God is the Creator, Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. There is only one true, holy God, who exists eternally as three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each is fully God yet personally distinct from the other. God has a profound love for humankind as the only creatures made in his image, wants the best for us and has initiated a plan enabling us to live in a personal relationship with him.

We are each made in the image of God, to be like him in character. Although humankind has tremendous potential for good, we are marred by our sinful nature that separates us from God and causes us to fall short of the fullness of life he intends for us.

Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all humankind, there will be a resurrection of the body and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Those who reject God in this life will be separated from God forever, while believers will be received into a lasting union with God and rewarded for works done in this life.

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead on the third day to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to reign in ultimate supremacy forever.

Salvation is a gift from God to sinful humankind. We can never make up for our sin through self-improvement or good works, and even our best efforts leave us unable to earn God’s favor. Salvation of humankind is therefore completely a work of God’s free grace, not the result of human effort or goodness, and must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith. Only by trusting in Jesus as our Savior and inviting him to rule our lives can we be freed from sin’s penalty and receive eternal life with God.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all equally God. The Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration and renewal for believers in Jesus Christ, and lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with ability to live a life that honors God, understanding of spiritual truth, power to be Christ’s witness, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily.

The Bible was written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. All the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, given by divine inspiration, are the written Word of God, our only infallible authority for faith and practice. These Scriptures are to be interpreted according to their context and purpose and in reverent obedience to the Lord who speaks through them in living power.

There is one true Church—the body of Christ—comprised of all who acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Lord. As the Scripture commands, believers are to gather in local congregations for corporate worship, instruction, fellowship, ministry and outreach. Through baptism and Communion, Christ-followers publicly celebrate their conversion to Christ and experience of his grace. God gives to the church elders and other leaders to prepare his people for works of service, that together in love and unity all grow to maturity and bring glory to God.