Highly Exalted

God

I believe in God, the Father, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He is the Ruler of the universe and of all creation; He provides providential care over all He has made.  He is omniscient and omnipotent and is the source of all life and love through His magnificent and sovereign grace.  He is the triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

Jesus Christ

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He is the Word that became flesh to dwell among us through the conception of the Holy Spirit and subsequent virgin birth.  Jesus was fully God wrapped in humanity yet resisted all temptation of sin.  Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and was physically resurrected on the third day.  He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

Holy Spirit

I believe that the Holy Spirit is God.  He acts as our counselor and prompts us to evangelistic efforts, guides our careful study, and leads our worship.  The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and provides assurance of salvation.  The Holy Spirit comes upon a person at the moment of salvation.

Scriptures

The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to man and is the final authority on all matters of faith.  No substituted interpretations, traditions or practices can replace the Word of God; rather, the Word of God should be used in such a manner that is always properly kept in context and interpreted in light of the whole canon.  The Bible is comprised of 66 books (Old Testament & New Testament) and its plenary, verbal inspiration as it was composed by human authors and superintended by God as to insure God’s intended revelation.  The Bible contains no mixture of error or fallacy as it was recorded in the original manuscripts.  The Bible is living and active, able to guide mankind to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and able to convict of sin under the power of the Holy Spirit.

Man

God created mankind with the intention of a perfect and holy communion.  However, the entrance of sin in the world corrupted man’s relationship with God and thus man is forever separated from God.  Therefore, man is in a state of total depravity and unable to seek out God under his own strength without the prompting of the Holy Spirit according to the divine and graceful purposes of God.

Salvation

I believe salvation to be the reconciliation between man and God by the grace of God alone.  God seeks us out, convicts of sin and we are drawn to Him.  Man offers nothing to God in this exchange while God offers eternal life.  Salvation is a gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ’s atoning work on the cross.  Repentance is clear evidence of a God’s salvific work upon man’s heart.

Eternal Security

I believe that what God saves, He keeps.  Once God draws someone to Himself, the man is a new creation in Christ and cannot be reversed.  Though sin will still exist in the flesh of the believer, a true believer who is repentant will avoid a backslidden situation.

Baptism

I believe baptism is a total immersion under water that pictures the life, burial and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ and symbolizes man’s death to sin and new life in Christ.  Baptism is the ordinance reserved for ones who by faith, believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for our sins and rose again.  Therefore, baptism is not a rite of infancy or any other life stage outside of a full confession of faith in Christ.

Lord’s Supper

I believe the Lord’s Supper is the second ordinance commanded by Jesus to observe for the purpose of memorializing His atoning and redemptive work upon the cross.  The elements of the Lord’s Supper (body and blood) are meant to symbolically convey the sacrifice of Jesus and prompt us to look forward to His second coming.

Evangelism

I believe that Jesus commanded us to go into the entire world making disciples of all nations and bringing the Good News of God’s grace to all people of every tribe and nation. 

Church

I believe the Church acts as the body of Christ that includes all of the redeemed of all ages and of every tongue and tribe.  The Church is the bride of Christ.  A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ acts as an autonomous body of baptized believers associated by their common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and obedience to His commands.

Sources: Apostles’ Creed, BF&M 2000, Abstract of Principles