- God has given His complete written revelation (the Scriptures) to mankind by means of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Although God's revelation reflects the characteristics of its human authors, it is God-breathed, that is inspired (2 Tim 3:16), and so the Bible is completely without error (Matt 5:18). This revelation is the only authority for the believer's faith and practice (2 Tim 3:17).
- We believe that the God of the Scriptures exists in three divine persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each is eternal, identical in essence and possesses the same attributes (Gen 1:26; Exo 3:14; Matt 3:16, 17). We believe that God is Spirit. He can only be known by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (John 4:24).
- Jesus Christ was born of a virgin (Matt 1:18-25) and as a result He became the God-man (Matt 1:23; 1 Tim 2:5). He then lived a sinless life and voluntarily died as a substitutionary sacrifice for all men (2 Cor 5:21). His death was followed by His literal, physical resurrection (1 Cor 15:3-4), after which He ascended bodily into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). Today Jesus ministers as a mediator on behalf of all believers (1 Tim 2:5; 1 John 2:1-2).
- the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the believer at the time of conversion includes regeneration (Titus 3:5), baptism into Christ's body (1 Cor 12:13), permanent indwelling (John 14:16) and sealing (Eph 1:13, 14). In yielded believers, the Holy Spirit controls the life (Eph 5:18), illumines the mind (1 Cor 2:12-14), guides (Rom 8:14), provides assurance of salvation (Rom 8:16) and makes intercession (Rom 8:26). We believe that the Holy Spirit sovereignly bestows spiritual gifts upon the individual believers in this age (Rom 12:3-8). The gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 were revelatory and sign gifts that functioned only until the completion of the New Testament.
- all who are saved from the day of Pentecost to the Rapture are a part of the Body of Christ, the church in prospect (1 Cor 12:13). This body has the following characteristics: Christ is the head of the body (Eph 1:22-23); Christ is the foundation of that body (1 Cor 3:11-12); membership in the body is by Spirit baptism (1 Cor 12:13); and in God's prophetic plan, the church is separate from Israel (1 Cor 10:32). We believe that the local church is God's chosen means to accomplish His purposes for this age and that all believers should be a member of a local assembly (Matt 28:19, 20; 1 Tim 3:15; Heb 10:25).
- all are sinners by nature and by choice (Rom 3:10-13). Both by birth and by a deliberate act of the will, people fail to conform to God's moral law in act (Rom 3:23), disposition (1 John 3:4) and state (Psa 51:5). People choose self rather than God and have no means to save themselves. As a result, all are destined to physical death and eternal spiritual death because of sin (Rom 6:23).
- Godhas provided a way of salvation (John 14:6) from the consequences of sin (Rom 6:23) through Christ's shed blood on the cross (1 Pet 1:18-19). We believe that the Word of God and the convicting work of the Holy Spirit are necessary in the salvation of the individual (Rom 10:17). The obtaining of salvation is impossible apart from a personal, voluntary choice of the sinner. At this time he must repent of his sin (Acts 17:30) and ask God to save him (Rom 10:9, 10).