I. The Scriptures

The Scriptures, Old and New Testament, consisting of sixty-six books were given by inspiration of God and, thereby, infallible and inerrant. The Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience. (Ps. 19:7; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).

II. God

There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience that springs from faith (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 145:3; John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 1 Tim. 1:17).

III. The Trinity

The Scriptures reveal one God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-equal in glory, honor and power. Each person has distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being (Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 1:3-14).

IV. Providence

God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; not in any way to be the author or approver of sin or to destroy the will and responsibility of intelligent creatures (Isa. 46:9-11; Prov. 16:33; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3; Jas. 1:13-15).

V. The Fall of Man

God originally created Man in His own image and free from sin; but through the temptation of Satan, Adam transgressed the command of God, fell from his original holiness and righteousness where his descendants inherited a nature corrupt, and wholly opposed to God and His law. As a result, they are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors (Gen. 1:26-27; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-19; Eph. 2:1-3).

VI. God’s Purpose of Grace

Election is God’s gracious and eternal purpose, where He chose some persons unto everlasting life—not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His sheer mercy in Christ—in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified. God’s grace therefore excludes boasting and promotes humility. In connection to His sovereign choice, God accomplishes the work of salvation by awakening the sinner to treasure and receive all the blessings of the Gospel (Rom. 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 1:27-29; Eph. 1:4, 11).

VII. The Mediator

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is fully God and fully man, He is the divinely appointed Mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, born of the Virgin Mary, without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law, suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, bodily rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He will return again visibly and bodily. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe (Isa. 53:10-12; John 1:1, 14; Acts 1:9-11; Rom. 3:21-26; 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Gal. 3:13; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 1:1-3).

VIII. The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, of the same divine substance as God. In all His work, He brings glory to the Father and the Son. He effectually and savingly convicts every believer by enlightening him to the Father’s redemptive purpose through the finished work of Christ. From the moment of conversion, the spirit indwells believers and subsequently, believers are called to continually be filled with the spirit. He distributes spiritual gifts to all believers according to His sovereign, wise, and good pleasure for the purpose of building up the body of Christ, which is the Church. He is the Comforter, the Spirit of Adoption, the Seal of our Salvation, the Guarantee of our inheritance in Christ, and the active Agent in progressive sanctification (John 14:16-17; 16:14; Acts 5:3; Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 1:13-14, 5:18).

IX. Regeneration

Regeneration is a change of heart, brought about by the Holy Spirit, who gives life to those dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone (Eph. 2:1-6; Tit. 3:5; 1 John 5:1).

X. Repentance

Repentance is a gift of God’s grace, where a person convicted and persuaded of the evil of his sin, humbles himself with godly sorrow, and hatred of sin, with a purpose to forsake sin and endeavors to walk before God, as to please Him in all things. Furthermore, true repentance is a response of the whole person, involving his affections, thoughts, words, and actions. (Acts 2:37-38; 11:18; 2 Cor. 7:10-11).

XI. Faith

Saving faith is a gift of God’s grace. It is characterized by belief in and dependence on the redeeming work of Christ, accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification, sanctification, and everlasting life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, accompanies all other saving graces, and progressively leads to Christ-like character. (Rom. 3:27-28; 4:1-5; 4:17-25; 10:14, 17; Phil. 1:29; Eph. 2:8; Jas. 2:14-26).

XII. Justification

We believe that salvation for both Jews and Gentiles is available only through Jesus and His finished work. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners through the propitiation that Christ has made. Justification is not accomplished by anything wrought in them or done by them, but on account of Christ’s obedience and satisfaction of God’s just demands on our behalf. Through Christ’s perfect obedience, God fully discharges the debt of all those who are justified and imputes to them the full and real righteousness of Christ. Furthermore, Christians receive and rest on Him and His righteousness by faith, day by day. In this way, justification frees, motivates, and enables believers to enjoy the ongoing transformation of progressive sanctification through God’s many promises in the gospel. We believe that a zeal for personal and public obedience flows from this free justification (John 14:6; Acts 4:12, 13:38-39; Rom. 3:21-26; 8:34; 10:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9).

XIII. Sanctification

Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s word and Spirit dwelling in them. The process of sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength and a growing appreciation for the Gospel, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in joyful obedience to all Christ’s commands. Lasting biblical change, like all Christian experiences, is fundamentally a work of the Gospel, which is the power of God to convert a sinner in a moment and the power of God to conform a believer to the image of Christ over a lifetime. (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:26-27; Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 5:13-24; 2 Pet. 1:3-11).

XIV. Perseverance of the Saints

All those whom God has regenerated will never totally or finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end. Though they may fall through neglect and temptation, into sin, where they grieve the Spirit, hinder communion with God, impair their comforts, bring reproach on the church, and temporal judgments on themselves, but they will be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (John 6:37-40; 10:28-29; Rom. 8:28-39; 1 Cor. 1:8-9; Phil. 1:6).

XV. The Church

We believe that the Church is comprised of both Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Jesus as the promised deliver. This belief in the universal body of Messiah encourages both Jews and Gentiles to live together in unity. The Lord Jesus is the head of the church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves in particular local churches; and to each of these churches He has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which He has appointed. The regular officers of a church are Elders (Pastors) and Deacons. The mission of the church is to engage in God’s mission of redeeming people from all the peoples of the world to the glory of God (Matt. 28:18-20; John 10:16; Acts 14:23; 15:24-28, 20:17, 28; Rom 14:1-15, 21; Col. 2:16-23; Eph. 1:22; 5:23, 2:11-3:6; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; 5:17-18; Tit. 1:5-9; Heb. 10:25).

XVI. Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. We embrace a complementarian understanding of these roles, recognizing complete equality of personhood, but also recognizing God given distinctions in roles. The husband is to be the head of the wife, which entails loving nurture and spiritual leadership. The wife is to respect her husband and to submit to him willingly as unto the Lord. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing from the Lord. They are to obey their parents in the Lord. Parents are to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The Bible opposes all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography (Gen. 1:26–30; 2:5–7, 15–25; Deu.6:4–9; Jos. 24:15; Ps. 139:13, Rom. 1:24-27, Eph. 5:21–6:3). In addition, we embrace the rational and affirmations found in Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

XVII. Baptism

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, joyfully received by the believer, where immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It is a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving himself up to God to live and walk in newness of life and a prerequisite for church membership (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 12:13).

XVIII. The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and the fruit of the vine, and to be observed by His churches until the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him and of their church fellowship/membership until He returns (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-34).

XIX. The Lord’s Day

The Lord’s Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Rev. 1:10).

XX. Liberty of Conscience

God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates, being ordained of God, ought to be yielded to in all lawful things commanded by them, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake (Matt. 15:9; Rom. 13:1-7; 14:4; Acts 5:29; Col. 2:20-23).

XXI. The Resurrection

The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God—the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to judgment. The bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised (John 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:12-28; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; Phil. 1:23).

XXII. The Judgment

We believe in the personal, visible return of Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. God has appointed a day, where He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when everyone shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go into everlasting and conscious punishment and the righteous into everlasting life (Matt. 25:46; John 5:22, 27-29; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:6-11; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 7:13-17; 14:9-11).