There is one and only one living and true God. God is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God created the universe out of nothing. God has always existed in the three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet his existence is totally without division of nature, essence, or being. God is perfect in love, justice, holiness, righteousness, and truthfulness. These attributes have been displayed for mankind in the way he has worked in the world, as revealed in the Scriptures. Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14. God the Father is the originator of every good thing. The Father begat the Son, and from the Father and Son the Spirit proceeds. He reigns with providential care over the universe and everything within it. Jeremiah 10:10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6. God the Son has been revealed to the world in the person of Christ Jesus. He is fully God and fully man, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified, dead, and buried. On the third day he rose again, and he sits on the right hand of God the Father. He is the perfect mediator between God and man, constantly interceding for those in his church. One day he will return to gather his church and judge the world. John 1:1,2, 14; Luke 1:35; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 24-28; Hebrews 9:24. God the Holy Spirit is the agent for conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Through him man is called to salvation, and through him man is regenerated. He is the illuminator of Scripture and truth, and he bestows gifts upon the church which enable true worship, praise, teaching, preaching, and evangelism. Through his gifts peace-filled, holy living is possible. By his presence he seals believers until the day of final redemption. John 16:8-11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 5:18.

Salvation is the free gift of God to man and which cannot be earned by man. It is available solely through repentance and personal faith in Jesus Christ, who made salvation possible through his shed blood on the cross. Salvation, in the fullest sense, is a process which begins with regeneration, then continues through justification, sanctification, and glorification. Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 2:8-10. Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit whereby man is convicted of his sin and responds in faith to Christ’s offer of salvation. Through regeneration, man is able to confess his sins and submit to Christ as Lord and Savior. Colossians 1:21-22. Justification is the act whereby God declares the believer righteous through his repentance and faith in Christ. From a human point of view, regeneration and justification occur simultaneously. The believer is now in a relationship of peace and favor with God. Galatians 3:23-25. Sanctification is the lifelong process of the believer’s growth in spiritual maturity and in his relationship with God through Christ. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in continued conviction of sin and an increased awareness on the part of the believer in the work, purpose, and person of God. Sanctification is actively opposed by Satan, his angels, and the continued presence of the inherent sinfulness of the believer. Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-14. Glorification is the completion of salvation whereby the believer is restored to his intended place in God’s kingdom in his resurrected, imperishable body. 1 Corinthians 15:35-57.

The invisible church is composed of all the believers throughout the world. The visible church is made up of the many autonomous, local congregations of regenerate believers. Those in the church are associated to one another by covenant in faith and fellowship of the Gospel. The church is to observe the ordinances, be governed by God’s laws, and exercise spiritual gifts, rights, and privileges granted by God. The church should serve to edify and love one another. The church is to practice discipline to protect the church from sin, honor Christ, and protect its witness. The proper offices of the church are pastors, or elders, and deacons. 

Matthew 18:18-20; Ephesians 5:25-27; Acts 13:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:9-14, 3:1-15.

God has ordained that civil authorities be established in the world, and that these authorities serve as the means of administering his justice in the world. Therefore, Christians ought to regularly pray for those in positions of civil authorities so that God’s will might be done through them. The authorities are also to be obeyed in all things, except when the authorities demand obedience in things which are contrary to the will of God. 

Acts 5:17-31; Romans 12:17-21, 13:1-7.

In his own time and in his own way, God will bring about the end of the earth. Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead, the righteous and the wicked. A bodily resurrection of the dead will occur, with the righteous entering heaven, and the wicked going into eternal judgment. 

2 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 21:11-15.