WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE

The Bible

The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament is the Word of God. The Bible is without error and is the complete and final written revelation of God. The Scriptures are our only authoritative source of faith and practice. Additional written revelation from God ceased with the completion of the New Testament (Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119; Matthew 5:18; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:18,19).

God

There is only one God, eternally existent in three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – Who are co-equal in their nature, characteristics, and perfection. Each Person of the Trinity is to be honored as God (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 18:30, 31; 147:5; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:29; Luke 3:22; John 4:24; 5:23; 10:30; 14:9; Acts 5:3,4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1–3).

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was born to a virgin and lived on the earth as both God and man. He is the only one through whom we can have a relationship with God the Father (Isaiah 7;14; 9:6,7; Matthew 1:18–25; John 1:1–3, 14, 29; 5:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:2-9; 2:14,15; 1 John 5:20).

The Ministry of Jesus Christ

The death of Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin and made available forgiveness for all who believe. Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead and ascended into Heaven where He prays for us. He will return to establish His Kingdom on earth (Isaiah 53:5,6; Luke 24:36–43; John 1:18; 3:16; 20:25–28; Acts 1:6–11; Romans 3:21–26; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3–8; 20-23; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:13, 14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:18,19; 2:24; 1 John 2:1, 2; Revelation 20:6).

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit convicts humans of sin, creates spiritual birth, places all believers into the Church and empowers every believer to live in obedience to God and His Word (John 3:5; 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26, 27; 16:7–15; Acts 1:8; 5:3, 4; Romans 8:9, 14; 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11; 6:11, 19; 12:4–13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16–18, 22, 23; Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30; 5:18–21).

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit at conversion empowering every Christian to serve the church and strengthen other believers.  Spiritual gifts fall into three general categories: speaking gifts (prophecy, teaching, exhortation, the word of wisdom, and the word of knowledge), serving gifts (service, giving, leadership, mercy, faith, and distinguishing of spirits), and sign gifts (miracles, healings, tongues, and interpretation of tongues) (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; 1 Peter 4:10, 11).

Sign Gifts

The sign gifts of miracles and healings confirmed the primary ministry of the apostles which was to establish and build the Church with divine revelation from God. The apostles were eyewitnesses of Jesus after His resurrection; they were chosen by the Holy Spirit and ministered with miraculous signs and wonders. These sign gifts have ceased because the ministry of the apostles has ceased  – all of the apostles have died. The message of the apostles is completely contained in the New Testament (Mark 16:20; Acts 2:43, 9:15, 14:3; Romans 15:18, 19; 1 Corinthians 9:1; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:3, 4).

The Creation and Fall of Mankind

The physical universe was created by God. Man was created by God in His own image, but sinned through his personal disobedience to the revealed will of God; and as a result, all mankind is sinful in nature and practice, is unable to save itself from the consequences of sin, and faces eternal separation from God without forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Genesis 1:1, 26, 28; 2:7, 18–24; 3:1–24; 9:6; Matthew 19:4; Mark 7:21–23; John 8:42–44; Romans 1:18, 3:10, 23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1–3).

The Salvation of Mankind

Salvation from sin and hell is secure through Jesus Christ and is received through faith in Jesus Christ alone (John 1:11–13; 3:16; 5:24; 10:28–30; 14:6; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23–26; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9, 10; Ephesians 2:8–10; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:24, 25; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; 1 John 5:11–13).

The Destiny of Mankind

All believers will spend eternity in a new heaven and a new earth. All non-believers will stand before God’s throne of judgment where they will be sentenced to everlasting punishment and separation from God (Matthew 25:46; John 3:16; 5:24; 10:27–30; Romans 5:1; 6:23; 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10; 4:13–18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; 1 John 5:13; Revelation 20:11–15; 22:3, 4).

Marriage

Marriage–only and exclusively–unites one human born as a natural male with one human born as a natural female in a life-long commitment to one another (Genesis 2:23–24; Matthew 19:4–6). Marriage was created by God as a gift to humans to enjoy intimate companionship, pure sexual expression, and procreation (Genesis 2:18, 24–25; Proverbs 5:15–19; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Ephesians 5:31–33; Hebrews 13:4).

Human Sexuality

Legitimate sexual relations are to be enjoyed solely within marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1–5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8; Hebrews 13:4).