The Trinity | There is one true and living God who eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory. This triune God created, sustains and governs all things. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8, 48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3)
The Inspiration of Scripture | The Bible—both the Old and New Testaments—is the only inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God—infallible in its teachings and content and inerrant in its original manuscripts. The Scriptures are the foundation upon which the church and all Christian believers live and are governed. All Scripture supersedes any earthly law that is contrary to It. (Nehemiah 8:8; Isaiah 28:13; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:21)
God the Father | God the Father is an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect and absolute in holiness, wisdom, power and love. He graciously and lovingly concerns Himself with the affairs of people, hears and answers their prayers, and saves from sin and hell all who come to Him through His Son, Jesus. (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3)
God the Son | Jesus of Nazareth is God’s only begotten Son and Messiah. He is the divine incarnation of God, confirmed by His virgin birth, sinless life, teachings and miracles. He is validated as both Savior and Lord by His substitutionary and atoning death, bodily resurrection and ascension into heaven. (John 1:1, 14, 18, 14:8–9; 1 Timothy 3:16)
God the Holy Spirit | The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers every believer to live a godly life and is God’s guarantee of the redemption of every Christian. He is continually present and an active helper, teacher and guide, providing ‘gifts’ to strengthen and encourage His people, the church. (John 16:7-8; Romans 8:9–17; 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:4–5, 11–13, 19; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Titus 3:5-6; Hebrews 2:1–4)
The Need for Salvation | All people are sinners by nature and by personal choice, and are therefore subject to God’s judgment and eternal punishment. God saves and regenerates by His Holy Spirit all who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. (Romans 8:37–39; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
The Church | The church is the living, spiritual body of Jesus Christ on earth, of which He is the Head, and of which all regenerated people are members. (Acts 2:7, 42-47; Ephesians 1:22–23)
Christian Love | Christ’s love (agape) is the only true basis of Christian behavior and unity, which is greater than any differences people possess. Apart from the expression of this love, believers possess no basis to be identified as Christians. (John 13:34; 1 John 3:23-24, 4:7-8, 11-12)
Baptism and Communion | Water baptism and communion were established by Jesus as ongoing ordinances of the church. These practices are not essential for salvation but are commanded in order to affirm to the world (baptism) and in the church (communion) the believer’s living faith in Christ (Acts 2:41; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 11:20–29).
Marriage and Family | God created humans as physical males and physical females. The marriage of a genetic male and genetic female reflects the design of God as revealed in Scripture and is therefore sacred. As their creator, God, instituted monogamous, covenantal marriage between one male and one female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 2:1-11, 4:16-18; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 6:18-20, 7:1-3, 7:8-9)
Things to Come | The actual, visible return of Jesus Christ to earth was prophesied in Scripture and is therefore inevitable. His return for His church will manifest the resurrection of the dead and the rapture of the church. His physical, visible return to the earth will initiate His millennial earthly reign, which will conclude with the Last Judgment, the eternal blessing of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked. (Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:11-15)
Jay McCarl 