Doctrine on God
In the one God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinite in love, perfect in judgments and unchanging in mercy. God exists eternally in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
(Genesis 1; Exodus 3:14; Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; 7:6-8; Ecclesiastes 3.17; Psalm 50.6; 90:3; Isaiah 5:16; 6:1-7; 32:22; 40:18-31; Malachi 3:6; Matthew 3:16-17; 19:26; 28:19-20; John 3:16; 4:24; 14:6-27; Acts 17: 27-28; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 2:13-18; 1 Timothy 1:17; James 1:17; 1 Peter 4:19; 1 John 4:4-7)
Belief in Scripture
In the divine inspiration, truthfulness, and authority of both the Old and New Testaments, the only written Word of God, without error in all it affirms. The Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and practice. The Holy Spirit preserves God’s Word in the church today, and it speaks God’s truth to people of every age.
(Psalm 119:105; Luke 24:44-47; John 10:35; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
View of Humankind
That human beings were created in the image of God. This image was marred in every part through the disobedience of our first parents, and fellowship with God was broken. God, in His prevenient grace, restores moral sensibility to all humankind and enables all to respond to His love and to accept His saving grace, if they will.
(Genesis 1:26-28; 3:16; 1 Kings 8:46; Job 7:17-18; Psalm 53:1-3; 144:3; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:12, 19; 6:23; Galatians 3:22; Hebrews 2:6)
Jesus, Our Saviour
That Jesus Christ is God’s Son incarnate, born of the Virgin Mary. He died for the sins of all, taking on Himself, on behalf of sinful persons, God’s judgment upon sin. In His body, He rose from the grave and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us.
(Matthew 1:20-25; 16:15-16; Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-18; Acts 2:22-36; 10:42; Romans 1:1-6; 8:3, 32-34; Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:12-22; 1 Timothy 6:14-16; Hebrews 1:1-5; 7:22-28; 9:24-28; 1 John 1:1-3; 4:2-3, 15)
The Active Holy Spirit
That the Holy Spirit is God present and active in the world. The Holy Spirit was given to the church in His fullness at Pentecost. By the Spirit, Christ lives in His church, the gospel is proclaimed and the Kingdom of God is manifested in the world.
(John 7:39; 14:15-18, 26; 15:15-17; 16:7-15; Acts 2:33; 15:8-9; Romans 8:1-27; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 3:1-14; 4:6; Ephesians 3:14-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 3:24; 4:13)
Justification for Those Who Believe
That God graciously justifies and regenerates all who trust in Jesus Christ. Believers become children of God and begin to live in holiness through faith in Christ and the sanctifying Spirit.
(Matthew 12:37; Luke 10:29; 16:15; Acts 13:39; Romans 2:13; 3:4, 20-30; 4:25; 5:1, 9, 16, 18; 6:8; 8:30, 33; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 2:16-17; 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:7; James 2:21, 24-25)
Entire Sanctification
That God calls all believers to entire sanctification in a moment of full surrender and faith subsequent to their new birth in Christ. Sanctifying grace does not make believers faultless nor prevent the possibility of their falling into sin. They must live daily by faith in the forgiveness and cleansing provided for them in Jesus Christ. Through sanctifying grace, the Holy Spirit delivers from all rebellion toward God, and makes possible wholehearted love for God and for others.
(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; John 7:37-39; 14:15-23; 17:6-20; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9; Romans 6:11-13, 19; 8:1-4, 8-14; 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Galatians 2:20; 5:16-25; Ephesians 3:14-21; 5:17-18, 25-27; Philippians 3:10-15; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Hebrews 4:9-11; 10:10-17; 12:1-2; 13:12; 1 John 1:7, 9). (“Christian perfection,” “perfect love”: Deuteronomy 30:6; Matthew 5:43-48; 22:37-40; Romans 12:9-21; 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13; Philippians 3:10-15; Hebrews 6:1; 1 John 4:17-18. “Heart purity”: Matthew 5:8; Acts 15:8-9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3. “Baptism with the Holy Spirit”: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9. “Fullness of the blessing”: Romans 15:29. “Christian holiness”: Matthew 5:1-7:29; John 15:1-11; Romans 12:1-15:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:17-5:20; Philippians 1:9-11; 3:12-15; Colossians 2:20-3:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:7-8; 5:23; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Hebrews 10:19-25; 12:14; 13:20-21; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Peter 1:1-11; 3:18; Jude 20-21)
Assurance of Believers
That all believers are assured that they are children of God by the inward witness of God’s Spirit with their spirits, by faith in the gracious promises of God’s Word and by the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
(John 1: 12-13; 3:3-5, 36: 5:24; 8:31; 10: 1-15; 16:18; Acts 24:16; Romans 8:15-19; 9:1; 2 Corinthians 1:2; 13:5; Galatians 4:1-2, 6; Colossians 2:2; Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 John 2:3,20, 29; 3:13-14,19-21, 29; 4:6, 16-17; 5:18)
Christians in Society
That Christians are called to live in daily witness to the grace which comes to us in Jesus Christ, to preach the gospel to every person according to the command of Christ, and to declare God’s insistence upon righteousness and justice in all relationships and structures of human society.
(Matthew 5:13-16; 28:19-20; Luke 9:23; John 13:35; Acts 1:8; 5:42; 14:15; Colossians 1:28; 4:6; Ephesians 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 1:15; 2:9-10)
The Church
That the church is the people of God composed of all those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The church is Christ’s body; it is visible in the world wherever believers, in obedience of faith, hear the Word, receive the ordinances, and live as disciples.
(Exodus 19:3; Jeremiah 31:33; Matthew 8:11; 10:7; 16:13-19, 24; 18:15-20; 28:19-20; John 17:14-26; 20:21-23; Acts 1:7-8; 2:32-47; 6:1-2; 13:1; 14:23; Romans 2:28-29; 4:16; 10:9-15; 11:13-32; 12:1-8; 15:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; 7:17; 11:1, 17-33; 12:3, 12-31; 14:26-40; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:1; Galatians 5:6, 13-14; 6:1-5, 15; Ephesians 4:1-17; 5:25-27; Philippians 2:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 13; 2:4-12, 21; 4:1-2, 10-11; 1 John 4:17; Jude 24; Revelation 5:9-10)
Return of Christ
In the personal return of Jesus Christ, in the bodily resurrection of all persons, in final judgment, and in eternal reward and punishment.
(Matthew 24:27-42; 25:31-46; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 17:31; Romans 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8,11,18; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 9:26-28; 2 Peter 3:3-15; Revelation 1:7-8; 22:7-20; 20:11-15; 22:1-15)