GOD
God is ruler of all things. There is only one God, and He is eternally existent in three coequal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
THE FATHER
God the Father is the Creator and sustainer of everything. He created man in His own image for fellowship and is calling man back to Himself through Christ after the rebellion and fall of man.
THE SON
Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is coequal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is both completely man and completely God. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to reign as King.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. Every believer has access to the Holy Spirit’s gifts when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His guidance daily.
THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs about living.
HUMANITY
People are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the highest form of God’s creation. Although we all have tremendous potential for good, all of us are impaired by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” Sin separates us from God.
SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his or her life by faith. Anyone who is united with Christ gets a fresh start and is created new. God creates each of us with a plan and purpose for our lives which we cannot fulfill except through Him.
ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in Heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.
THE CHURCH
The church is a local community of believers unified through faith in Christ and a part of the bigger whole of the global church. It is committed to the teachings of Christ and to obeying all of His commands as it seeks to bring the gospel to the world. The church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ and making Him known to the world.
WATER BAPTISM
Anyone who repents of their sin and believes in Christ as their Savior is to be baptized in water. By doing this, they symbolically declare to the world that they have died with Christ and have also been raised to live a new life with Him.
COMMUNION
The Lord’s supper, consisting of bread and fruit of the vine, is a symbol expressing our sharing of the divine nature of Christ, the memorial of his suffering and death, and the prophecy of His second coming.