Confession of Faith
1. The Scriptures
The Holy Bible, written by divinely inspired individuals, constitutes God’s revelation of Himself to humanity, as represented in English by several translations. Its author is God, its purpose is salvation and sanctification, and its content is truth without any mixture of error. Therefore, all Scripture is entirely true and trustworthy.
Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:1-2; 17:19; Josh. 8:34; Psa. 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isa. 34:16;40:8; Jer. 15:16; 36:1-32; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luk. 21:33; 24:44-46; John. 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Rom. 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12;1 Pet. 1:25; 2Pet.1:19-21.
2. God
There is one and only one living and true God. God is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite and perfect in both person and character, embodying holiness and love. The eternal triune God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each possessing distinct personal attributes, yet without division of nature, essence, or being.
a. God the Father
God the Father reigns with providential care over the universe, all creatures, and the course of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and all-wise. God is Father in truth to those who become His children through faith in Jesus Christ, and He is fatherly in His attitude toward all people.
Gen. 1:1; 2:7; Exod. 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Lev. 22:2; Deut. 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chr. 29:10; Psa. 19:1-3; 75:6-8; Isa. 43:3,15; 64:8; Jer. 10:10; 17:13; Matt. 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mrk. 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Rom. 8:14-15; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 4:6; Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:6; 12:9; 1 Pet. 1:17; 1 John. 5:7.
b. God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Through His substitutionary death on the cross, He provided redemption from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body, ascended into heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God as the one Mediator, fully God and fully man, effecting reconciliation between God and humanity. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and fulfill His redemptive mission. He presently dwells in all believers as the living and ever-present Lord.
Gen. 18:1ff.; Ps. 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isa 7:14; 53; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mrk. 1:1; 3:11; Luk. 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John. 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 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; Rom. 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8, 24-28; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; 8:9; Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Pet. 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John. 7-9; Rev. 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.
c. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. The Holy Spirit convicts individuals of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. The Spirit cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows spiritual gifts for service within the church. The Holy Spirit enlightens and empowers both believers and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Gen. 1:2; Judg. 14:6; Job 26:13; Psa. 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matt. 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mrk. 1:10,12; Luk. 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; Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Cor. 1:22; 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; 13:8-10; 14:19-22; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:19; 1 Tim. 3:16; 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:14; 3:16; Heb. 9:8,14; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 John. 4:13; 5:6-7; Rev. 1:10; 22:17.
3. Man
Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. God created humans as male and female, as the crowning work of creation. The gift of gender is therefore part of the goodness of God’s creation. Through the temptation of Satan, humanity transgressed God’s command and fell from original innocence, resulting in a nature and environment inclined toward sin. The sacredness of human personality is evident in God’s creation of humanity in His own image and in Christ’s death for all people; therefore, every person, regardless of race, possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Gen. 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Ps. 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Is. 6:5; Jer. 17:5; Matt. 16:26. Acts 17:26-31; Rom. 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Cor. 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Eph. 2:1-22; Col. 1:21-22; 3:9-11.
a. Salvation
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole person 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, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
b. Regeneration
Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
c. Justification
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer into a relationship of peace and favor with God.
d. Sanctification
Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him.
e. Glorification
Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
Gen. 3:15; Exod. 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matt. 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luk. 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; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Rom. 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Cor. 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Cor. 5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Heb. 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; Jas. 2:14-26; 1 Pet. 1:2-23; 1 John. 1:6-2:11; Rev. 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
4. God's Purpose of Grace
Election is the gracious purpose of God, by which He chooses individuals and regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies believing sinners. Election is a display of God’s sovereign goodness and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable.
Gen. 12:1-3; Exod. 19:5-8; 1 Sam. 8:4-7,19-22; Isa. 5:1-7; Jer. 31:31ff.; Matt. 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luk. 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; Rom. 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1 Cor. 1:1-2; 11; 15:24-28; Eph. 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Col. 1:12-14; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:12; 2:10,19; Heb. 11:39–12:2; Jas. 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1 John. 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2; 5:16.
5. The Church
The New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, united by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel. The church observes Christ’s two ordinances, is governed by His laws, exercises the gifts, rights, and privileges granted in His Word, and seeks to extend the gospel globally. Its scriptural officers are pastors (or elders) and deacons.
Matt. 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; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18; 1 Tim. 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Heb. 11:39-40; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3; 21:2-3.
6. Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This act of obedience symbolizes faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. Baptism serves as a testimony to faith in the final resurrection of the dead. As a church ordinance, it is a prerequisite for church membership and participation in the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience in which members of the church, by partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
Matt. 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mrk. 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luk. 3:21-22; 22:19-20; Jhn. 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Col. 2:12.
7. The Lord’s Day
The first day of the week, known as the Lord’s Day (Sunday), is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ and should include both public and private worship and spiritual devotion. Activities on the Lord’s Day should align with the Christian conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Exod. 20:8-11; Matt. 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mrk. 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luk. 24:1-3,33-36; John. 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Rom. 14:5-10; I Cor. 16:1-2; Col. 2:16; 3:16; Rev. 1:10.
8. The Kingdom
The Kingdom of God encompasses His general sovereignty over the universe. The Kingdom of heaven refers to the realm of salvation entered through trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. The full consummation of the Kingdom will occur with the return of Jesus Christ for His millennial reign and the end of this age.
Gen. 1:1; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6; Matt. 3:2; 4:8-10,23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29; Mrk. 1:14-15; 9:1; Luk. 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32; 17:20-21; 23:42; John. 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Rom. 5:17; 8:19; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 1:13; Heb. 11:10,16; 12:28; Pet. 2:4-10; 4:13; Rev. 1:6,9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22.
9. Last Things
God, in His own time and manner, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth. The dead will be raised, and Christ will judge all unbelieving humanity in righteousness.
Isa. 2:4; 11:9; Matt. 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mrk. 8:38; 9:43-48; Luk. 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John. 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Cor. 5:10; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thess. 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:27-28; Jas. 5:8; 2 Pet. 3:7ff.; 1 John. 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Rev 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13
10. Evangelism and 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. The new birth of the human spirit by God’s Holy Spirit results in a love for others. Missionary effort is therefore a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life and is expressly and repeatedly commanded by Christ.
Gen. 12:1-3; Exod. 19:5-6; Isa. 6:1-8; Matt. 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luk. 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; Rom. 10:13-15; II Cor. 5:18-21; Eph. 3:1-11; 1 Thess. 1:8; 2 Tim. 4:5; Heb. 2:1-3; 11:39-12:2; 1 Pet. 2:4-10; Rev. 22:17.
11. The Christian and the Social Order
All Christians are obligated to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in their lives. Means and methods used to improve society and establish righteousness among people are truly and permanently helpful only when rooted in the regeneration of individuals by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ.
Exod. 20:3-17; Lev. 6:2-5; Deut. 10:12; 27:17; Psa. 101:5; Mic. 6:8; Zech. 8:16; Matt. 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mrk. 1:29-34; 2:3ff.; 10:21; Luk. 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25.
John. 15:12; 17:15; Rom. 12–14; 1Cor. 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; II Cor. 5:17-21; Gal. 3:26-28; Eph. 2:10; 6:5-9; Col. 3:12-17; 1 Thess. 3:12; Phm; Jas. 1:27; 2:8.
12. Religious Liberty
God alone is Lord of the conscience and has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of people that are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Civil government is ordained by God, and Christians are obligated to render loyal obedience in all matters not contrary to God’s revealed will. The church should not rely on civil power to accomplish its work. The gospel of Christ prescribes spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends.
Gen. 1:27; 2:7; Matt. 6:6-7,24; 16:26; 22:21; John. 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Rom. 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Gal. 5:1,13; Phil. 3:20; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; Jas. 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19.
13. The Family
God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. The family consists of people related by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide, within marriage, the framework for intimate companionship, the channel for sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.
Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exod. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Josh. 24:15; 1 Sam. 1:26-28; Psa. 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Prov. 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; Eccl. 4:9-12; 9:9; Mal. 2:14-16; Matt. 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mrk. 10:6-12; Rom. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21; 1 Tim. 5:8,14; 2 Tim. 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7.