Section A. The Essential Doctrines:
The Holy Scriptures
WE BELIEVE that the sixty-six canonical books of the Bible to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (Prov. 30:5-6; Matt. 5:18; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 16:12-13).
The Godhead
WE BELIEVE in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Dt. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Act 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; Ps 139:7-8; 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Matt. 28:19; John 10:30; 14:9)
WE BELIEVE God is spirit, from everlasting to everlasting the same, the Creator of all things, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. (John 4:24; Ps. 90:2; Jas. 1:17; Is. 44:24; Rev. 19:6; 1 John 3:20; Ps. 147:5; Ps. 139:7-10; Jer. 23:34)
God the Father
WE BELIEVE that God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace (Ps. 145:8-9; 1 Cor. 8:6). He is the creator of all things (Gen. 1:31; Eph. 3:9). As the only absolute and omnipotent ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption (Ps. 103:19; Rom. 11:36). His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind. As Creator He is Father to all men (Eph 4:6), but He is spiritual Father “through adoption” (John 1:12; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Heb. 12:5-9) only to believers (Rom. 8:14; 2 Cor. 6:18).
WE BELIEVE that He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass (Eph. 1:11). He continually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and events (1 Chron. 29:11; add Job 37-39; Heb 1:3). In His sovereignty He is neither author nor approver of sin (Hab. 1:13; John 8:38-47), nor does He abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures (1 Pt. 1:17). He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own (Eph. 1:4-6). He saves from sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ alone by faith alone (John 3:16; Gal 2:16; Rom 3:28).
The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God (John 1:1-2), became man, without ceasing to be God (John 1:14; Phil 2:5-12), having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order that He might reveal God, the Father (John 14:9), and redeem sinful man. (Luke 1:35; Matt. 1:21)
WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ lived a sinless life (1 Pet 2:22; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb 4;15), accomplished redemption for believers through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice (1 Pt 2:24; Rom 3:24-25; Eph 1:7) and that a believer’s justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Rom 4:25; 1 Pet. 1:3-5).
WE BELIEVE that all men have violated the Laws of God (Rom. 3:23), and therefore are without a righteousness of their own (Phil. 3:8-9; Rom. 3:9-20) and cursed by God (Gal. 3:10). Justification is a forensic act by which God declares sinners to be just in His sight. This legal act is based solely upon the righteousness of Christ (Rom 6:17-19; Phil 3:8), which He earned on behalf of His people. This righteousness is an alien or foreign righteousness that is credit (imputed) to the account of every believer upon exercising saving faith in Christ alone. (Rom 5:17- 19).
WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, the Father (Act 1:9-10; 7:56; Heb 1:3), where, as the High Priest of His people (Heb. 2:17; 5:10), He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11). He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, raising men spiritually from the dead; (John 3:3-5; Eph 2:1, 5: Col 2:13; 2 Cor. 3:6), producing saving repentance and faith (both are gifts of God: Acts 5:31; 11:18; 13:48; 16:14; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil. 1:29), spiritually baptizing all believers into the body of Christ (John 3:5-6; 1 Cor. 12:12-14), indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption (Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13-14).
WE BELIEVE that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth (John 16:13) and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be “filled with the Spirit” (1 John 2:20, 27; Eph. 5:18).
The Doctrine of the Total Depravity of Man or Radical Conception
WE BELIEVE that our first parents were created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Through the subtle temptation of Satan, both the man and the woman ate from the divinely forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 2:17). When Adam rebelled, he plunged the entire human race into spiritual ruin and death (Rom 5:12, 18-19; 1 Cor. 15:21-22; Eph 1:1-3), thereby forfeiting man’s original righteousness and alienating himself from the Creator (Isa 59:2; Rom 3:10-18). As a result, mankind inherited a sinful nature from Adam, who was the federal representative of the human race, and is therefore born into a state of sin (not born basically good) and born naturally rebellious against God. Adam’s guilt was IMPUTED to his progeny, thereby internally corrupting all men. His sin became their sin, his guilt their guilt, his punishment their punishment (Rom. 5:12, 14, 16, 18; 6:23).
WE BELIEVE that, as a result of this inborn corruption, all men are born with an inherited, corrupt, sinful nature, born spiritually dead, blind, dumb, and deaf to spiritual truth, and enslaved to sin (Rom. 8:10; Eph 2:1; Col. 2:13; John 8:43, 47; 10: 26-27; 12:39-40; 2 Cor. 4:4; Luke 8:10; 1 Cor. 2:14; Matt. 11:27; 13:13-14; 16:17; 2 Pet. 2:19; 2 Tim. 2:26; Matt. 12:29; Rom. 7:14). Fallen man is totally UNABLE to do any spiritual good and to believe in or come to Christ (John 6:44, 64-66; 8:47; 10:26; Rom. 3:10-18; Rom. 7:5; 8:7-8). His WILL is totally enslaved to his evil nature and he is a child of Satan (2 Tim. 2:26; John 1:12-13; Rom. 9:16; John 8:44). Consequently, man is no longer FREE, but is in the bondage of his evil nature (Rom. 7:14; Eph. 2:1-2). By nature, he has no desire for Christ or the things of God (Rom. 3:9-20; 8:5-8).
WE BELIEVE that, although man is NOT as evil as he could be, sin has corrupted the WHOLE of man. The corruption extends to his body and soul, to the totality of man’s faculties – his mind, his will, his intellect, his desires, etc. (John 8:44; Rom. 3:9-20; 8:5-8; 2 Tim. 2:26).
WE BELIEVE, therefore, that, at the Fall, man became alienated from God and is of himself totally unable to remedy his lost condition or prepare Himself for salvation. (Jer. 13:23; Matt. 7:16-17)
Sanctification
WE BELIEVE that sanctification is the process whereby, through cooperating with the indwelling Holy Spirit, a regenerated believer dies more and more to sin and grows inwardly and outwardly in righteousness, into the likeness of Christ (Rom 8:29; 1 Thess. 4:1-7; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Cor. 7:1; Heb 12:10-15; Rom 6:11-22; 2 Cor. 3:17-18; 4:16; Gal 2:19-22; Titus 3:5). Once the Sovereign Spirit regenerates a believer from his dead state (Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13; Titus 3:5), he begins his personal journey in holiness.
Sanctification constitutes a vital part of every believer’s relationship with the Lord (Eph 1:5; Gal 4:5; Rom 8:15-17), as well as with his earthly life and service (Heb 12:10-15). Personal growth in holiness and obedience to God is a sign that a person has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and united to Christ by saving faith (John 8:31; 15:8; Jas 2:24; 1 John 3:7-10). This divine process concerns itself with such practical aspects as regular worship, confessing sins, making restitution where possible, regularly reading and studying the Word of God, faithful service to the Lord, fellowshipping with other believers, praying regularly, and maintaining a witness as God grants opportunities.
WE BELIEVE that, contrary to some, sanctification is never completed in this life (1 John 1:8, 9). While the believer remains in his corrupted and unredeemed body, the inward battle between the flesh (sinful nature) and spirit (new life in Christ) remain (Rom 7:14-25). Sanctification is only completed for our souls at death and when the Lord returns for our bodies (Rom. 8:30; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2). Only then will we be made perfect (Rev. 7:14).
However, it is possible in this life for the sanctified believer, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and by his cooperation, to experience greater victory over sin, over the temptations of the Devil, and to be freed from their ruling aspect (1 John 1:9-2:2; Rom. 6:1-23; 8:13; 1 Cor. 6: 18-20).
The Church
WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23). The true Church is the body and espoused bride of Christ (Eph 5:30; 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:22-23). It is a spiritual organism composed of all those who were chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4; 2:19-22), regenerated by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-5; 1 Pt 1:3), and united to Christ by faith alone (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8,9; Rom. 3:22-30; 4:1-24; Gal. 2:16).
WE BELIEVE that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11).
Only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local Church.
The Sacraments
WE BELIEVE the sacraments are signs and seals of God’s Covenant of Grace and are to be practiced in the context of faith alone in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:27; Romans 3:21-24, 4:11; II Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13, 4:30). The Lord Jesus instituted only two sacraments. Water Baptism (Matthew 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:24-25) are to be observed and administered by the Church as the outward signs and seals of the inward working of the grace of God as demonstrated in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone. We deny that there is any effectual working or power for salvation in the sacraments in and of themselves but only in the Gospel of God’s unmerited, sovereign grace which is made effectual by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 26:26-30; Mk 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; Romans 1:16-17; l Corinthians 11:23-25; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).
WE BELIEVE that water baptism is symbolic of the Holy Spirit and of His work of salvation in accord with God’s sovereign decree of election (John 6:37; 10:14-16; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28-30; Eph. 1:3-12; Titus 3:4-7). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is true Christian Baptism with the Lord Jesus Christ acting as our great High Priest in carrying out its administration (Matthew 3:11; Mark1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:4-5, 19:1-6). Water Baptism demonstrates as an outward symbol the inward hope of the believer’s salvation by the working of the Holy Spirit’s power in accord with the sovereign grace of God. (Ezek. 36:25-28; Rom. 6:4-5; 1 Pet. 3:21; Eph. 1:1-14).
WE BELIEVE that the Lord’s Supper is the feast done in obedience and memory of the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as offered up on our behalf as an atoning sacrifice. His body was broken for us and His blood was shed to establish a New Covenant between God and His people. Therefore the perpetual practice of partaking of the Lord’s Supper is continually proclaiming the Lord’s death until He returns in all His glory. The Lord’s Supper is also a means by which the true believer fellowships with Jesus Christ and His Church (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10: 14-17, 11:23-28).
Missions
WE BELIEVE that it is our obligation to witness by life and by word the truths of God’s Word, proclaiming the Gospel to all mankind (Mat 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:19-20) and making disciples of believers. Only when our Lord has brought all His elect (His sheep: Jew and Gentile) into the kingdom will the Lord return (John 10:15-16; Rom 11:25-26).
The Existence and Personality of Satan
WE BELIEVE Satan, who is a fallen angel (Is 14:12-15; 2 Pt 2:4; Rev. 12:7-9; Jude 6) and a created being is the author of sin. He entered the Garden of Eden and tempted the man and woman to rebel against the Creator (Gen 3:1-5). As a result of his nefarious deed, the entire human race fell into spiritual ruin and the bondage of sin and death (Rom 5:12; 7:14; Eph 2:1,4; Col 2:13).
WE BELIEVE that the Devil is the “god of this age” who has blinded men to the Gospel (2 Cor. 4:4) and who holds all men in bondage to do his will (Matt. 29; Rom 6:16-17, 20; 2 Tim 2:26; 1 John 5:19). He is the open and declared enemy of God and man (Gen 3:1-15; Job 1:6-12, 7; Matt 4:1-11; Rev. 12; 20:2). When the Lord returns, the Devil, along with his fallen angels will be thrown into the Lake of Fire and eternally punished (Matt. 25:41; Jude 6; Rev. 20:10).
The Second Coming of Christ:
WE BELIEVE in the visible, physical, and personal return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the “Blessed Hope” (Titus 2:11-13). When He appears, every eye shall see Him, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:9-11; John 19:37; Rev. 1:7; Rev. 19:1-21).
WE BELIEVE that at that time the Lord will rescue His people from the persecution of the Antichrist (Matt. 24:15-22; Rev. 7:9-17; 19:11-21) and from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10; 1 Thess. 5:9). He will do this by gathering His elect from the four corners of the earth (Matt. 24:29-31) and from every tongue, tribe, and nation (Rev. 7:9). Only His people, the elect, will be united with Him in the clouds (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
WE BELIEVE that, once the elect are united to the Lord in the air, our Lord will then return to earth with His people, as King of Kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:11-18; Zech 14:3-5). At that time, he will destroy the Antichrist, the False Prophets, and all those who worshipped the Beast (Dan 7:11, Zech. 14:12-13; 2 Thess. 2:8).
The Eternal State
WE BELIEVE in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6,12-15)
WE BELIEVE that the souls of the redeemed are at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil 1:23), where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection (Rev. 20:4-5). At that time, the spirit, soul, and body of all believers will be reunited and glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; Rev. 3:21, 20:4-15; 1 Thess. 4:16-17).
WE BELIEVE that, at death, the souls of unbelievers go immediately to Hell and remain in conscious misery until the second resurrection (Luke 16:19-26; Rev. 20:11-15). At that time, their soul and body will be reunited. They shall then all appear at the Great White Throne of Judgment to be judged by God according to their deeds (Rev. 20:11-14; 22:12) and by believers (Matt. 19:28; 1 Cor. 6:1-3 2 Tim 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21). Following the Final Judgment, they shall be immediately cast into the Lake of Fire, (Matt. 25:46; John 15:6; Rev. 20:15).
WE BELIEVE that they shall not be annihilated, but suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Rev. 14:10; Luke 16:19-26; Matt 25:41-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 20:11-15).
Section B. The Distinctive Doctrines
The following doctrinal beliefs are those “distinctives” that we hold to. Although these distinctives can be Biblically supported, we recognize that some within the Christian community may come to different Biblical conclusions. Therefore, while we will hold to and teach the following doctrines, we will not refuse fellowship with those who would “agree to disagree” with us on these issues. We ask those seeking membership who are not in complete agreement to submit to the Church’s distinctives and promote unity in spite of personal differences in opinion.
The Ministry of the Spiritual Gifts
WE BELIEVE that God, according to His own sovereignty (1 Cor. 12:11), has bestowed spiritual gifts upon the Church for the common good (1 Cor. 12:4-11: Rom. 12:3-8). Every believer has at least one spiritual gift to use in the service to the Lord (Eph. 4:8; 1 Pet. 4:10; Rom. 12:3).
WE BELIEVE that the offices of Apostle and Prophet ceased by the end of the 1st century. However, Evangelists and Pastor-Teachers have remained and are sufficient for the perfection of the saints, equipping them for the work of service (Eph 4:11-12).
WE BELIEVE that the working of the sign gifts – speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, miracles, and healings – were used during a special time in the life of the early Church (Acts 2:1-14; 3:1-10; 14:8-10; 16:18; 19:11-12). They were mainly used to establish the credentials of the Apostles among a skeptical and hostile world (2 Cor. 12:12). The sign gifts gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established (1 Cor. 13:9-10
WE BELIEVE that speaking in tongues is one of the lesser gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:28) and therefore, not every believer speaks in tongues (1 Cor. 12:30). Speaking in tongues is neither necessary to show evidence of the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit nor necessary for salvation (Eph 1:13-14).
WE BELIEVE that God hears and answers prayers of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (2 Cor. 12:7-10; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15; Jas 5:13-16).
The Doctrine of Unconditional Election
WE BELIEVE that, before the foundation of the world, the Sovereign God, Creator of the Universe, chose particular individuals from the fallen members of Adam’s race to be objects of His undeserved favor (Matt. 11:26-27; Rom 8:28-30; 10:20; Eph 1:4-5; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Rev. 13:8; 17:8). These, and only these, which Scripture calls His elect (Luke 18:7; Rom. 8:33), God decreed to reveal Himself to and save (Matt. 11:27; Acts 11:40-41; 16:14). The rest of mankind, God chose to pass by, thereby leaving them to their own evil devices, choices, and DEAD STATE. In short, God chose to save some and to exclude others (Matt. 22:14; 11:27; Rom 9:6-24; John 10:26-30; John 8:47).
WE BELIEVE that God’s sovereign decision to save some and not others was NOT based upon any FORESEEN act or response or merit on the part of those elected to salvation (Ezek. 16:3-14; Deut. 7:6-8; Rom. 9:11-13,16; 10:20; 1 Cor. 1:27-29; 2 Tim. 1:9). Rather, it was based solely upon God’s own good pleasure and sovereign will (Isa 46:9-11; Dan. 4:35; Matt. 20:15; Rom. 9:6-24; Eph. 1:11).
Thus, election was NOT determined by, or conditioned upon, anything that men WOULD DO, but resulted entirely from God’s self-determined purpose. Good works are the result, not the ground, of predestination (Eph 1:11-12; 2:10; John 15:16).
In addition, it is NOT within fallen man’s jurisdiction to call into question the justice of God. Since all men are sinners (Rom 3:23), deserve death, and therefore have NO claim on the mercy of God (Rom 9:19-21), then the wonder is NOT that God would graciously save some and NOT others, but that He would save ANY. According to God’s sovereignty and eternal purpose, the undeserving elect obtain mercy and the reprobates obtain justice.
The Doctrine of Limited Atonement or Particular Redemption
WE BELIEVE that, to secure their redemption, God the Father sent the Son into the world, as both fully man and fully God, to represent and save only the ones given to Him by the Father (Matt. 1:21; Matt. 20:28; 26:28; John 6:35-40; 10:11; 11:50-53; Acts 20:28; Eph 5:25-27; Heb 9:15; Rev. 5:9). Jesus, in His high priestly prayer, prays NOT for all men (the world), but only for those given to Him by the Father (John 17:1-11, 20, 24-26).
As their representative, Jesus died in their place (the elect: Isa 53:4-6,10-12; Matt. 26:28; Mk 10:45; Rom 5:6,8; 8:32), and thereby secured various blessing for His people: reconciliation, justification, regeneration, and sanctification Christ’s death did NOT make it possible for men to be saved but rather secured the full salvation of His people by His finished work on the cross. (John 19:30; Rom. 5:10; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:18-19; Eph. 2:15-16; Col. 1:21-22; Rom. 3:24-25; 5:8-9; Titus 3:5-6; Heb. 13:12; 1 John 1:7).
WE BELIEVE that, although Christ’s work was capable of saving all men, it was designed only to save those particular individuals elected by the Father from eternity (Eph 1:4-5). Those not elected (reprobates), God chooses to pass by, leaving them in their dead, corrupt state. Only God’s elect demonstrate saving faith and repentance, which is the fruit of regeneration (Rom. 9).
Since all men are sinners and deserve death (Rom 3:23; 6:23), God, then, would be perfectly justified if He saved no one. He is NOT obligated to save anyone, meaning that NO man has a claim on His mercy. Therefore, since no man deserves mercy, God is NOT unjust in His eternal decree to save some and NOT others. The elect receive mercy while the non-elect receive justice (Rom 9).
The Doctrine of Irresistible Grace or the Efficacious Call of the Sinners
WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit does a work of grace in the heart of every one of God’s elect. The Spirit extends a special inward call that is only heard by God’s elect (John 10:1-27; 8:47; Acts 9:3-7; Gal. 1:15-16; Rom. 8:30) and regenerates them from their dead state to bring them to salvation (Eph. 2:1,5; Col .2:13). In creating this new heart or new nature, God gives spiritual life, sight, hearing, and understanding to God’s elect, thereby enabling them to freely come to Christ and exercise saving faith and repentance, both of which are gifts from God (1 Cor. 4:7; Eph 2:8-9).
WE BELIEVE that, although the general outward call of the Gospel is rejected, the special inward call of the Spirit cannot be rejected. It never fails to result in the conversion of those to whom it was made (John 6:37; Rom. 8:30; Acts 9:3-22; 16:14). God’s special call is not made to all but only to the ones given to the Son by the Father who were elected before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4-5).
WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit is in no way dependent upon the sinner’s help or cooperation to bring them to Christ. Salvation is all of grace (Isa 55:11; John 3:27; 17:2; Rom 9:16; 1 Cor. 4:7; Jas 1:18; 1 John 5:20). God’s saving grace is “irresistible” or “efficacious.” Saving grace extended to God’s elect is never thwarted or refused (Eph. 2:8, Titus 3:5).
The Doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints or Eternal Security
WE BELIEVE that, all those whom God has elected from eternity to be spiritually united to Christ by the act of regeneration will be kept eternally secure in the faith by the power of Almighty God (John 10:28-30; 1 Pt 1:3-5). Nothing can ever separate them from the eternal and unchangeable love of God (Rom 8:35-39). God will not lose one of His elect, but keep them secure in the faith to persevere to the end (John 6:39; 1 John 5:4; Heb. 13:5).
WE BELIEVE that those who give the appearance of being God’s elect, but for various reasons fall away from the faith, were never regenerated by the Holy Spirit and spiritually united to Christ (1 John 2:19). All those spiritually united to Christ never reject the faith and fall away (Luke 22:31-32).
WE BELIEVE that, from time to time, believers fall into sin, even grievous sins (Ps 51; Matt. 26:34, 75), but these sins never cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ. God’s elect are eternally secure in Christ (John 3:16; 17:11, 12, 15; Rom. 8:29, 30; Eph l: 5, 13.14).
The Doctrine and Order of Salvation
WE BELIEVE that Salvation is the gift of God (Eph 2:8-9). It is given to man by grace alone and received by personal faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ alone (John 3:16; 5:25; Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16). His precious blood was shed on Calvary on behalf of His people for the forgiveness of their sins and was the ransom required by the Father for the their redemption from the bondage of sin, death, and Satan (Eph. 2:8-9; John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Peter 1:18, l9; Mk 10:45; 1 John 5:19; Heb 2:15). Our Lord’s penal substitution both satisfied and turned away [propitiation: means “turning away”] the wrath of the Father against His people. (Rom 3:25; 1 John 2:2; Heb 2:17)
WE BELIEVE that, left to himself, fallen man faces certain eternal death. Therefore, God brings to pass His saving mercy through various steps (a definite order) whereby He brings the dead, unredeemed sinner to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The order of salvation is as follows:
- The effectual call (John 10:3; Rom 8:29-30; John 5:25), which issues in
- Regeneration (the raising men from their dead state: John 3:3-8; Eph. 2:1,5; Col. 2:13; Titus 3:5; 1 Pet. 2:3), which results in
- Saving repentance and faith (both are a gift from God; John 3:27; 1 Cor. 4:7; Eph 2:8-9; Acts 5:31; 11:18; 13:48; 16:14; 18:27; Phil 1:29; 2 Tim 2:25-26), which leads to
- Justification by faith ALONE in Christ ALONE (a forensic declaration: Rom 3:28; 4:1-3; 9:30-33; 10:11-13; Gal 2:26; ), followed by
- Sanctification (the conforming to the image of Christ: Rom 8:29), ultimately resulting in
- Glorification (the final resurrection and redemption of the body: Dan 12:2; Isa 26:19; Ezek 37:1-14; John 3:16,36; 5:24-25; 6:39-40; 11:23-26; Rom 8:11,17, 23-24,30; 1 Cor. 15:12-58; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
All six steps are solely the work of the Holy Spirit.