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We believe:
1. The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testament, to be
the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete
revelation of His will for the salvation of man, and the Divine and final
authority for Christian faith and life.
2. In one God, who is the
Creator of man and all things, absolutely perfect and eternally existing
in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. That Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having
been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He was
crucified for our iniquities, was buried, and on the third day arose
bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is now our High Priest
and Advocate at the right hand of the most high
God.
4. That Holy Spirit is equal in substance and glory with
God the Father and the Son. That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to
glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict man,
regenerate sinners, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower believers for
godly living and service.
5. That man was created in the image of God, but fell
into sin and is therefore lost and can obtain salvation and spiritual
life only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
6. That salvation is by grace alone, through faith in
the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who died for our signs and was raised
according to the Scriptures. Those who thus receive Jesus Christ by faith
have their sins forgiven and their consciences cleansed, are born of the
Spirit, become children of God, are made a new creation in Christ, and
are reconciled to God.
7. That water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are
ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age as testimonies
before God and man.
8. That the Universal Church is composed of all such
persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by
the Holy Spirit and have united together in the Body of Christ of which
He is the Head, and that a local church is to reflect the truth of the
Universal Church, particularly in the areas of unity, service,
witnessing, and discipleship.
9. In the certain return of our Lord Jesus Christ in
person, and that this “Blessed Hope” has a vital bearing on the personal
life and service of the believer.
10. In the bodily resurrection of the dead, of believers
to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, of unbelievers to
judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.
11. That the government of the local church is under the
Headship of Jesus Christ and is to be guided by the Holy Spirit based on
the Scriptures for the glory of God.
12. That a Christian who is born of the Holy Spirit is to
live the new life by the power of the Holy Spirit; and that it is his
responsibility to yield himself to God, to trust and to live in Him.
13. That Christian living includes Christian service, the
winning of souls around us, and the preaching of Gospel unto the
uttermost parts of the world. To carry out these ministries, the
supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is needed. This power is granted to
every believer as he yields to and trusts in God. Prayer is, therefore,
most important among all services.
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