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The
Bible
The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the
66 books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that scripture
in its entirety originated with God and that it was given
through the instrumentality of chosen people. Scripture thus
at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God
and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of
the human authors. The Bible is the unique, full, and final
authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there
is no other writing similarly inspired by God.
God
We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing
in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - each of Whom
possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics
of personality. In the beginning God created out of nothing
the world and all the things therein, thus manifesting the
glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness. By His sovereign
power, He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence,
He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive
purposes.
Salvation
The central purpose of God's revelation in scripture is to
call all people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created
to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go
his independent way, and thus was alienated from God and suffered
the corruption of his nature, rendering him unable to please
God. The fall took place at the beginning of human history,
and all individuals since have suffered these consequences
and are thus in need of the saving grace of God.
The salvation of mankind is, then, wholly a work of God's
free grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human
works or goodness, and must be personally appropriated by
repentance and faith. When God has begun a saving work in
the heart of any person, he gives assurance in His word that
He will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation.
Jesus
Christ
Jesus Christ is the eternal second Person of the Trinity who
was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous
conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience
to the Father and voluntarily atoned the sins of all by dying
on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice
and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.
He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified,
in which he lived and died. He ascended into heaven, and sat
down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator
between God and man, continually makes intercession for His
own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly,
to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
The
Christian Life (The Holy Spirit)
The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship
with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained
by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third
Person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father
and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ.
He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition
of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. At the point
of salvation, he permanently indwells every believer to become
the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom, and uniquely
endows each believer with gifts for the up-building of the
body. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and
applying the Scripture. His power and control are appropriated
by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life
of Christlike character and to bear fruit to the glory of
the Father.
Human
Destiny
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind,
there will be a resurrection of the body into the spiritual
world and a judgment that will determine the fate of each
individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation.
God's judgment will reveal His justice in consigning them
to perpetuate in eternal retribution their own rejection of
God. Believers will be received into eternal Communion with
God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.
The
Church
The corollary of union with Jesus Christ is that all believers
become members of His body, the Church. There is one true
Church universal, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers
to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer,
the teaching of the Word, the observance of Baptism, and Communion
as the ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship,
service to the body through the development and use of talents
and gifts, and outreach to the world.
Wherever God's people meet regularly in obedience to this
command, there is the local expression of the church. Under
the direction of elders and other supportive leadership, its
members are to work together in love and unity, intent on
the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.
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