Ephesians 5:17-18; Philippians 2:12; Colossians 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4-10), by which the believer is increasingly conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18), which will be brought to completion in glory at Christ's coming (Romans 8:17; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2-3).

Election
We teach that election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He would graciously save. We teach that the salvation of sinners is initiated by God, based upon His sovereign choice, and not upon His anticipation of what they would do (Romans 8:28-30; 9:11-16; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Ephesians 1:4-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Titus 3:4 7; 1 Peter 1:1-2).

We teach that election does not contradict or negate human volition, nor remove man’s responsibility (Isaiah 55:6-7; John 3:18-19, 36; 5:40; Romans 9:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-13; Revelation 22:17). Nevertheless, since God has sovereignly ordained the means of receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, the result will inevitably be what God has determined (Matthew 11:25-27; John 6:37-40, 44; Acts 13:48).

Justification
We teach that the justification of sinners before God is God’s own work (Romans 8:33), by which He declares righteous those who have faith in Christ (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; Romans 2:4; 3:25; 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 7:10). This declaration of righteousness is not due to any virtue or meritorious work of man (Romans 3:20; 4:6), but rather is grounded in the forgiveness of sins on the basis of Christ’s substitutionary atonement (Colossians 2:13-14; 1 Peter 2:24). By this means God is enabled to "be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:26).

Sanctification
We teach that every believer is instantaneously set apart for God when he is justified, and is therefore declared holy and identified as a saint. This initial aspect of sanctification has to do with the believer's standing or position before God (John 17:19; Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11; Hebrews 10:10; 13:12).

We teach that there is also a progressive aspect of sanctification by which the believer, in the power of the Holy Spirit, grows throughout his lifetime in holiness, in conformity to God’s will and in likeness to the Lord Jesus Christ through obedience to the Word of God (John 17:17; Romans 6:17-22; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 2:11; 10:14; 12:14; 1 Peter 1:2).

We teach that adequate provision for victory over sin has been made by God through the believer’s union with Jesus Christ, the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and the instruction of God’s word. However, because of the effects of sin, the believer will continue to struggle with sin, and perfect holiness will not be achieved until the Lord’s return (Romans 6; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 3:9-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 2 Peter 1:3-11; 1 John 1:8-10; 3:5-9).

We teach that the believer is called to separate himself from the world’s wrong thinking and sinful conduct, unto continual growth in obedience to God’s word (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 John 3:1-10).

Perseverance
We teach that God keeps all the redeemed secure in Christ forever, through their perseverance to the end, so as to be saved. Thus, all the redeemed will persevere (John 5:24; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 5:9-10; 8:1, 31-39; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:22-23; 2 Timothy 2:12; Hebrews 7:25; 13:5; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 2:19; Jude 24). Genuine believers may rightly rejoice in the security of their salvation, because of the finished work of Christ, and be assured that this salvation is theirs, personally, based upon the testimony of Scripture and the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which He gives to those who walk in faith (Romans 6:15-22; Galatians 5:13, 25-26; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John).

DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

We teach that God, in eternity past, intended in history to make a people for Himself by redeeming them through Christ’s atonement. We teach that the church is made up of all born again believers in this present age (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:7-8). The church is different than believing Israel of the Old Testament era, but has not replaced Israel as God’s people (1 Corinthians 10:32). Instead, both the church and believing Israel are together the one people of God. God’s purpose for the church, in distinction from the nation Israel, was a mystery until it was revealed in the New Testament (John 10:16; Ephesians 2:11-3:6; 5:32; 1 Peter 2:9).

We teach that the purpose of the church, both universally and locally, is to glorify God by building itself up in the faith and making disciples of Christ through the instruction of the Word, fellowship with one another, keeping the ordinances and spreading the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:21; 4:12-16; 2 Timothy 2:2; 3:16-17; 1 John 1:3).

We teach that local churches are assemblies of believers in a given location that are to visibly manifest what is true of the universal church by following the instruction of the New Testament. Every believer and member of Christ’s universal church is called to do whatever he can to participate in a local assembly that upholds truth (Acts 20:17-32; 1 Corinthians 11:18; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; Hebrews 10:25). Believers should minister to one another by way of instruction, encouragement, accountability and admonishment (Matthew 18:5-22; 28:19-20; Romans 12:5-8; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 12:4-31; Ephesians 4:7-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:10-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

We teach that Christ is the one supreme authority over the church (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; 4:18; Colossians 1:18) and that He has empowered and appointed leaders under Him to serve His people, so that in following the leaders the congregation might learn to follow Christ (1 Timothy 5:17-22; Hebrews 13:7, 17). The biblically designated officers of the church are elders (also called bishops, overseers, shepherds, pastors, and pastor-teachers) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5).

We teach that each local church should be self-governing, determining from scripture matters of policy, discipline and doctrine, without any external hierarchical authority over it. It is appropriate, however, for like-minded churches to cooperate with each other, to the extent determined by their elders, for the propagation of the faith, mutual encouragement and counsel (Acts 15:19-31; 20:28).

We teach that the Lord has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Christian baptism by immersion in water is the testimony of a believer which visibly shows his faith in and commitment to the crucified, buried, and risen Christ, and symbolizes his union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to new life. It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible body of Christ, the church (Acts 2:38-42; 8:36-39; Romans 6:1-11; 1 Peter 3:21). The Lord's Supper is the remembrance and proclamation of His death until He returns, and should always be preceded by solemn self-examination by the believing participants. The elements of the Supper are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ, and yet, when partaken of, the believer acknowledges his union with the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:24-32).

DOCTRINE OF ANGELS

We teach that angels are spirit-beings who were created by God to serve and worship Him, and are not to be worshiped by man (Luke 2:9-14; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Hebrews 1:6-7, 14; 2:6-7; Revelation 5:11-14; 19:10; 22:9).

Fallen Angels
We teach that Satan is a created angel who incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator, taking numerous angels with him in his fall (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:1-14) and provoking the human race into sin by his temptation of Eve (Genesis 3:1-15). Satan is now the declared enemy of both God and man, and though he is presently the prince of this world (Ephesians 2:2), he is defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:20) and has eternal punishment prepared for him and his followers in the lake of fire (Isaiah 14:15; Ezekiel 28:16-19; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

DOCTRINE OF LAST THINGS

We teach that the Lord Jesus Christ will return in His physical body to this earth in power and glory to judge the nations and establish His kingdom on earth, after which will be the final judgment of unbelievers and the eternal state of glory for the saved (Ephesians 5:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7-15; 21:1-27; 22:1-21).

Death
We teach that in physical death, when the soul is separated from the body, there is no loss of immaterial consciousness (Philippians 1:21-24; Revelation 6:9-11; 20:4-6). The soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ, with whom he remains in joyful fellowship until his bodily resurrection (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8), when his glorified body will be united to his soul, in order to be forever with our Lord (John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, 50-54). The soul of the lost also consciously awaits his bodily resurrection, while being kept under punishment, only to be eternally punished by God in the lake of fire (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; Luke 16:19-26; John 5:29; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15).