• God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

• Jesus Christ is God the Son. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

• The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.

People are made in the image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although in the beginning God created people as agents of good and with a free will, all of us are born with a predisposition to sin. Every human being as soon as he or she is capable of moral action, sins. Sin includes both disobedience toward God and the inability to live a perfect life. Our sin separates us from God, limits our potential, mars our relationship with others, and has eternal consequences. Sin exists as personal offense and also as systemic evil.

• Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved.

• Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ by grace (unmerited favor), the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. Salvation is more than the assurance of going to heaven when we die, although it certainly includes that. Salvation is also entrance into the kingdom of God, which is life in the realm of God’s rule here on earth. A true believer will demonstrate God’s grace in his or her life by the way he or she lives the kingdom life.

• People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. Eternal life describes both the quantity and the quality of this life God gives to believers.

• Eternal life begins at the point of faith and continues forever. It is life here on earth in God’s kingdom and also in heaven forever. Those who reject God’s free offer of eternal life are already living under condemnation and will forever live separated from God because of their sin.