2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is useful for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Supporting verses: 1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Timothy 4:13, 16; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32; Hebrews 5:12-14; I Peter 1:20


God
We believe 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. He is all loving, all-powerful, and all wise. God is Father to those who become His children through Jesus Christ.

Mark 12:29 - "Jesus answered him, 'The first of all the commandments is: "Hear O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is One. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength." This is the first Commandment.'" (Deuteronomy 6:4, John 17:3)

Supporting verses: Psalm 33:11; Genesis 1:1; Malachi 3:6; Romans 8:15-17; Ephesians 4:6; John 6:27; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; 1 John 5:20; Acts 5:3-9 (God's Love: Romans 5:8; John 3:16; 1 John 4:10)

Omnipresent: Jeremiah 23:24; 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Corinthians 2:6; Psalm 15:3

Omniscient: Psalm 147:5; Job 37:16; Ezekiel 11:5b; John 16:30

Omnipotent: Jeremiah 10:6-7; Matthew 28:18-19; Luke 9:43, 10:19; John 17:2



Son
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 perfect of obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for 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 God, 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 life.

Hebrews 4:15 - "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

Supporting Verses: Hebrews 1:3; John 1:14; 1 Peter 2:24; Luke 24:1-7; Hebrews 7:25; Titus 2:11-14


Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He was sent to the world by the Father, at the request of the Son, to apply to mankind the saving work of Jesus. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and coming judgment. 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 building up the church. 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 Christ-like character and bear fruit to the glory of God, the Father.

Titus 3:4 - "...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit."

Supporting verses: John 4:24; Acts 5:3-4; Acts 2:33; John 16:8-14; Acts 2:4; Romans 8:1-11; John 14:15-18; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 14:25-26; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Galatians 5:16-25


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 and woman defied God, choosing to go their own way, and thus were alienated from God and suffered the corruption of their nature, rendering them 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. Salvation of humankind is then, wholly the work of God's free grace, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, not the result, in whole or 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 its consummation. In its broadest sense, salvation includes spiritual rebirth, being set apart for God's purposes, and glorification at the end of life.

Romans 10:9 - "...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Supporting verses: Genesis 3; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:6-11; Ephesians 2:8-9, 4:22-24; 2 Peter 3:9; John 6:44,47; Philippians 1:6; John 14:6


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, comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to teaching of the Word, worshipping, ministering, observance of baptism and communion, fellowship, relationships, service and use of talents and gifts.

The Church depends on the financial gifts of its attendees. The Scripture directs believers to support the Church, both locally and globally. These resources serve to sustain the church, as well as the work and ministry of its leaders. By supporting God's Church, the Bible teaches that we are giving back to Him.

Wherever God's people meet together in obedience to His commands, there is the local expression of the Church. Its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on being His people, doing His work.

Hebrews 10:25 - "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 - "Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income..."

1 Corinthians 9:13-14 - "Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the alter share in what is offered at the alter? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the Gospel."

Supporting verses: Romans 16:5; Matthew 16:18; I Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; I Timothy 4:12-16; Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26-30; II Corinthians 8:10-15; Malachi 3:6-12; Romans 12:4-5


Baptism
The observance of Baptism by immersion serves a two-fold purpose:

1. To be obedient to the commands of Jesus Christ. Baptism is intended to be the first act of obedience after a person believes in Jesus Christ. Baptism is not required for salvation. It is an outward expression of restoration work that has already happened on the inside.
2. To identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism is a picture of this event. When a person is laid under the water, it is a picture of the death and burial. When they are brought up out of the water, it is a picture of the resurrection.
   
   

Romans 6:3-4 - "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Supporting verses: Matthew 28:19; Luke 23:40-43; Romans 6:1-10; Colossians 2:12


Communion
Communion, also referred to as the Lord's Supper, is a symbolic act of obedience and remembrance. Through the partaking of the bread and wine, we are remembering the life and death of Jesus Christ. On the night He was crucified, He took the bread and broke it, and said to His disciples, "...this is my body which is given for you. Take and eat it and as often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me." He then took the wine and said, "...this is the blood of the new covenant which is shed for you, as often as you drink it, remember Me."

Matthew 26:26-28 - "While they were eating, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples saying, 'Take, eat; this is my Body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'"

Supporting verses: Luke 22:15-20; Mark 14:22-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 11:23-30


Last Things
God, in His own way and in His own time, will bring the world to an end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge His own. Those who have rejected the free gift of God will have chosen their own eternal destiny of being apart from God in eternal separation.

Matthew 24:36-37 - "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah so it will be at the coming of the Son of man."

Supporting verses: Matthew 24:30-44; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28; 2 Timothy 4:1; Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27-28; Matthew 7:22-23; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelations 20:11-15