Article 1 – The Trinity

Both the Old and New Testaments, along with the history of the Christian Church, bear witness that God is both One and Triune. The Bible reveals that there is only one God, who exists eternally in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• God the Father. The Father is the Creator and Sustainer of everything, who lovingly created the universe to respond to Him. He made humanity in His image for companionship and, following the rebellion and fall, He calls all people back to Himself through Christ.
• The Son. Jesus Christ is eternally God. He was with the Father and the Holy Spirit from the beginning, and all things were made through Him. For the purpose of man’s redemption, He willingly left heaven and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit through the Virgin Mary.
• The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, the Lord and Giver of life, who was at work in the Old Testament and fully given to the Church at Pentecost. He empowers believers for ministry and witness, cleanses the old nature, and shapes us into the image of Christ. The baptism with the Holy Spirit, which occurs subsequent to conversion, releases the Spirit’s fullness and is evidenced by the spiritual gifts, including tongues, along with joy, praise, and other manifestations.

Article 2 – The Scripture

We maintain that the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is the sole, inspired, and infallible Word of God. Its authority is ultimate, final, and eternal. It must not be added to, taken away from, or surpassed in any way. The Bible is the authoritative source for all doctrine, instruction, correction, and training. It contains everything necessary for guidance in godliness and proper Christian living.

Article 3 – The Atonement

Christ’s vicarious death on the cross satisfied the penalty for the sins of the entire world, but the benefits of this sacrifice are applied only to those who accept Jesus as their personal Savior. The atonement provides for the healing of the body, soul, and spirit, and for all of God’s provision for His people; however, these benefits must be actively claimed by faith.

Article 4 – Salvation

The Word of God clearly states that salvation is a free gift from God, based entirely on the merits of His Son’s death and received through faith. Salvation is brought about by personal repentance, belief in the Lord Jesus (justification), and personal acceptance of Him as one’s Lord and Savior (regeneration). This new life in Christ includes the privileges of adoption and inheritance within the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son. Salvation is an act of free will, a response to God’s personal love for humanity. Predestination is understood only in the sense that God, through His omniscience, foreknew those who would choose Him. Salvation is secured by the eternal, unwavering commitment of God, who does not lie and is forever the same. Salvation should result in an active life characterized by loving obedience and service to Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Article 5 – Evangelism and Mission

We believe that evangelism, the sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ and salvation by faith, is the primary calling and mandate of every believer. As Jesus commanded, we are to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). This mission extends to making disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded, and relying on His presence until the end of the age.

Article 6 – The Christian Life

We believe that the Scriptures present the believer’s life in this world as a balance between what is imputed to us by Christ and what is imparted to us based on our faith and maturity. Thus, God’s provision for His children is complete, and His promises are final and enduring. The failures of individuals and the Church are due to the ongoing process of sanctification in the saints. The Christian life involves trials, testing, and spiritual warfare against an unseen enemy. For those who remain in Christ until death or His return, the assurance of eternal blessing in God’s presence is guaranteed. Remaining faithful through all circumstances requires reliance upon the Holy Spirit and a willingness to surrender personal desires and passions.

Article 7 – The Church

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of all nations and to present the saints fully mature in Christ. The Church is governed by the five-fold ministry as described in Ephesians 4:11-12, the office of Elder, and other offices mentioned in Scripture. Church governance is overseen by Eldership authority, emphasizing that the Church Eldership holds the final authority on policy. It is vital for the life of the Church that scriptural patterns of discipline are practiced and that oversight for both individual and corporate discipline is exercised by the Church’s leadership.

Article 8 – Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

The Word of God mandates that the Church observe two perpetual ordinances established by the Lord Jesus Christ. The first, baptism, is the external sign of an inward work God has already performed in the individual’s life and is a public testimony that the person now belongs to Jesus. Water baptism allows believers to identify with Jesus and is administered in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of the Lord’s death, done in remembrance of Him until He comes again, and is a sign of our sharing in Him. Both ordinances are exclusively for those who are believers.

Article 9 – Eschatology

We affirm the bodily, personal, second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the Saints, the Millennium, and the final judgment. The final judgment will determine the eternal status of both believers and unbelievers, based on their relationship with Jesus Christ. We affirm with the Bible the final state of the New Heavens and New Earth.

Article 10 – Statement of Marriage

We affirm that God created two sexes—male and female (Gen. 1 – 2)—and that marriage is a sacred institution established exclusively between one man and one woman (Matt. 19:4-6).