|
| |
- There is one God, who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in
three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 5:48,
Matthew 28:19)
- Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy
Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the
unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are
justified on the ground of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to
the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our
great High Priest. He will come again to establish His Kingdom of
righteousness and peace. (Philippians 2:6-11, Luke 1:36-38, I Peter 3:18,
Hebrews 2:9, Romans 5:9, Acts 2:23,24, Hebrews 8:1, Matthew 26:64)
- The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach
and empower the believer, and to convince the world of sin, of righteousness,
and of judgment. (John 14:15-18, John 16:13, Acts 1:8, John 16:7-11)
- The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were
verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the
salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith
and practice. (II Peter 1:20-21, II Timothy 3:15-16)
- Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God: he fell
through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All
men are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can
be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The portion
of the impenitent and unbelieving person is existence forever in conscious
torment; and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss. (Genesis
1:27, Romans 3:23, I Corinthians 15:20-23, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:1-4)
- Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and
those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive
the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God. (Titus 3:4-7)
- It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the
Holy Spirit and be sanctified wholly, being separated from sin and the world
and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy
living and effective service. This is both a crisis and progressive experience
wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion. (I Thessalonians
5:23, Acts 1:8, Romans 6:1-14)
- Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ
for the healing of the mortal body. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil
are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present
age. (Matthew 8:16-17, James 5:13-16)
- The Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ, are redeemed through His blood and are born again of the Holy Spirit.
Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him
to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all the
nations.
The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for
the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer,
fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances
of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. (Ephesians 1:22-23, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts
2:41-47)
- There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust;
for the former, a resurrection unto life; for the latter, a resurrection
unto judgment. (I Corinthians 15:20-23, John 5:28-29)
- The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be
personal, visible and premillennial. This is the believer's blessed hope and
is a vital truth that is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.
(Hebrews 10:37, Luke 21:27, Titus 2:11-14)
(C&MA General Councils 1965, 1966, 1974, 1995)
|
