Article I - Scripture
The witness of Scripture is that the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a divine revelation, the original autographs of which were verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is absolute in authority, complete in revelation, final in content, and infallible in its statements. Scripture is to be interpreted literally, as opposed to an allegorical interpretation. A consistent, literal interpretation allows for progressive revelation, which is the gradual unfolding over a period of time of certain revealed truths of God as recorded in Scripture. Historical, grammatical, contextual, and macroliteral hermeneutics (the system of literal interpretation) include observation, interpretation, and application. Literal hermeneutics ("science of interpretation") allows for figures of speech (microliteralism), illustrations, poetry, types, and symbols in Scripture (Luke 1:1-4; 24:27, 44-46, 48; John 5:39; Acts 1:16; 17:11; 26:6-7, 26; Rom 15:4; 1 Cor 2:13; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21).
Article II - The Godhead
There are three distinct personalities in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three Persons are one God, the same in substance, eternally equal in power and glory (Deut 6:4; Isa 6:8; Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 8:6; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 John 5:7).
Article III - Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, that is, He is Himself very God; He took upon Himself human nature, being conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life; He died upon the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sin of all mankind although only the elect will appropriate the benefits of His sacrifice since only they will exercise the one requirement of faith; He died and arose bodily the third day in the body in which He was crucified; He ascended into heaven in that body glorified, where He is now, as interceding High Priest of all who believe in Him; He will come again personally, bodily, and visibly to set up His kingdom and to judge the quick and the dead (Matt 1:18-25; 25:31-46; Luke 24; Acts 1:9-11; 2:31-36; Phil 2:5-8; Col 1:15; 1 Thess 4:16-18; Heb 4:14-16; 1 Pet 2:24-25; Rev 11:15-17; 20:4-6, 11-15).
Article IV - Man
Adam was created in the image of God but fell into sin, which resulted in being separated from God, and in that sense, is lost; this is true of all men, since Adam was the federal head of all mankind thus by one man sin entered the world, resulting in death entering the world, and so death was passed upon all man, so that all have sinned. Except a man be born again (regenerated) by the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God; man can in no way atone for his own sin which Christ, who His own self, bore the sins of mankind in His own body on the tree; the retribution of the wicked and unbelieving and the reward of the righteous are everlasting, and as the reward is conscious, so is the retribution (Gen 1:26, 27; 3:1-13; Matt 25:46; John 3:16; Acts 13:38-39; 4:12; Rom 3:10, 23; 5:12; 7:18; 2 Cor 5:1; 11:3; Eph 2:8-9; 2 Thess 1:7-10).
Article V - Salvation
Salvation is a gift of God, by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, who died a voluntary and substitutionary death upon the cross at Calvary as once for all sacrifice for sin. Those who receive Jesus Christ by faith alone have their sins forgiven; are born into the family of God by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, thus becoming children of God; and are made new creatures in Christ Jesus (John 1:12-13; Rom 6:23; 1 Cor 15:3; 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 1:7; 2:8-9; Heb 10:10-12; 1 Pet 2:23, 24).
Article VI - The Church
The church is an elect assembly of believers who have been baptized by the Holy Spirit, simultaneous with regeneration, into one body by placing their personal trust in Christ alone for salvation; the church is to be a witness concerning her Head, Jesus Christ, which is the Great Commission meaning the preaching of the gospel and discipling all nations; this command continues until Christ returns to set up His kingdom on this earth. The only ordinances of the church received from her Lord is baptism and the Lord’s Supper; baptism is to be in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; it is by full immersion in the likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; the Lord’s Supper is to be observed in remembrance of Christ’s death for sin and is to be observed until He returns (Matt 16:16-18; 28:18-20 Luke 22:19, 20; Acts 1:6-8; 2:41-47; 15:13-17; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 12:12-27; Eph 1:3-6; 2:11-12; 3:1-13).
