Civil Government: has been instituted by God for the sake of the common interest and good order of society; and government officials should be prayed for and respected; laws should be obeyed, except those that are contrary to the Word of God. (Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 22:21: Acts 5:29)
The Church: is a company of believers baptized in the name of the triune God observing the forms, ordinances and principles laid down in the scriptures. (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-21; I Corinthians 12:27-28; 1:2)
The Fall of Man: Man was created innocent but by voluntary disobedience fell from that holy state so all mankind are now sinners, inclined to do evil, and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin. (Genesis 1:27, 31; 3:1-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 1:18; 3:23)
Creation and Man: God by an act of sovereign will, created the universe, man, and all living things. (Genesis 1:1, 26-28; 2:7)
The Bible/The Word: The scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Words of God, authoritative, trustworthy, and true in every respect. The scriptures progressively revealed God’s one plan of salvation in Jesus Christ from its first promise in the Old Testament to its fulfillment in the New Testament. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21; Matthew 24:35)
The Triune God: The Bible reveals one true and living God in three equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This one God is eternal, infinite, personal and perfect in every excellence. (Deuteronomy 6:4; I Timothy 2:5; John 1:1-14; Revelation 1:8, John 14:26; Matthew 28:19; Isaiah 45:21)
- The Father – The first person of the Trinity. The created world testifies of Him in both the external order of nature and the internal working of conscience. As the Father of Old Testament Israel, He led the nation with parental love and care. He sent His beloved Son into the world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. All who confess Him as Lord, the Father makes a new creation and adopts as His children. (Psalms 19:1; Galatians 4:4-7; Psalms 83:18, 90:1-2; John 1:12-13)
- The Son – The second person of the Trinity. Although He possessed the divine nature from eternity, He became flesh for us and for our salvation. His atoning blood on the cross saves us from the guilt and condemnation of sin and is available to all. (Romans 6:23; John 3:14-16; Matthew 26:28)
- The Holy Spirit – The third person of the Trinity. The Spirit opens the mind to understand scripture, calls forth the response of repentance and faith, and gives the desire and ability to grow in Christ likeness. The Spirit’s indwelling is to make a visible difference in the lives of Christians as they yield to and cooperate with His transforming power. (I Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:5-9: John 14:14:16-17; Galatians 5:22)
Salvation: Jesus Christ secured our salvation by His atoning death on the cross. (Atonement is the satisfaction rendered to the law for some injury, i.e.. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins). Always the gift from God, salvation is both an event and a process. Salvation is received by repentance, which is Godly sorrow for sin and the turning away from it, and faith (belief and trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ. God then adopts believers as His children, forgives them of their sins, and gives them His Holy Spirit. Believers, in turn, demonstrate their faith by obeying the commands of Christ and following His example in daily living. (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8, II Corinthians 7:10, Mark 1:14-15)
Tithes and Offerings: God’s plan of finance for the Church is tithes and offerings from His people. The tithe is a tenth of one’s income. Offerings are amounts given above the tithe. (Genesis 14:20, 28:22; Leviticus 27:30; II Chronicles 31:2-10: Matthew 23:23; and I Corinthians 16:2)
Devotional Life: The devotional life is the practice of private worship. It recognizes that the heart of the Christian faith is a personal relationship between us and God. For this bond of fellowship and love to grow, we must give consistent attention to prayer and to the reading and study of God’s Word. (II Timothy 2:15; Matthew 26:41; James 1:22-24; I Thessalonians 5:17)
Marriage: God ordained marriage at creation as the lifelong covenant between a man and a woman that creates a new family unit. The New Testament uses the relationship between Christ and His Church as the model for the union between a husband and a wife. Exclusive to the marriage is the sexual relationship. It is God’s Gift and is for the expression of intimacy and the continuation of the human race. (Genesis 2:18-25; I Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 5: 21-33; Galatians 5:19-21)
The Family: The family is ordained by God as society’s basic unit. Its nucleus is a husband, and any children they may have. Scripture commands parents to provide a proper environment in which children can grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually. (Genesis 1:27-28; Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Ephesians 6:4)
Christians and Lawsuits: Christians must make every effort to live at peace with all men, believers and unbelievers. This commitment should lead to the conviction not to sue others, especially within the body of Christ. Our accountability to one another includes the responsibility to resolve conflict within the body of believers rather than in the courts. (Romans 12:17-19; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 18:15-17)
Evangelism: God has reached out in love through the person and work of Jesus Christ to redeem a lost world. Following His example, each believer has been empowered by the Holy Spirit and mandated by God to proclaim the good news (The Gospel) of Jesus Christ to a dying world for the purpose of making disciples and building up the Church, the Body of Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20)
