The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. (Exodus 24:4, Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
God
There is one and only one living and true God. …The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
God the Father
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. …God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:1; 20:1; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6;1 and Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3, 15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15;1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9;1 Peter 1:17;1 John 5:7)
God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. …He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His death on the cross, He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. (Genesis 18:1; Psalms 2:7; 110:1; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29;11:27; 14:33;16:18,27; 17:5,27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; 16:15-16, 28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20: 28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5, 20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4;1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8, 24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; Thessalonians 4:14 - 18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:18; Titus 2:13 -14; Hebrews 1:1-three; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:1215, 2428; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2: 21-25; 3:22;1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15m: 5:9;2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16)
God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. …He exalts Christ. He convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. …He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. (Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Joe 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10, 12; Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17, 39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27;1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:18; 12:3-11, 13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1Thessalonians 5:19;1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1;2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8, 14;2 Peter 1:21;1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22: 17)
Man
Man was created by the special act of God, in His own image, and is the crowning work of His creation. …By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into humanity. … The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every man possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. (Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3:9-6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3: 10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29;1Corinthians 1:21 - 31; 15:19, 21 - 22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11)
Salvation
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. (Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6: 2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4: 17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29;3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31m: 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18, 29-39; 10:9-10, 13:11-14;1 Corinthians 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:10;2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1;1 Thessalonians 5:23-24;2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; James 2:14-26;1 Peter 1:2-23;1 John 1: 6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22: 5)
God's Purpose of Grace
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. …All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit will never fall away from the state of grace but shall persevere to the end. (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8;1 Samuel 8:4-7, 19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22, 31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11: 5-7,26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15: 24-28; Ephesians 1:4 -23; 2:1 -10; 3: 1-11; Colossians 1:12-14;2 Thessalonians 2:13-14;2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10, 19; Hebrews 11:39-12: 2; James 1:12;1 Peter 1:2-5, 13; 2:4-10;1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2)
The Church
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel…and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. …This church is an autonomous body. …The New Testament speaks also of the church as the body of Christ, which includes all the redeemed of all the ages. (Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7;1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14,12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18;1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40;1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3)
Baptism & the Lord's Supper
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water. …It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members … memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. (Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 10:16, 21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12)
The Lord's Day
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. …It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion. (Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12’s; 28:1; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3, 33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1, 19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10;1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10)
Last Things
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. …Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly…the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell. …The righteous… will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. (Isaiah 2:4 ; 11:9; Matthew 18:27; 18:8-9; 19:20; 24:27, 30, 36, 44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40, 48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24 -28,35-58;2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4;1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1;2 Thessalonians 1:7;1 Timothy 6:14;2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8;2 Peter 3:7;1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13)
Evangelism & Missions
It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations … to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort. (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11;1 Thessalonians 1:8; Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1 -3; 11:39 -12: 2;1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17)
Education
The cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence … there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. …The freedom of a teacher in a Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for which the school exists. (Deuteronomy 4:1, 5, 9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Nehemiah 8:1-8; Joe 28:28; Psalms 19:7; 119:11; Proverbs 3:13; 4:1-10; 8:1-7,11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2; 7:24; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40;1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3,8-9;1 Timothy 1:3-7;2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; Hebrews 5:12-6:3: James 1:5; 3:17)
Stewardship
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions. (Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-1; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2;1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4;2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19;1 Peter 1:18-19)
Cooperation
Christ's people should … organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. …Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations. (Exodus 17:12; 18:17; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4; 8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35;1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12;2 Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18)
The Christian & the Social Order
Every Christian is obligated to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in his own life, in human society, and our environment. The Christian should oppose all forms of evil and seek peace through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christians should oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of greed, selfishness, sexual immorality, and idolatry. Christians should seek to bring industry, government, and society under the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. Christians are required to participate in community activities that provide opportunity to promote morals and values through policies that honor our LORD. (Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:9,13-16,43-48; 6:22:36-40; 25:35;26:52; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; 22:36, 38; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 12-14;1 Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17;1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; Hebrews 12:14; James 1:27; 2:8; 4:1-2)
Religious Liberty
Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. …A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal. (Genesis 1:27, 2:7; Matthew 6:6-7, 24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Romans 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Galatians 5:1, 13; Philippians 3:20;1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 4:12;1 Peter 2:12-17:3-17; 4:12-19)
Family
God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. …Marriage is the unity of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime.
…The husband and wife are of equal worth before God since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. The husband is commanded to love his wife, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. He is to protect, provide for, and lead the family. The wife is commanded to respect and bring honor to her husband. She is to serve as his helper in the management of the household and nurture the children. Parents are to demonstrate to the children the pattern for marriage and teach them spiritual and moral values, through consistent lifestyle example in loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth.
…Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. They are to honor and obey their parents.
(Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25;3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15;1 Samuel 1:26-28;Psalms 51:56;78:1-8;127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6, 15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15, 17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32;1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21;11 Timothy 5:8, 14;2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4;1 Peter 3:1-7)
