We accept those large areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians. We desire to allow for freedom of conviction on other doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based upon accepted exegetical procedure and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry to which God has called us.
We explicitly affirm our belief in these basic teachings as follows:
- There is one true 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.
- We believe the Bible is God's infallible written Word, authoritative in all matters of faith and practice. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and it was written without error in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority on that which it speaks.
- Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through the miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever.
- Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of humanity by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice, expressing God's love and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone.
- Jesus Christ arose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He had lived and died.
- Jesus Christ ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and humanity, continually makes intercession for His own.
- Humanity was originally created in the image of God and sinned by disobeying God; thus, was alienated from their Creator. That historic fall brought all humanity under divine condemnation.
- Humanity's nature was corrupted by the Fall and is totally unable to please God. Every person is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
- The salvation of any person is wholly the work of God's free grace and is not the result, in whole or in part, of human works, goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation and thereby justifies them in His sight.
- The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to humanity. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power, gifts and control are appropriated in the believers by faith.
- Every believer is called to so live in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.
- Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all people, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith.
- God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in baptism and the Lord's Supper, for edification through the Scriptures and for mutual encouragement.
- There will be a resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
- Jesus Christ will come again to the earth—personally, visibly and bodily—to consummate history and to fulfill the eternal plan of God.
