Doctrine

The Holy Bible is divinely inspired. Every word of it, written by men, was also breathed out by God as the record of God’s revelation of Himself to man. Thus the sixty-six books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary (inspired equally in all parts) Word of God. The Word of God is verbally inspired in every word, absolutely inerrant in the original documents, infallible, and God-breathed. God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit so superintended the human authors that, through their individual personalities and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded God’s Word to man without error in the whole or in the part. The single, true interpretation of Scripture is to be found as one diligently applies the literal grammatical-historical method of interpretation, taking account of its literary forms and devices. This interpretation can only be found in dependence on the enlightenment given by the Holy Spirit. The truth of Scripture stands in judgment of men; never do men stand in judgment of it. Being infallible, the Bible is sufficient to make the believer complete, equipped in every way necessary for godly living. The Scripture will remain unchanged in its authority and efficacy forever.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20–21; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 6:18; Exodus 24:3-7; John 16:12-13; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Kings 22:27; 1 Corinthians 2:11-12; John 12:47-48; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Timothy 1:3-11; 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2; Psalm 19:7-10; Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23-25; Psalm 19:9a

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, as well as the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and perfect in all His attributes. To Him is owed the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal God is one in essence, eternally existing in the Trinity (three Persons as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

1 Corinthians 8:4; Romans 11:33-34; John 4:24; Exodus 3:14; Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 49:7-9, 15; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Colossians 1:14; Psalm 103:19; 1 Peter 1:16; Job 37:22-23; Matthew 5:48; Matthew 22:37; Psalm 33:8; John 3:36; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5–7; Matthew 28:19

God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the course of human history, and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. He is all powerful, all loving, and all wise. He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. God is Father in both His designation in the Trinity and in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. As Creator, He is father to all men, but He is spiritual father only to believers. He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass and He works all things after the counsel of His own will. He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events. In His sovereignty He is neither author nor approver of sin, nor does He abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures. He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own; He saves from sin all those who come to Him; and He becomes, upon adoption Father to His own.

Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:11; Psalm 62:11; 1 John 4:8; Psalm 36:7; Psalm 147:5; Genesis 1:1-31; Psalm 103:19; Ephesians 3:9; Romans 11:36; John 5:17-26; 8:54; 14:12-13; 1 John 3:1; Matthew 6:6-15; Romans 8:16; Ephesians 3:14-15, Hebrews 12:9; Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; Proverbs 16:1, 4; Lamentations 3:37-38; Ephesians 1:11; 3:15; Job 37:1-13; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Proverbs 16:33; Acts 3:18; Habakkuk 1:13; Job 34:10; 1 Peter 1:17; Matthew 16:27; 1 Kings 12:1-15; Ephesians 1:4-6; John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, possessing all the fullness of the divine nature and attributes. In these, He is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father. God the Father created all things according to His own will, through His Son, Jesus Christ. In Christ, all things continue in existence and in operation.
In His incarnation, Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. In the incarnation, Christ willingly surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence, either in degree or kind. In His incarnation, Christ took upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and identified Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. Jesus Christ represents humanity and deity in indivisible oneness.

Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God. In His death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. His death was voluntary, vicarious, substitutionary, propitiatory, redemptive, and effective.

He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. Our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, God confirmed the deity of His Son and gave proof that God has accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Jesus’ bodily resurrection is also the guarantee of a future resurrection life for all believers.

He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God. In heaven, He is now our sole Mediator and Advocate, making intercession for those who draw near to God.

Jesus Christ will come to receive the church unto Himself at the rapture. He will then return in glory and establish His kingdom on earth and reign for 1,000 years. The Lord Jesus Christ is the One through whom God will judge all mankind. As the mediator between God and man, the head of His body the church, and the coming universal King who will reign on the throne of David, He is the final judge of all who fail to place their trust in Him as Lord and Savior.

Jesus Christ now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.

John 1:9, 17:5, 24; Colossians 1:19, 2:9; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 110:1; Zechariah 13:7; John 10:30-33, 14:9; Philippians 2:6; John 1:3; I Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:34-35; Philippians 2:7-8; Colossians 1:19, 2:9; Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 4:15; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; John 10:30, 14:9; John 5:30, 8:28-29; Romans 3:24; Hebrews 7:25-27; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 3:18; John 10:14-15, 17-18; Romans 5:6-8, 6:4; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; Romans 3:25; I John 2:2; Romans 3:24; Titus 2:14; John 3:16; Hebrews 10:14; Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:6-7; John 20:16, 19-20, 26; 1 Corinthians 15:5-8; Romans 4:23-25, 5:10, 18; Acts 2:32-36; Romans 4:25; Isaiah 53:10-12; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; Acts 1:9; Acts 2:34; Hebrews 1:3, 10:12; Hebrews 7:25, 9:15, 24; 1 John 2:1; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:31; Revelation 20:6; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:22–23; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15; 1 Timothy 2:5; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:31-33; Matthew 25:14-46; Acts 17:30-31; Revelation 20:11-15; Romans 8:10; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27

The Holy Spirit is a divine person possessing all the attributes of deity including personality, intellect, emotions, will, eternality, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and truthfulness. In all the divine attributes He is coequal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son.

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute the divine will with relation to all mankind. His sovereign activity is displayed in creation, the incarnation, the written revelation, and the work of salvation.

A unique work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost when He came from the Father as promised by Christ to initiate the building of the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit glorifies neither Himself nor those whom He gifts by showy displays. Rather, He glorifies Christ by implementing His work of salvation in the lost and incrementally transforming believers into greater Christ-likeness. He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, effects regeneration, and baptizes all believers into the body of Christ. His presence in the Christian is God’s pledge to bring the believer into the fullness of his redemption.

The Holy Spirit bestows the spiritual gifts by which believers serve God by serving His church for the maturing of the saints today. Gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and the working of sign miracles in the beginning days of the church were for the purpose of pointing to and authenticating the apostles and prophets as revealers of divine truth, and were never intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who guided the apostles and prophets into all truth as they committed to writing God’s revelation, the New Testament Scriptures. Through illumination, He enables men to understand truth. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

The Holy Spirit permanently indwells the believer. He sanctifies, instructs, empowers for service, and seals us unto the day of redemption. It is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with the Spirit.

John 14:26, 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10–13; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Hebrews 9:14; Psalm 139:7–10; Isaiah 40:13–14; Job 32:8; Romans 15:13; John 16:13; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3–4; 16:6-7; 28:25–26; 1 Corinthians 12:4–6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 10:15–17; John 16:8-11; Genesis 1:2, 26; Matthew 1:18; 2 Peter 1:20–21; John 3:5-7; Acts 2:4; John 14:16–17; 15:26; John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 3:6, 17-18; John 16:8; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 John 4:13; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 14:5, 26; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Corinthians 13:8–10; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:19-20; 3:4-5; Hebrews 2:1–4; John 16:13; 1 Timothy 5:18; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:14-16; Ephesians 5:18-20; Acts 1:8; 4:8-12; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16-18; 1 John 2:27; 2 Corinthians 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19

God created the universe and everything in it ex-nihilo (out of nothing) in six, consecutive, 24-hour days. The Triune God (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) actively, fully, and harmoniously created all things by Himself and for His glory.

God acted freely in creating all things and all of creation is dependent on the sovereign word of God. God created the earth and the entire universe with all systems in mature operation and appearance.

God created humanity as the culminating work of His creation, consisting of two genders (male and female). All of humanity, both male and female, are created in the image and likeness of God. Each of these two distinct, complementary genders reflects the image of God. God created only one race of mankind, and all people alive today are the descendants of Adam and Eve and, subsequently, Noah. God created Adam and Eve to govern and rule the earth for him. God also created and established marriage to be a life-long covenant relationship between one man and one woman.

Creation has been subjected to futility by God, under the curse of sin, and will be redeemed, along with all of the children of God, at the return of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 1:1–2:3; Exodus 20:11, 31:17; Psalm 33:6, 9; Isaiah 45:18; Nehemiah 9:6; Hebrews 11:3; Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13, 33:4; Psalm 104:30; John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:15–17; Hebrews 1:10; Revelation 4:11; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 4:11; Genesis 1:12–30; Genesis 1:26–27; 2:21–23; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9; Genesis 1:27, 5:2, 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9; Genesis 1:26–27, 3:20, 10:1, 10:32; Romans 5:12; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5; Genesis 1:27–31; Genesis 2:15, 18; Genesis 2:18–24; Matthew 19:8–9; Mark 10:6–9; Genesis 3:14–19; Ecclesiastes 7:13; Romans 5:20; Isaiah 11:1-10; 65:17-25; Romans 5:12–21; 8:18–25; Hebrews 2:5-8

God created man for His own glory. Man was directly and immediately created by the special act of God, in His own image and likeness, and is the crowning work of His creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with intelligence, volition, and moral responsibility to God. God provided everything necessary for man to glorify God enjoy God’s fellowship and live his life in the will of God.

By his free choice, Adam sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. In Adam’s sin of disobedience to the revealed will and word of God, man lost his innocence; incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death; became subject to the wrath of God; and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God. All men are sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration. Man is spiritually dead in his sins and is incapable of saving himself; therefore, salvation is wholly of God’s grace.

Ecclesiastes 12:13; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7; Psalm 8:5-8; Proverbs 8:22-31; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Genesis 1:27; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 2:19-20; Genesis 2:16-17, 3:6; Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 1:18-20; Genesis 1:31; 2:18-25; Genesis 3:6; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:7-8; Romans 5:18-19; Genesis 2:16-17; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; Genesis 3:16-24; John 3:36; Ephesians 2:3; Genesis 6:5; Job 14:4; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:19, 6:44; Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:3; Ephesians 2:1-9

Salvation is the redemption of the whole man, involving both his immaterial soul and material body, and references a past, present, and future work of God on behalf of his saints. Salvation is given freely to all who believe in Jesus Christ, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. Salvation is wholly of God by grace and not on the basis of human merit or works. In its broadest sense, salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.

James 1:21, 5:20; Job 19:25-27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; 5:8-10; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Psalm 119:41; Hebrews 1:14; 9:28; Romans 5:15-17; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 1 Peter 1:1-2; Psalm 17:15; Romans 8:30, 2 Timothy 2:10

Election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies.

Sovereign election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and trust in Christ. Nevertheless, since sovereign grace includes the means of receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, sovereign election will result in what God has determined. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith and all who come in faith, the Father will receive.

The unmerited favor that God grants to totally depraved sinners is not related to any initiative on their part nor to God’s anticipation of what they might do by their own will, but is solely of His sovereign grace and mercy.

Election should not be looked upon as based merely on abstract sovereignty. God is truly sovereign, but He exercises this sovereignty in harmony with His other attributes, especially His omniscience, justice, holiness, wisdom, grace, and love. This sovereignty will always exalt the will of God in a manner totally consistent with His character as revealed in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s sovereign election excludes boasting and promotes humility.

Matthew 25:34, Romans 8:28–30; Ephesians 1:4–11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1–2; Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11; John 3:18–19; 5:40; Acts 13:46; 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12; Proverbs 16:4; Romans 9:22-24; Ephesians 1:5, 11; John 6:37–40, 44; Acts 13:48; Job 23:13; Psalm 115:3; John 1:12-13; Romans 9:10-18; Ephesians 1:5; Titus 3:4–7; Romans 9:11–16; Matthew 11:25–30; John 5:19-20; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Corinthians 1:29-31; Romans 9:20-21

Justification before God is an act of God by which He declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins and confess Him as sovereign Lord. This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man, is a gift of God’s grace, and involves the placing of our sins on Christ as well as the imputation of God’s righteousness to us. By this act, God remains just and becomes the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Justification brings the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God.

Romans 8:33; Acts 2:38; Romans 5:1; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Isaiah 55:6–7; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Romans 4:4-5; Galatians 2:16; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 3:25; Isaiah 53:6; Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 4:5-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:26; Isaiah 61:10; Romans 5:1

Through justification, every believer is declared to be just and holy and, thus, is sanctified (set apart from sin) unto God. By this sanctification, the believer is identified as a “saint,” which has to do with the believer’s position before God, not with his present walk.

This instantaneous work of sanctification should not be confused with the God’s work of progressive sanctification by which the believer is brought into greater conformity to the will of God, the image and likeness of God, who is Christ, and the teaching of Scripture. This work of progressive sanctification is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, any person who shows no evidence of the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in his life has no legitimate claim to saving faith.

Every saved person is a new creation in Christ and, therefore, is involved in a daily conflict with the flesh, even as God provides adequate resources for victory through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Growth in holiness is both God’s doing and the believer’s duty. Therefore, God’s children are not passive in sanctification, but rather must actively pursue obedience to God, increasing conformity to Christlikeness, and, ultimately, the attainment of God’s promises.

This striving in no way contradicts grace, since it is God’s grace which planned good works, produces tireless effort, and is that in which believers must grow. Progress in godliness occurs incrementally when the believer responds in faith to what God has spoken. Therefore, the gospel message as well as the promises, historical narratives, blessings, curses, laws, commands, songs, proverbs, warnings, and judgments of Scripture are all instructive and intended by God to sanctify His people. For this reason, preaching is God’s choice means for affecting sanctification in His people.

While perfect obedience is the believer’s goal, the struggle with the sinful flesh will continue throughout his earthly existence and is never completely ended this side of heaven. Therefore, all claims to the eradication of sin in this life are unscriptural and, therefore, untrue.

Acts 20:32; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:4; Psalm 119:67; John 17:17; Romans 6:17-22; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Matthew 7:19-23; Romans 8:12-14; 1 John 3:5-9; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:16-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; Psalm 119:35; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 4:11; 12:1-2, 14; 1 Peter 1:14-16; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Titus 2:14; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 2:1; Romans 1:11-15; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2Timothy 3:16-4:2; Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 5:1; 1 Peter 1:14-16; Colossians 3:3-4; 1 John 3:2-3; 1 John 1:8-2:1

Regeneration, or the new birth, is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit whereby man, who is dead in sin, is made alive and becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. Regeneration is a work of God’s grace by which the divine nature is given. It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God. As a result of the Spirit’s work, the sinner repents and responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation. Genuine regeneration is manifested by fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works will be its proper evidence and fruit.

2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:5; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 1:4; John 3:3-7; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; Ezekiel 11:19; John 1:13; Luke 3:8; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14

Faith is a supernatural gift of God whereby He grants to his elect the power and inclination to believe in Him. It is the sole means by which God declares sinners righteous apart from their own works. The fruit of true, saving faith distinguish it from faith in the abstract as well as false professions of faith. God-given faith takes God at His word, despite what human reason might suggest, because the immutable faithfulness of God’s character is the foundation of all He says. Faith glorifies God by embracing God’s true testimony concerning the person and work of His Son to save sinners. It causes believers to fear God above all else, to renounce earthly allegiances, to obey God, to refuse worldly pleasures, and even to face persecution and death if the occasion requires it. It is by faith that the believer experiences victory in this life.

Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 1:29; Genesis 15:16; Romans 3:28-4:5; Galatians 2:16; Hebrews 11:7; 2 Kings 7:1-2, 16-20; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Romans 4:18-21; Hebrews 6:16-18; 11:11; 1 Corinthians 1:31-2:5; 1 Timothy 1:14-15; 1 John 5:9-10; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 10:32-39; Philippians 3:4-9; Hebrews 11:8; Hebrews 11:24-26; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 11:36-39; 1 John 5:4-5

Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Until a man repents, he is hopelessly and willingly enslaved to his own sinful folly, as well as held captive by Satan to do his will. No one who refuses to repent will be rescued from God’s coming wrath or enter the kingdom of heaven. Genuine repentance commences with godly sorrow, is accompanied by tangible fruit or acts of obedience, and lays hold of salvation. Those who do not repent will experience the condemnation of God, but those who do repent, come to Christ alone for salvation and humbly submit to his lordship and instruction. All who turn from sin to Christ for forgiveness should be baptized and unite themselves to God’s church to continue those practices commensurate with repentance.

Isaiah 45:22; Proverbs 1:22-23; 2 Timothy 2:25-26; Zephaniah 2:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Acts 3:19-21; James 4:9; Luke 3:8-14; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11; Matthew 11:20-24; Matthew 11:28-30; Acts 2:37-42

Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will progress in sanctification and shall persevere to the end. Although believers may fall into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal chastisements on themselves, they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 6:1-3; John 6:37-40; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 2:1; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15; Hebrews 12:5-11; John 10:27-29; Romans 5:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 1:3-5

Glorification is the culmination of salvation, the completion of sanctification, and the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed when they will be separated from the presence and the power of sin forever. The souls of believers who have died have already been perfected and are alive with Christ in heaven, waiting to receive new bodies at the time of their resurrection. Those who have died “in Christ” (a designation for church-age saints) will be resurrected and glorified at the time that the church is raptured, while those believers who are alive at that time will forego death and have their bodies instantly transformed. Old Testament saints and Tribulation saints will receive their glorified bodies when Christ returns to establish his kingdom on earth.

The believer’s new body will be like Christ’s resurrected body, and will be redesigned and adapted for heaven to the praise of God’s righteousness, love, faithfulness, compassion, and power.

Romans 8:29-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 12:23; Mark 12:26-27; Philippians 1:23-24; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Job 19:25-27; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:4-6; Romans 8:18-23; 1 Corinthians 15:35-49; 1 John 3:2; Psalm 17:15; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; Hebrews 11:39-40

All who place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately baptized, that is, placed by the Holy Spirit into one united, spiritual body, the church, of which Christ is the head.

The formation of the church, which brought Jews and Gentiles into one body under Christ, constitutes one “new” man in Christ, a work of God that began after Christ’s ascension. That formation began on the Day of Pentecost and will be completed at the coming of Christ for His own at the rapture.

Thus, the church is a unique, spiritual organism, distinct from Israel, a mystery not revealed until this age.

The establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. The members of the one scriptural body are directed to organize themselves into local assemblies whose individual members are attached to one another in devoted brotherly love while gathering regularly and functioning as a unified organism.

The one supreme authority for the church is Christ. The church’s leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated leadership under Christ and over the assembly are elders (also called overseers, bishops, and pastors). God’s design is that these elders be males and that each church be lead by a plurality of these men.

These leaders lead or rule as servants of Christ and have His authority in directing the church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership. These elders alone are entrusted with authority but are joined in service to the church by deacons. Both elders and deacons must be tested in order to validate their biblical qualifications.
An importance is to be placed in the church on discipleship. This discipleship encompasses mutual accountability within the body and discipline for sinning members of the congregation in accord with the standards of Scripture.

The local church is autonomous, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. It is scriptural for true churches, under the oversight of their elders, to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith.

The purpose of the church is to glorify God by representing His character and upholding His truth. It accomplishes that purpose as it fulfills God’s will by building itself up in love, by preaching and teaching the Word, by maintaining unity in fellowship, by keeping the ordinances, by the ministry of their individual gifts, and by advancing and communicating the gospel in the world.

It is God Who, by His Spirit, gives the church spiritual gifts to accomplish His purpose in the world. First, He gives men chosen for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry and He also gives unique and special spiritual abilities to each member of the body of Christ.

Two kinds of gifts were given to the early church: miraculous gifts of divine revelation and healing, given temporarily in the apostolic era for the purpose of confirming the authenticity of the apostles’ message; and ministering gifts, given to equip believers for edifying one another. With the New Testament revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the authenticity of a man’s message, and confirming gifts of a miraculous nature are no longer necessary to validate a man or his message. Miraculous gifts can even be counterfeited by Satan to deceive even believers. The only gifts in operation today are those non-revelatory equipping gifts given for edification.

No one possesses the gift of healing today, but God does hear and answer the prayers of the saints in accordance with His own perfect will for the sick, suffering, and afflicted.

1 Corinthians 12:12–13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Acts 1:8-9; Ephesians 2:14-20; Acts 1:5; 2:37-47; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Romans 11:13-24; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 3:1–6; Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; Acts 17:4; Roman 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; Hebrews 13:1; 1 Corinthians 5:4; 11:17-18, 20, 33-34; 16:2; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 12:25; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18; Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 2:12-3:1; Acts 14:23; 15:2; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1-2; 1 Peter 5:1-5; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Peter 5:2-3; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Matthew 28:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2:3-5; Matthew 18:15–22; Acts 5:1–11; 1 Corinthians 5:1–13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–15; 1 Timothy 1:19–20; Titus 1:10–16; Acts 20:28-30; Romans 15:24-26; Philippians 1:3-5; 4:15-16; Ephesians 3:21; 1 Timothy 3:14-16; Ephesians 4:13–16; 2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16–4:2; John 17:20-23; Acts 2:41-47; Ephesians 4:1-6; Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38–42; 1 Corinthians 11:26; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 2:46-47; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Ephesians 4:7–12; Romans 12:5–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–31; 1 Peter 4:10–11; Hebrews 2:3–4; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 13:8–12; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10; Revelation 13:13–14; Romans 12:6–8; Luke 18:1–8; John 5:7–9; 2 Corinthians 12:6–10; James 5:13–16; 1 John 5:14–15

Two ordinances have been given to the church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is a physical act of obedience symbolizing the spiritual reality of the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. Baptism is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the body of Christ. The ordinance of water baptism imparts no grace.

The Lord’s Supper is an act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, remember and proclaim the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. It should always be proceeded by solemn self-examination. The elements of communion are only representative of the flesh and blood of Christ. When we properly share in communion we participate in spiritual fellowship with Jesus Christ and with other believers. The Lord’s Supper is commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself for every believer.

Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 26:26-27; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:20-26; Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:38-39; Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:36-38, 16:31-33; Romans 6:3-5; Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27-28; Acts 2:41, 10:47-48; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; 1 Corinthians 11:28-32; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16; Matthew 26:26-28

Holy Angels
Angels are created beings and, therefore, are not to be worshiped. Although they are a higher order of creation than man, they were created to worship God and serve Him. This service includes aiding those who will eventually inherit God’s salvation when His kingdom comes.

Fallen Angels
Satan is a created angel and the first sinner. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator, and by introducing sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve. He is the leader of the angels which he carried with him in his fall.

Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man. He is the ruler of this world who will be defeated and subdued by God and His people, and eternally punished in the lake of fire.

Psalm 148:2,5; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 2:18-19; Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9; Hebrews 2:6-7; Nehemiah 9:6; Hebrews 1:6; Psalm 103:20-21; Matthew 13:39-42; Hebrews 1:14; Genesis 3:1, 4; John 8:44; 1 John 3:8; Isaiah 14:12-17; Genesis 3:1-15; Revelation 20:2; Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Isaiah 14:13-14; Revelation 12:9-10; John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11; Romans 16:20; Revelation 20:2-3; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10

It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to participate in making disciples of all nations and to pray for others to join the effort. At the heart of all fruitful evangelism or missionary efforts are workers whose regenerate lives shine forth the light of the gospel into a perverse world. It is the duty of every child of God to make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel of Christ.

The primary motivation and ultimate end of all missionary activity is the glory of God. The goal of missions is to secure worshipers for God who acknowledge the greatness of God’s undeserved kindness toward them in Jesus Christ.

The proclamation of the gospel is the sole means by which men might become true worshipers of God. Therefore, the articulation of the good news of the gospel is indispensable to and the distinguishing feature of every missionary endeavor. Ameliorating human suffering and pursuing human welfare and flourishing can be noble means by which Christians please God, the good result of God-given burdens placed on the hearts of His people. However, these activities are not the unique mission of the church and, therefore, should not be subsumed under the title ‘missions’ in the biblical sense.

God has entrusted no group, organization, or body of people with the responsibility of representing Him and upholding His truth except the church, thus making the church God’s choice steward of the gospel message and, therefore, all missionary activity. To ensure the church’s success in its mission, members are indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit who endows them with various spiritual gifts for this purpose. Jesus’ abiding personal presence also ensures the church’s success.

Matthew 28:18-20; John 20:21; Titus 3:12-14; Matthew 9:37-38; Matthew 5:16; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; Philippians 2:15; Romans 10:14-15; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9-10, 3:15; Romans 11:36; 15:9; Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14; 2:7; Romans 10:14-15; Ruth 2:4-18; Proverbs 14:31; 19:17; 22:9; 31:8-9; Acts 3:1-7; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 16:9-10; Acts 13:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:15; Romans 9:9; Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Matthew 28:20; Acts 18:9-10

God is the source of all temporal and spiritual blessings. He is the Creator and rightful Owner of all that we have and all that we are. Christians should recognize that their time, talents, and material possessions have been entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means willingly, cheerfully, systematically, proportionately, and bountifully for the advancement of the gospel on earth. This kind of stewardship is a sign of God’s grace at work in His people.

Deuteronomy 8:18; 1 Chronicles 29:12; Psalm 24:1; 50:10-12; Matthew 25:14-40; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; 2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2-4; 2 Corinthians 8:11-12; 2 Corinthians 9:6; Philippians 4:10-19; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

God created Adam and Eve, the first human beings, in his own image, equal before God as persons, and distinct in gender as male and female. As those who bear the image of God, both men and women have dignity and value as human beings and should be treated as such. Gender distinctions between male and female reflect God’s original creation design and are meant for human good and human flourishing. The genetic differences between male and female, which result in different reproductive structures evident at birth, are integral to God’s design for self-conception as male or female. Therefore, self-conception as male or female should be defined by God’s holy purposes in creation and redemption as revealed in Scripture.

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God in which they unite themselves to one another in covenant commitment for a lifetime. Marriage is the gracious gift of God through which He provides a man and his wife with intimate companionship, sexual pleasure, and (usually) the blessing of children. Sin distorts sexual desires by directing them away from the marriage covenant and toward sexual immorality— a distortion that includes both heterosexual and homosexual immorality as well as other forms of sexual perversion. Therefore, it is sinful to approve, support, or commend polyamory of any kind, homosexual immorality, or transgenderism. Approval, support, or commendation for such desires and/or practices constitute an essential departure from Christian faithfulness and witness.

The marriage relationship reflects aspects of Christ’s relationship with the church. Wives, in the fear of Christ, are to voluntarily and thoughtfully submit themselves to their own husbands in everything. Their submission to their husbands ought to reflect something of their own submission to the Lord as well as the church’s submission to Christ, and is a manifestation of being filled with the Spirit as well as respect for her husband whom God has made the head of the wife. Before God, the wife possesses spiritual equality with her husband and is his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.

As the God-appointed head of his wife, the husband ought to lead his home in such a way that embodies every other Christian virtue commended by God in Scripture, including humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance, as well as wisdom, tender-heartedness, courage, and dignity. In all his provision, protection, and leadership, love is to be the defining quality by which the husband relates to his wife, thus reflecting his care for himself and the unique care Christ extends to the church.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children, instructing with words, by way of example, and through loving discipline, to be governed by the fear of God based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; Genesis 35:16-17; Exodus 1:15-17; Genesis 2:18-25; Proverbs 18:22; Genesis 2:21-25; Matthew 19:3-6; Genesis 2:18; Proverbs 2:17; 1 Peter 3:7; Proverbs 5:15-19; Song of Songs 2:3-7; Genesis 4:1; Psalm 127:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; Exodus 20:14, 17; Leviticus 18:6-23; 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 5:18, 21; 22:5; Romans 1:32; 1 Corinthians 5:1-3; Ephesians 5:23-25, 28-29; Ephesians 5:21-24; Ephesians 5:22, 24; Ephesians 5:18-22; Ephesians 5:23, 33; Genesis 2:20; Psalms 128:3; Proverbs 31:10-31; Titus 2:3-5; Ephesians 4:1-2; 1 Peter 3:8-9; 1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 4:31-32; Joshua 1:7-9; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Timothy 3:4; Ephesians 5:25-33; Psalm 139:13-16; Psalm 127:3-5; Ephesians 5:22-6:1; Colossians 3:18-21; Proverbs 6:20-23; Proverbs 23:26; Philippians 4:9; Proverbs 13:24; 22:15; 29:17, 19; Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:7-8; Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalm 78:1-8; Proverbs 1:7; 2:1-6, 9-10; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20

Death
Physical death involves no loss of our immaterial consciousness. At death, the soul of the redeemed passes immediately into the presence of Christ, but the soul of the unredeemed passes immediately into Hades.

The bodies of all who have died will be physically resurrected, either unto everlasting life or unto everlasting punishment. Two separate events contain a resurrection of God’s saints: the first, when Christ comes to rescue His church, including those who have died in Christ, before the Day of the Lord; the second, when Christ comes to establish His kingdom, will involve Old Testament believers and Tribulation saints. The unsaved will be resurrected to appear at the Great White Throne for judgment and everlasting punishment, at which time they will be cast into the lake of fire.

Luke 16:22; Revelation 6:9–11; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Matthew 11:23; Luke 16:19-23; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:10; Mark 12:26-27; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:11–15

The Rapture of the Church
Before the Day of the Lord, the beginning of which is the seven-year tribulation, our Lord Jesus Christ will come personally and bodily to rescue His church from the wrath that He will unleash upon the earth. Between this event and His glorious return to establish His earthly kingdom, Christ will reward believers according to their works.

Zephaniah 2:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2; Revelation 3:10, 4:10-5:2; Zephaniah 1:2-18; John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:4, 9; 1 Corinthians 15:51–53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Corinthians 3:11–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10

The Tribulation Period
The Tribulation is the period explained to Daniel by Gabriel as the seventieth week in the ancient prophecy and the first phase of the Day of the Lord. Following the removal of the church from the earth the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon the entire unbelieving world. These judgments will climax in the return of Christ to the earth in glory to destroy the antichrist and the false prophet and the armies of the earth gathered together to make war with Him. After Christ destroys His enemies, Satan is also bound and thrown into the abyss for 1,000 years.

Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-21; Zephaniah 1:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Zephaniah 1:2-3; 3:8; Haggai 2:6; 3:21-22; Daniel 9:27; 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 3:10; 5:1-16:21; Matthew 24:27-31; Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:1-3

The Second Coming and the Millennial Reign
After His Tribulation judgments are complete, Christ will come to earth to remove the wicked, to occupy the throne of David, to restore the kingdom to Israel, and to reign as King and serve as Priest from a rebuilt temple on Zion for a thousand years. At this time the Old Testament and Tribulation saints will be resurrected to reign with Christ alongside the church-age saints who were previously resurrected and raptured.

The kingdom itself will be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel to restore them to the land which they forfeited through their disobedience. The result of their unbelief and disobedience was that Israel was temporarily set aside but will again be awakened through repentance to enter into the land of blessing.

This time of our Lord’s reign will be characterized by harmony, justice, peace, righteousness, long life, and true worship. His reign will never end; however, the universal peace will be briefly interrupted when God releases Satan from the abyss.

Zephaniah 3:15; Revelation 16:17; Zechariah 14:2; Matthew 25:31, 41-46; 2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16; Psalm 24:7-10; 110:1-7; Matthew 25:31; Luke 1:31–33; Acts 2:29-31; Obadiah 1:19-21; Zephaniah 3:16, 20; Acts 1:6; Psalm 2:4-6; 22:25-31; Haggai 2:7-9; Zechariah 6:9-15; 14:9; Revelation 20:1–7; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 5:10; Isaiah 65:17–25; Ezekiel 37:21–28; Zechariah 8:1–17; Deuteronomy 28:15–68; Matthew 8:10-12; 21:43; Romans 11:1–26; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:22–32; Romans 11:25–29; Psalm 22:26-29; Isaiah 11:1-16; 65:17–25; Ezekiel 36:33–38; Amos 9:11-13; Zephaniah 2:6-7, 11; 3:9-20; Romans 14:17; Zechariah 8:4; Revelation 20:2-3, 7-10

The Judgment of the Lost
Following the release of Satan after the thousand year reign of Christ, Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be devoured by fire from heaven. Following this, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone whereupon Christ, who is the judge of all men, will resurrect and judge the unsaved dead, both great and small, at the great white throne judgment.

This resurrection of the unsaved dead to judgment will be a physical resurrection, whereupon receiving their judgment, they will be committed to an eternal, conscious punishment in the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:7; Revelation 20:8; Revelation 20:9; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10; John 5:22; Revelation 20:11-13; Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 14:11; 20:14–15

Eternity
After the closing of the Millennium, the temporary release of Satan, and the judgment of unbelievers, the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God, after which, the elements of this earth are to be dissolved and replaced with a new earth wherein only righteousness dwells. Following this, the heavenly city will come down out of heaven and will be the dwelling place of the saints, where they will enjoy forever fellowship with God and one another. Our Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled His redemptive mission, will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, that in all spheres the triune God may reign forever and ever.

2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:7–15; 2 Peter 3:10; Hebrews 1:10-12; Revelation 21:1; Revelation 21:1–22:5; Revelation 21:2; John 14:2-3; John 17:3; Revelation 21:3-4; 22:3-5; 1 Corinthians 15:24–28; 1 Corinthians15:28