Description tThe Bible is the only source for faith and practice of the believer and the church (2 Thessalonians 2:13), and is the very Word of God.  God’s Word is completely void of error (Psalm 119:160), and is absolutely true from beginning to end (John 17:17).  The Bible is profitable and powerful in the life of the believer and the church (Matthew 4:4, 2 Timothy 3:15-17). God’s Word is infallible (Psalm 119:160, John 10:35) and completely inerrant (Psalm 119:160, Proverbs 30:5) as they were written by the human authors (2 Peter 1:21).

The entire Bible is inspired of God having been spoken/breathed by Him  (2 Peter 1:21, Matthew 4:4, 2 Timothy 3:16).  The canonicity of the Bible was determined in a few ways.  The Old Testament (OT) was confirmed by fulfilled prophecy, phrases such as “thus saith the Lord,” and quotations in the New Testament (NT) by Christ.  Based on the premise of 2 Timothy 3:15 which states that the church is the “pillar and ground of the truth,” we see that it was the early church that helped determine which writings were canonical through apostolic authority,  and by reception and circulation by the church (1 Thessalonians 2:14, 2 Tim. 3:15). ext goes here

The Lord God of heaven is the one true God and there is none other (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:35, 2 Samuel 7:12, Psalm 90:2). The Bible also teaches that God is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 3:13-17, 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14). In His three persons, God is one Lord/unity (Deuteronomy 6:4, Romans 1:20, James 2:19). God the Father, Son and Spirit were all present and active in the creation of the world: Father  (Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 45:7, 18, 66:1-2, Jeremiah 23:24, Acts 24:27), Son (John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16), Spirit (Genesis 1:2).  

God possesses divine attributes that cannot be possessed by mankind:  supremacy (Deuteronomy 3:39, Acts 10:36), omnipotence (Jeremiah 32:27, Revelation 19:6), omnipresence (Psalm 139:8-12, Proverbs 15:3), eternality (Deuteronomy 33:27, *Psalm 90:2, *93:2, 1 Timothy 1:17), immutability (Psalm 33:11, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17).  He also possesses attributes and characteristics that are found in mankind: intellect, emotion and will, among others. 

Jesus, the second person of the Godhead, is the Christ, the Son of the Loving God (John 20:31, Acts 8:37).  Jesus is the Son of God, born of a virgin as foretold in the Old Testament (necessary for His sinlessness) (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-21).  Coming to earth was an evidence of the humility of Christ (Philippians 2:6-11).

Christ came from God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, to make the way of salvation (John 3:16, 17, John 17:3, Romans 6:23, 10:9, Psalm 2:6, 7, Isaiah 9:6, 7, Micah 5:2).  He did not come into the world to condemn it, but He came that through Him the world would be saved (John 17).  Christ died on the cross, taking upon Himself the sins of the world and making atonement for them (Romans 5:18, Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:39, John 19:30, I Corinthians 5:13, 14).  Salvation is by God’s grace, through faith in His Son (Ephesians 2:8, 9, Romans 10:9).  Salvation is a free gift, offered to all mankind (Romans 6:23, 10:10, 13, 6:4, I Corinthians 5:4).  Christ died on the cross (I Corinthians 15:3), was buried (1 Cor. 5:4), and rose again (1 Cor 5:4). 

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity and was sent after Christ’s ascension to indwell all who are saved (Luke 11:13, John 7:39, 14:16-18, 16:7, Acts 2:1-3).  He convicts of sin (John 16:8-9), intercedes (Romans 8:26-27), empowers believers (Acts 1:8), comforts John 14:16), guides in all truth (John 16:13), testifies of Christ (John 15:26), teaches (John 14:26), and gives knowledge, wisdom and faith (1Corinthians 12:8-9).  

The Holy Spirit gifts the believer to serve the Lord (1 Corinthians 12).  The gifts given to believers are various and differ among the individuals in the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-12).  

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit indwelled for a time, coming upon some for specific purposes (Numbers 11:17, 25-29, 1 Samuel 10:10-12, 16:13), and would leave some (1 Samuel 16:14-15).  In the New Testament, the Spirit indwells the believer and does not leave him (John 14:16, 26). 

The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter and is sent by the Father after Christ’s ascension into heaven (John 14:26, Acts 1:2,8).

God created man (Genesis 1:27, 5:1, Deuteronomy 4:23, Psalm 104:30, Isaiah 45:12, 1 Corinthians 11:9).  Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, 27).  God made man and formed him out of the dust of the ground (Genesis 1:26, 2:7, 6:6, Psalm 100:3:1-6, 103:14, 1 Timothy 2:13).  

Adam and Eve fell into sin in the garden after Eve had been deceived by the serpent (Genesis 3:1-6, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). The results of man’s fall into sin was that all men became sinners (Romans 5:12, 19). In our sin, Christ died for us providing the necessary atonement and righteousness (Romans 5:8-11, 21).  Each individual is responsible before God for their own sin (Ezekiel 18:20).  

Salvation is by faith in Christ an by God’s grace to sinners.  Faith in Christ brings the grace of salvation to man’s heart (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Confession of sin before God, and believing are necessary for the salvation of man (Romans 10:9).  God’s grace opens the door of salvation for man (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:24, 5:21).  Salvation is necessary for man to be seen as righteous before God (Romans 5:21). 

Salvation is a free gift for all, and Christ died, shedding His blood, for all mankind. Christ’s blood was necessary for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:22). Salvation is offered to all mankind (Romans 10:13). Man can do nothing to gain or pay for this salvation for himself or on the behalf of another  (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation comes with eternal security so that it cannot be taken away (John 10:29).

The visible body of Christ upon the earth is the church.  The cumulative body of believers, as mentioned in Hebrews 12:23, is called the “church of the first born.” This body has no earthly assembly, or government, nor is it autonomous.  The local assemblies of the church are spoken of often in scripture (1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Galatians 1:2 – “unto the churches of Galatia).  The local church is an autonomous (self-governed) body of believers, directed by Christ and His Word (Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18).  The church is responsible for upholding the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).  

There are two ordinances instituted by the Lord for the church to observe: baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:19, Mark 1:10, John 3:23, Acts 3:38-39), and the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-27).  Baptism is an evident token of a man’s spiritual salvation and pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-10). 

There are two offices identified in scripture for the church: pastors and deacons.  Pastors have the spiritual responsibilities and oversight, and are held to a high standard of conduct (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Acts 20:28-29).  Deacons take care of many physical responsibilities of the church as well as being involved in a teaching ministry.  These men are held to a similar standard as the pastor as seen in their qualifications given in 1 Timothy 3 (Acts 6:1-6, 1 Timothy 3:7-13).