The scriptures of the entire Bible are verbally inspired by God. It was not just the ideas that were inspired; even the choice of words were inspired as the original writers were moved by God to write what He wanted them to say. We therefore believe that (1) the Scriptures are God's revelation of Himself to mankind, (2) they are infallible and (3) they are the divinely authoritative guide for our faith, belief, and manner of living (2 Timothy 3: 15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).

There is one true God. He has revealed himself as hav­ing always existed without any outside cause or agent bring­ing Him into being (Isaiah 43:10). He is the creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1) and the only One who redeems, saves, or rescues mankind from sin and its painful conse­quences (Isaiah 43:11). God has further revealed himself as a single being (Deuteronomy 6:4) consisting of three interrelated persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Trinity) (Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God has always existed. He too is without beginning or end (Revelation 1:8). In order to complete His earthly sacrificial mission, He became human by being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35). He lived a perfect life absolutely without sin (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22). In order to restore fallen mankind, He died on the cross as a substitute for the sins of every person (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He was raised from the dead by the supernatural power of God (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 6:14, 15:4). Since His resurrection, He has been exalted and is seated at the right hand of God (Acts 1:9, 11, 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).

Mankind was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, mankind by willful choice, ignored God's instruc­tions ... choosing to engage in what they knew was wrong and evil. As a result, mankind fell from innocence and good­ness and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26-27,2:17,3:6; Romans 5:12-19).

Salvation is deliverance, from spiritual death and enslavement by sin. God provides salvation for all who believe and accept His free offer of forgiveness. Mankind's only hope of redemption from the fallen sinful state is through the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son - blood that was shed as Jesus died on the cross.

• Baptism in Water- The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water is commanded in the Scriptures (Mark 16:16). All who repent and believe on Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord are to be so baptized. This act of baptism symbolically declares to everyone that the old sinful life of the baptized believer died with Christ at salvation and a new spiritual being has been raised with Christ. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4).
• Holy Communion- The Lord's Supper or Communion, consisting of bread and the fruit of the vine (grape juice), is a memorial of Christ's suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26). In eating and drinking the symbols of Christ's suffering and death, the believer expresses his awareness that through salvation they (1) have been made right with God and (2) share the divine nature of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4).

All believers are entitled to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and therefore should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. The baptism in the Holy Spirit was the normal experience of all believers in the early Christian church. With the experience comes the provision of power for victorious Christian living and productive service. It also provides believers with specific spiritual gifts for more effec­tive ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4.8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-1).

The baptism of Christians in the Holy Spirit is accom­panied by the initial physical sign of speaking in other tongues (unlearned languages) as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4).

Sanctification is an act of separating ourselves from evil and identifying with things that are good, upright, and morally pure. It is the process that takes place as Christians devote themselves to God (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). Scriptures teach that we are to be holy because God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). For "without holi­ness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Living in holiness is possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Church as described in the Bible consists of all people who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as the only remedy for their sins. The Church includes all Christians and has no boundaries as to age, race, gender, nor denomina­tion. It is the body of Christ, the dwelling place of God through the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Church. He has made every provision for the fulfillment of "the Church's" Great Commission (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15). The names of all true believers (those making up the Church) are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).

Involvement in ministry in response to a divine call is scripturally ordained in the Bible. It is a provision of our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the Church in (1) evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20), (2) worship of God (John 4:23-24), and (3) building a body of believers conforming to the life of Christ (Ephesians 4:11,16).

Divine healing from God is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided in the Atonement (Christ's suffering and death for our reconcilia­tion with God). Healing is a privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).

All Christians who have died will one day rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air. Christians who have not yet died will be raptured or called up with them, to be with the Lord. Then Christians of all ages will live with God forever. The scriptural truth of the Lord's soon return is "the blessed hope" (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Titus 2:13).

The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of all Christians, which is our blessed hope. Followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for 1000 years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27-30; Revelation 1:7, 19:11-14, 20:1-6).

There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead - those who have died without accepting Christ's salvation - will be raised and judged according to the way they lived. Anyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be sent to everlasting punishment in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20, 20:11-15, 21:8).