We
affirm our belief in one God, infinite Spirit, creator, and sustainer
of all things, who exists eternally in three persons, God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one in essence but
distinct in person and function.
We affirm that the Father is
the first person of the Trinity and the source of all that God is and
does. From Him the Son is eternally generated and from Them the Spirit
eternally proceeds. He is the designer of creation, the speaker of
revelation, the author of redemption, and the sovereign of history.
We
affirm that the Lord Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity,
eternally begotten from the Father. He is God. He was conceived by the
virgin Mary through a miracle of the Holy Spirit. He lives forever as
perfect God and perfect man: two distinct natures inseparably united in
one person.
We affirm that the Holy Spirit is the third person of
the Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son and equal in deity.
He is the giver of all life, active in the creating and ordering of the
universe; He is the agent of inspiration and the new birth; He
restrains sin and Satan; and He indwells and sanctifies all believers.
We
affirm that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, though written by
men, was supernaturally inspired by God so that all its words are the
written true revelation of God; it is therefore inerrant in the
originals and authoritative in all matters. It is to be understood by
all through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, its meaning determined
by the historical, grammatical, and literary use of the author’s
language, comparing Scripture with Scripture.
We affirm that Jesus
Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice by the appointment of the Father.
He fulfilled the demands of God by His obedient life, died on the cross
in full substitution and payment for the sins of all, was buried, and
on the third day He arose physically and bodily from the dead. He
ascended into heaven where He now intercedes for all believers.
We
affirm that each person can be saved only through the work of Jesus
Christ, through repentance of sin and by faith alone in Him as Savior.
The believer is declared righteous, born again by the Holy Spirit,
turned from sin, and assured of heaven.
We affirm that the Holy
Spirit indwells all who are born again, conforming them to the likeness
of Jesus Christ. This is a process completed only in Heaven. Every
believer is responsible to live in obedience to the Word of God in
separation from sin.