All Scripture is self-attesting and being Truth, requires our unreserved submission
in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six books of the
Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God's redemptive acts
culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The
Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final
authority on all matters on which it speaks. On this sure foundation we affirm
these additional Essentials of our faith:
-
We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things,
infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit. To Him be all honor, glory and praise forever!
-
Jesus Christ, the living Word, become flesh through His miraculous conception
by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true
man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross a sacrifice for
our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He arose bodily
from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty
on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.
-
The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ
to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior. Indwelling
our hearts, He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service.
He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.
-
Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly
dependent upon the work of God's free grace. God credits His righteousness
to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, thereby justifies
them in His sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus
Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life.
-
The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ
and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ.
The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations
where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered
in their integrity; where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship
is maintained. For her perfecting, she awaits the return of her Lord.
-
Jesus Christ will come again to the earth-personally, visibly, and bodily-to judge the
living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. 22:20)
-
The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the
world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission
requires total commitment to "Him who loved us and gave Himself for us."
He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. "For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10)