The Bible
The Bible is the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. The Bible is our source of absolute truth, and it teaches us about God and what He desires of us (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119:160). The Bible contains sixty-six books, thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament. The Old Testament contains the history and writings of ancient Israel. The New Testament contains the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the history of the early Church, and letters of the Apostles.
God the Father
There is only one God, but He exists in three persons. God the Father is the first person of the Trinity, and He created the universe and everything in it (Genesis 1:1). He is self-existent, self-sufficient, eternal, immutable, and sovereign. He is faithful, gracious, and merciful. He is glorious, good, and just. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He is patient, true, and wise. He is our loving King. He is our holy Lawgiver. He is our righteous Judge.
Mankind & Sin
God created mankind in His image (Genesis 1:27). He created man and woman equal in value and worth, yet they were created to have distinct roles in society, in the church, and in the home (Genesis 2:15-25). Both man and woman were created to have a relationship with God and serve Him. Mankind was created good, yet they chose to sin by disobeying God (Genesis 3). Because of this, all humans have a sinful nature and have been separated from God (Romans 3:10, 23).
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God and second person of the Trinity (John 1:34). He was born of the virgin Mary and lived a sinless life on this earth (Matthew 1:18-25, Hebrews 4:15). During His ministry, He performed many miracles and taught the scriptures with authority (Mark 1:27). He showed love, compassion, and grace towards sinners, yet He rebuked the religious leaders who skewed the message of Scripture. Though he lived a sinless life, Jesus Christ died on a Roman cross as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of every single human being to ever exist (John 19). On the third day after His death, Jesus rose from the dead to defeat sin and death and to give eternal life to those who would believe in Him (John 20). Shortly after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:6-11), but He will one day return to gather His believers to Himself and establish a perfect New Earth. Jesus is our Savior and Messiah.
Salvation
We are sinful creatures and deserve eternal death (Romans 6:23a). But Christ died for our sins and was resurrected to give us eternal life. This eternal life is a free gift for those who believe in Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:23b, 10:9-10). We can never earn eternal life by doing good works or obeying the Law because we are imperfect. Eternal life is only achieved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Holy Spirit & The Christian Life
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and resides in all believers. The Holy Spirit is also described as “The Helper” because He reminds believers of the teachings of Jesus and the truths of the Bible (John 14:16-17). He sanctifies believers by guiding them towards what is right and convicting their hearts of sin (John 14:26). The Christian is to live a holy (set apart) life, obeying God’s Word (Numbers 15:40). They should reflect the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and practice the marks of a true Christian (Romans 12:9-21). Christians are also given certain spiritual gifts that they are to use to serve God and others (Romans 12:3-8).
The Church
The Church is not a building or a service. The Church is the body of believers (Matthew 18:20). Each believer plays an important role in the Church, and no believer is greater than another in the Church (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). When believers gather together locally, they are to worship God, serve, and fellowship with others (1 Peter 4:10). Believers are to encourage one another and build each other up, but they are also to keep other believers accountable (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Galatians 6:1-2).
Baptism & Communion
Baptism and Communion are the two ordinances that Jesus instituted during His ministry on the earth and should be practiced by all Christians who belong to a local body of believers. According to the Bible, a person is to be baptized by full immersion after they have become saved. This baptism symbolizes dying to sin and raising to walk in new life. It is also a symbol of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:4-5, Colossians 2:12). A person can also partake of communion after they have become saved. The practice began at Jesus’ Last Supper before His crucifixion, and it is an ongoing practice in the church (every week, once a month, etc.). The elements of communion symbolize Jesus’ body and blood. They remind us of His sacrifice for our sins and point us toward the future marriage supper of the Lamb (Luke 22:14-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Revelation 19:6-9).
End Times
One day, Jesus will return to earth and judge between believers and unbelievers. Those who were unrepentant will receive their just punishment for their sins and suffer eternally. Those who repented of their sins and believed in Jesus’ death and resurrection will be glorified (Philippians 3:20-21, 1 John 3:2). They will have perfect, unhindered fellowship with God. The earth as we know it will be destroyed, and Jesus will usher in a New Earth. This New Earth will be perfect and last forever. There will be no more sin, no more darkness, no more sadness, no more sickness, no more pain, no more death (Revelation 21).