The Ten Items of Doctrine
1. BIBLE
We believe that the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired word of God [2 Timothy 3:16] in written form. Because of its Divine inspiration, it is superior to any other book or collection of books known in the world, and it requires our untrembling confidence in all that it teaches.
Its message and truth originated with God, and it came "by men [who] spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" [2 Peter 1:21]. While the Bible records the acts of God in history and tells us of His love; at the same time, it reflects the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors.
We believe that the Bible alone is our supreme, final and all-sufficient authority, both individually and cooperatively, in all matters of faith and practice.
2. GOD
We believe in One Holy God, Creator and Lord of the universe, eternally existing in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit - each of Whom possesses the attributes of deity and personality. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation, and by His providence, He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.
3. JESUS CHRIST
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the only Son of God; conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the birgin Mary. Thus, He is fully God and fully human. We believe in His sinless life, miracles, teachings, His sufferings and His crucifixion for our sake on a cross. He died a vicarious (i.e. He died in our place) and atoning (i.e. a death cleansing us of our sin and reuniting us to the Father) death which accomplished salvation for all who trust in Him. We believe that He physically resurrected from the dead, ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He is the only sufficient Reconciler between God and humanity. We believe in His personal and visible return to earth to consummate history in which He will raise the dead, gather all who belong to Him, and judge the living and the dead. God will then fully manifest His Kingdom when He establishes a new heaven and new earth.
4. HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the personality of the Holy Spirit who was involved in creation, active during the Old Testament era of our faith, was with Jesus during His ministry, and was sent by the Father and the Son to reveal Christ to all humankind. The Holy Spirit regenerates us (i.e. gives us a new birth spiritually), and sanctifies us (i.e. makes us pure and holy). He indwells in every Christian to empower each believer to walk in the fruit and gifts of the Spirit for the Church's constant renewal, worship, unity, truth, wisdom, holiness, love, power and mission. For the believer, He is a guide into all truth; He convicts, stimulates insight and expression, strengthens, comforts, intercedes and, with Jesus, He will raise the dead for eternal life.
5. SIN AND SALVATION
We believe that all men and women were created in the image of God, and that all have sinned and fallen short of His glory which incurs a spiritual death and alienation from God. We believe that salvation can be found in the grace (i.e. the free gift of salvation) of Jesus Christ only. Salvation cannot be gained in whole or in part by human efforts or goodness. The lost receive this grace through belief in Christ, which includes obedience to Christ. This involves repentance of sin, confession of Christ, and baptism in Christ.
6. BAPTISM
We believe that baptism is immersion of the repentant believer in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; therefore, baptism sets forth the essential facts in redemtpion -- the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; also it sets forth the essential facts in the experience of the believer -- death to sin and resurrection to newness of life.
7. LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that the Lord's Supper is a commemoration of the Lord's death until He comes again. We believe that it is a vital practice of worship for all of God's people.
8. THE CHURCH
We believe in the church's unity (i.e. united, not divided), holiness (i.e. pure and sacred), catholicity (i.e. universal and global), and apostolicity (i.e. divine). The church belongs to Christ and is His instrument for his purposes. All believers world-wide are spiritually united in the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, we should cooperate in all possible ways in God's work with fellow believers, both among us and elsewhere, to be loving and patient with one another in our differences. The Church's call is to worship and glorify God, fellowship, observe communion, equip the saints, proclaim the life and teachings of Jesus Christ to the lost, and demonstrate its commitment by compassionate service to the needs of human beings and the promotion of righteousness and justice throughout the world. Christ's desire is that all believers become active and committed members of His Body, the church, through faithful participations and uses of one's talents and gifts for the sake of His glory and edification of the Body.
9. HUMAN DESTINY
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, and a judgment to follow to determine the fate of each individual. The saved will be received into eternal communion with God and be rewarded for the faith and obedience in this life, and the lost will be condemned to a second death of separation from God into condemnation.
10. FAITH AND PRACTICE
Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. The Church recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where Scripture is silent or unclear. Rather each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she is ultimately responsible.