1. The Bible
_ All 66 books of the Old and New
Testaments, is the inspired Word of God (inerrant in the original manuscripts)
and is the supreme and final authority in faith and life (Ps 119:9-11, 89, 105;
Mt 24:35; 2 Tim 2:15; 3:14-17; 2 Pt 1:20-21).
2. One True God
_ There is one True God, eternally existing in three Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - each of whom possesses equally all attributes of Deity (Dt 6:4; Is 43:10-13; I Cor 8:4-6; 2 Cor 13:14; Mt 28:19).
3. Jesus Christ
_ Jesus Christ is both true God and true Man; the Second Person of the Trinity. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died voluntarily for the sins of people, rose victorious from the dead and ascended bodily into heaven. He lives forever, making intercession for His own, and will one day personally return to earth (Mt 1:20-23; Lk 24:36-52; Jn 1:1-3, 14; Acts 1:9-11; I Cor 15:1-4; Phil 2:5-11; Col 1:15-20; Heb 7:24-25; I Jn 2:1-2).
4. The Holy Spirit
_ The Holy Spirit, 3rd Person of the Trinity, is fully God, He came to reveal and glorify Christ and to impart new life to believers. He draws sinners, indwells believers, empowers the faithful and seals the Christian until the day of redemption (Jn 14:16-17; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; Gal 5:16, 22-25; Eph 1:13-14; 5:18; 2 Th 3:13; Ti 3:5-7).
5. Mankind
_ Mankind
was
created in the image of God; therefore, each person has value and worth. However, all are sinful and alienated from
God and unable in themselves to restore a right relationship with God. Only by God’s grace can a person gain right
standing with God (Gen 1:26-17; Ps 139:14; Rom 3:23-24; 6:23; 2 Cor 5:16-17).
6. Salvation
_ Salvation is wholly a work of God’s free grace. One is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection are the means of salvation. Only those who have, by faith, received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord are forgiven (Jn 1:12-13; Acts 4:12; 16:30-31; Rom 5:8 Eph 2:8-9).
7. The Church
_ The
Church is Christ’s Body, composed of all who put faith in Him (Mt 16:18;
Acts 20:28; I Cor 12:12-27; Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:18). All believers constitute the universal church
of which Christ is the Head. The local
church (a portion of the Body of Christ) is a group of believers in Christ who
unite together to advance the work of God’s ministry. Water baptism and communion are two important
acts of obedience practiced in the local church (Rom 6:3-4; I Cor 11:23-26).
_
We also recognize that there are
Three Levels of Beliefs:
1. Convictions ~ Non-negotiable, eternal truths of Scripture.
(the above doctrines which we would part fellowship over as being the biblical essentials of faith)
2. Persuasions ~ Biblically held views on debated topics.
(we do not part fellowship over)
3. Opinions ~ Personal preferences held freely.
(obviously we respect other’s opinions)
1. Convictions ~ Non-negotiable, eternal truths of Scripture.
(the above doctrines which we would part fellowship over as being the biblical essentials of faith)
2. Persuasions ~ Biblically held views on debated topics.
(we do not part fellowship over)
3. Opinions ~ Personal preferences held freely.
(obviously we respect other’s opinions)
