There is one God,
who is (1) infinitely perfect, (2) existing eternally in three persons:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (3). ({1} Deuteronomy 6:4, {2} Matthew 5:48,
{3} Matthew 28:19).
Jesus Christ is the
true God and the true man (4). He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and
born of the virgin Mary (5). He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust
(6) as a substitutionary sacrifice (7) and all who believe in Him are
justified on the ground of His shed blood (8). He arose from the dead
according to the Scriptures (9). He is now at the right hand of Majesty
on high as our great High Priest (10). He will come again to establish
his kingdom, righteousness and peace (11). ({4} Philippians 2:6-11, {5}
Luke 1:36-38, {6} I Peter 3:18, {7} Hebrews 2:9, {8} Romans 5:9, {9} Acts
2:23-24, {10} Hebrews 8:1, {11} Matthew 26:64).
The Holy Spirit is a
divine person (12), sent to dwell, guide, teach, empower the believer
(13), and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment
(14).({12} John 14:15-18, {13} John 16:13, Acts 1:9, {14} John 16:7-11).
The Old and New
Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God
and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They
constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice (15).({15} II Peter 1:20-21, II Timothy 3:15-16).
Man was originally
created in the image and likeness of God (16): he fell through
disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All
men are born with a sinful nature (17), are separated from the life of
God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus
Christ (18). The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving is existence
forever in the conscious torment (19); and that of the believer, in
everlasting joy and bliss (20). ({16} Genesis 1:27, {17} Romans 3:23,
{18} I Corinthians 15:20-23, {19}
Revelation 21:8, {20} Revelation 21:14).
Salvation has been
provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent and
believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of
eternal life, and become children of God (21).({21} Titus 3:47}).
It is the will of
God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be wholly
sanctified (22), being separated from the sin and the world and fully
dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective
service (23). This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought
in the life of a believer subsequent to conversion (24). ({22} I
Thessalonians 5:23, {23} Acts 1:8, {24} Romans 6:14).
Provision is made in
the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal
body (25). Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the
Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age (26).({25} Matthew 8:16-17, {26} James 5:13-16).
The Church consists
of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through
His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of
the body, the Church (27) which has been commissioned by Him to go into
all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations (28). The
local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for
the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer,
fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the
ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (29). ({27} Ephesians
1:22-23, {28} Matthew 28:19-20, {29} Acts 2:41-47).
There shall be a
bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a
resurrection unto life (30); for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment
(31).({30} I Corinthians 15:20-23, {31} John 5:28-29).
The second coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent (32) and will be personal and visible
(33). This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth
which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service (34).({33}
Luke 21:27, {34} Titus 2:11-14).
