God
We believe and teach that there is one God,1 who alone is eternal and self-existent.2 We believe and teach that the one true God exists eternally as one substance in three persons—the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.3 These three persons subsist as one in essence, equal in deity, power, and glory.
Scripture
We believe and teach that the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is God-breathed, the Holy Spirit guiding the human authors in revealing the will of God for His creation. The Bible, therefore, is the sole authority for establishing what Christians are to believe and teach, how Christians are to live holy and godly lives, and how Christ’s Church is governed.4 The Bible’s meaning and application is determined by believers and their leaders working together to achieve a mutual understanding.5 Proper interpretation is the collective endeavor of the faith community.
Humanity
We believe and teach that all humans are created in the image of God.6 Therefore, all people have intrinsic value and purpose.7 By the sin of the first man and woman (Adam and Eve), death entered the world.8 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, alienated from God and without hope apart from the blood of Jesus Christ.9
Salvation
Salvation is found in Christ alone and is offered to all by grace through faith.10 The gift of salvation is accepted and a living faith is demonstrated when a person hears the gospel, believes Jesus is the Son of God, repents of past sins, confesses Christ as Lord, and puts on Christ through full immersion in water, i.e., baptism.11 A person who has undergone the forgoing process has “obeyed the gospel” from which flows a life of obedience.12
The Church
We believe and teach that the Church is the community of faith established by Jesus Christ and bought with His blood.13 The Church is the Body of Christ on earth, with Christ as the head.14 The universal Church consists of all the redeemed from every tribe, language, people and nation upon the earth throughout time.15 The local Church consists of a company of Christians who regularly gather together for instruction, edification, prayer, worship, fellowship, and service.16 Christ’s Church is comprised of a priesthood of all believers serving as ministers of the gospel according to the gifts which God has given them.17 We believe Christ has laid upon the members of the local Church the primary task of making disciples of all nations until Christ returns.18
Scripture References