The Bible
God wrote a book
The Bible is God's Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives.
(Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16)
(Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16)
Trinity
God: Three in One
God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He exists as one substance in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 14:10, 16; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8- 10; James 2:19)
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 14:10, 16; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8- 10; James 2:19)
The Father
God is great, God is good
God is great: He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, holy. It is in Him that we live, move, and exist. God is good: He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.
(Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6 John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4)
(Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6 John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4)
The Son
God became man
Jesus Christ is completely human, but at the same time completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are enemies of God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God's demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we could have life.
(Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16)
(Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16)
The Holy Spirit
God is always present
His presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth, and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God's righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ.
(Genesis 1:2; Psalms 51:11; 139:7 ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Lk 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14- 16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17)
(Genesis 1:2; Psalms 51:11; 139:7 ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Lk 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14- 16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17)
Eternity
Somewhere forever
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
(John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15)
(John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15)
Man
God's image bearers
Man is made in the image of God and is the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God, but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
(Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11)
(Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11)
Salvation
God's only way
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation is a gift from God and it cannot be earned through our own efforts.
(Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18;3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 3:20)
(Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18;3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 3:20)
The Church
God's design for community
The church is a local community of baptized believers unified through faith in Christ. It is committed to the teachings of Christ, to obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.
(Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3)
(Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3)
Marriage and Sexuality
They shall become one
"Marriage" has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive, lifetime union, as delineated in Scripture. Divorce is not part of God’s original plan and does great damage to the institutions of marriage and family. However the Bible states that God allows divorce in certain cases because of the hardness of our hearts.
God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other, and there should be no sexual activity outside of marriage. Any form of sexual immorality, including but not limited to adultery, fornication, homosexuality, polygamy, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to alter one’s gender is sinful and outside God’s will.
God offers forgiveness and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and grace through Jesus Christ. Every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are neither in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the church and are to be repudiated.
(Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:20-23; Deuteronomy 5:18; Psalm 51:1-6; Proverbs 5:15-20; 6:32; 18:22; Ecclesiastes 9:9; Jeremiah 29:23; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; Acts 15:29; I Corinthians 5:9-12; 6:9-11,16-20; 7:1-16; 10:8; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–7; I Timothy 1:8-11; Hebrews 12:15-17; 13:4; Jude 5-8; Revelation 2:14–16; 21:8; 22:15)
God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other, and there should be no sexual activity outside of marriage. Any form of sexual immorality, including but not limited to adultery, fornication, homosexuality, polygamy, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to alter one’s gender is sinful and outside God’s will.
God offers forgiveness and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and grace through Jesus Christ. Every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are neither in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the church and are to be repudiated.
(Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:20-23; Deuteronomy 5:18; Psalm 51:1-6; Proverbs 5:15-20; 6:32; 18:22; Ecclesiastes 9:9; Jeremiah 29:23; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; Acts 15:29; I Corinthians 5:9-12; 6:9-11,16-20; 7:1-16; 10:8; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–7; I Timothy 1:8-11; Hebrews 12:15-17; 13:4; Jude 5-8; Revelation 2:14–16; 21:8; 22:15)
The Ordinances
Until He Comes
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus requiring immersion in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of a believer’s commitment to relationship with God, obedience to His commands, and fellowship with other believers. It is prerequisite to church membership.
(Matthew 3:5-6; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; John 3:22-23; John 4:1-2; Acts 2:36-42; Acts 10:47- 48; Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27-28; 1Peter 3:20-21)
The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine (unfermented), and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is designed to commemorate his death, to confirm the faith in the salvation that was made possible through His resurrection, and to be a renewal of our communion with him.
(Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34)
(Matthew 3:5-6; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; John 3:22-23; John 4:1-2; Acts 2:36-42; Acts 10:47- 48; Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27-28; 1Peter 3:20-21)
The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine (unfermented), and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is designed to commemorate his death, to confirm the faith in the salvation that was made possible through His resurrection, and to be a renewal of our communion with him.
(Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34)