THE BIBLE

The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired word of God without error in the original writings. Its authority is above all others, unchangeable and eternal. It cannot be added to, subtracted from or superseded in any way. It is the source of all doctrine, instruction, correction and reproof. Isaiah 40:8, John 17:17, Romans 16:25-26, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Peter 1:20-21

THE TRINITY

There is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they are coequal and coeternal. Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35, Isaiah 9:6, 2 Corinthians 13:14

THE FATHER

God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, always truthful, and above all, Holy. It is in Him that we live, move and exist. He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate and faithful to His people and His promises. Leviticus 19:2; Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6, John 3:16, 4:24, 5:26; Acts 17:28, Romans 3:3-4

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the trinity. He has been with the Father and the Holy Spirit from the beginning, and through Him all things were made. Jesus was fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, suffered and sacrificed his life by dying on the cross for mankind, and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father and will return in power and glory. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with the Father. Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, 53; Matthew 1:18-23, 3:17, 14:33, 16:16, 28:5-6; Luke 24:46-47, John 1:1, 14, 10:30, 11:25-27, 17:1-5, 20:28; Acts 1:9, 2:22-24, 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4, 3:23-26, 8:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21, Galatians 4:4-5, Colossians 1:15, 2:9; Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, 3:16

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The ministry of the Holy Spirit was active in the Old Testament and given to the church in fullness at Pentecost. The Spirit’s presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Jesus Christ. He convicts people of their sin, regenerates the believing sinner, indwells, guides, comforts, instructs and empowers the believer for godly living and service. Genesis 1:2, Numbers 27:18, Judges 14:6, Psalm 139:7; Isaiah 61:1-3, Joel 2:28, Mark 1:10, Luke 1:35, 4:1, 11:13, 12:12; John 16:7-14; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 13:2; Romans 8:9, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Peter 1:21

SALVATION

Sin entered the world through man’s disobedience to God, therefore we are all born with a sinful nature. Every person has made their own choice to sin and is therefore separated from God because of their own unrighteousness. The penalty of sin is eternal death in hell. Salvation was made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross, his death and resurrection from the dead. Through the shedding of his blood, payment for our wrongdoings was made and forgiveness of sin was made available to all. Jesus defeated sin and death forever by rising from the dead, enabling everyone who believes to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death. Each person must therefore confess that they have sinned and have not lived a perfect life. Regeneration of the spirit and salvation come to every person who confesses their sins to God, believes in their heart that Jesus’ blood is the only sufficient payment for their sins, and that Jesus rose from the dead. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts. Isaiah 1:18, 53:5, 55:7; Matthew 1:21, 27:22-66, 28:1-6; John 1:12, 1:29, 3:16-18, 3:36; Acts 2:21, 4:12; Romans 3:23-25; 5:6-10; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 9:24-28

WATER BAPTISM

Water baptism is to be the first step of obedience to God after salvation for all believers. Water baptism is a beautiful picture of what Jesus did for us. It symbolizes the believer’s faith in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. As they are immersed in water, they are identifying themselves with Jesus’ death and burial. They are publicly showing everyone that they have died to themselves, and their sins are washed away. When they are raised out of the water, they are symbolically resurrected—raised to a new life in Christ. Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:4

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His ascension, to empower every believer to preach the gospel throughout the whole earth. A person receives the Holy Spirit when they receive Jesus as their Savior. However, as demonstrated in numerous accounts throughout the New Testament, a believer must be baptized in the Holy Spirit to accept the full measure of His work and be completely activated in their life. Believers may receive the Holy Spirit by faith based on the truth of Scripture and the desire of their heart to accept the promise of God. To receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, simply approach God in an attitude of faith, asking Him to fill you with His Spirit. With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, a more active love for Christ, for his word and for the lost; speaking in tongues, signs and wonders, a greater consecration to God and an increased desire to make a difference. Joel 2:28-29, Matthew 3:11, Mark 16:17, Luke 11:13, John 7:37-39, Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:44-47, 19:1-6

THE GIFTS IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is manifested through a variety of spiritual gifts to build and sanctify the church, demonstrate the validity of the resurrection and confirm the power of the gospel. The Bible’s lists of gifts are not necessarily exhaustive and may occur in various combinations. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the manifestation of the gifts in their lives. These gifts always operate in harmony with the scriptures. Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6-7; Hebrews 2:4; 1 Peter 4:10

THE CHURCH

There are two branches of the church—universal and local. The universal church consists of everyone around the world who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The local church is a community of believers who gather in unity. God has called each believer to be an active participant in a local church family. The local church equips believers to fulfill the great commission and the work of the ministry. The church is to be a place where believers can be healed, where they can grow in knowledge and wisdom, and where they can be empowered to fulfill the purpose of God for their lives. Matthew 16:18, 28:19-20; John 17:20-23 Acts 9:31; Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22, 4:11-12; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 10:24-25, 12:23

COMMUNION

Communion, instituted by Jesus, is a remembrance and proclamation of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Jesus himself instituted communion to the church when he ate “The Lord’s Supper” with his disciples. Communion is for believers to gather in community, to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and to examine their hearts for unconfessed sin. The bread and juice are used as a touch point for the participant to remember in thanksgiving the breaking of Jesus’ body and the shedding of his blood. John 6:35, 48-51; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

MARRIAGE

Marriage is a covenant, a sacred bond, between one man and one woman. Biblical marriage is instituted by God, and publicly and lawfully entered before God. Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6