The Holy Bible is the authoritative Word of God to us. It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. Human authors wrote the scriptures under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. In its original writing, it is inspired, infallible, and inerrant.

(Psalm 12:6, 119:104-105, 89, 160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 40:8; Luke 1:37; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Hebrews 4:12)

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe and the Redeemer of mankind. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

(Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless human life, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He physically resurrected from the dead in a glorified body after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to the right hand of the Father and will physically and visibly return again in power and glory to establish His Kingdom on earth.

(Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23, 3:16-17; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30, 20:28; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:5-6; 2 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Timothy 2:5, 3:16, 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15; Revelation 1:7)

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to make us aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts as He wills to build and sanctify the Church. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. Baptism in the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth.

(Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17-18; John 14:16-17, 16:7-15; Acts 1:5-8, 2:1- 4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13-14, 5:18)

Humanity is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. In the beginning human beings were innocent of sin and endowed by God with freedom of choice. By this free choice they sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan humanity transgressed the command of God and fell from their original innocence whereby their inherit nature and environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as human beings are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring human beings into His holy fellowship and enable them to fulfill the creative purpose of God. All human beings are uniquely created, loved by God, and worthy of dignity, Christian love and respect.

(Genesis 1:27-30, 2:5, 7, 8-25, 3:1-24, 9:6; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Jeremiah 17:5; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3)

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ: His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a free gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts. Jesus, who was without sin, allowed Himself to be punished for both our sinfulness and our sins, enabling all those who believe to be free from the penalty of sin, which is death. Through repentance and faith in Christ, we receive forgiveness of sins and salvation.

(Psalms 32:1-5; Isaiah 53:6-12; John 3:16-17, 14:6; Acts 2:21; Romans 5:1-2, 6:23, 10:10- 13; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 1:7-12, 2:4-10; Titus 3:4-7; 1 John 1:7-9)

Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.

(John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

Human beings, as image bearers of God, were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be everlastingly in union with God is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. Heaven is the eternal dwelling place for all believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. After living one life on earth, unbelievers will be judged by God and sent to Hell where they will be eternally tormented with the devil and the fallen angels.

(Matthew 5:12, 20, 25:34; Mark 9:43-48; John 3:16, 14:17, 17:24; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 9:27, 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 20:11- 15)

Those who would seek to be in a leadership position within the Church must first and foremost be true followers of Jesus Christ, immersed in the Word of God, faithful, not self-willed, not prone to anger or violence, sober, of good behavior, and communicators of sound doctrine.

(1 Timothy 3:1-13; 2 Timothy 1:1-14, 2:2; Titus 1:6-9)