Scriptures
The Bible is God’s word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. That is, it was written by God through people. As God’s word, it is without any error or fault, and it is our only authoritative guide in all things. The truth of God’s word is unchanging.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 1:1-2; Psalm 19:7-9; Hebrews 1:1; Matthew 5:17-19; Revelation 22:18-19
God in Three Persons: the Trinity
There is one God, who has always existed and will forever exist in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 1:8; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Hebrews 13:8; John 8:56-59; John 10:24-38; Hebrews 9:14
The Father is the first person of the trinity, the self-existent one.
Acts 17:24-25
The Son is the second person of the trinity, through whom the whole creation was made. He entered into the world by being born of a virgin; lived a perfect, sinless life; suffered; died on a cross; was raised to life on the third day; appeared to many over the next 40 days; and ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the throne of God the Father as head over the church with all dominion and authority. He will one day return as King of kings and Lord of lords. This man, Jesus Christ, is both fully God and fully man.
John 17:4-5; John 1:1-18; Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1:2-6; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-21; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 27:17-28:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 1:3; Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 1:20-23; Acts 1:9-11; Colossians 3:4; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:23-31; 1 Timothy 6:13-16; Revelation 19:16; Romans 1:3-4; Colossians 2:9
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. He inspired men to write the Holy Scriptures, so that what is written in the Bible is God’s words expressing God’s truth. He works in people’s hearts to convict them of sin, reveal God’s truth to them, draw them to Christ, and lead them to repentance. He dwells within believers, motivating and empowering them as they mature in their imitation of Christ and faithfulness toward Him. The Holy Spirit also marks the believer, guaranteeing that they have been redeemed by God and will experience eternal life with God.
2 Peter 1:19-21; John 16:7-15; John 14:16-17; John 14:25-26; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; Galatians 5:16-26; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9-11
God’s Perfect Creation and Mankind’s Fall Into Sin
God purposefully and specifically created all things.
Genesis 1-2; Psalm 139:13-16
While everything that God created was good (including people), through Adam’s disobedience all mankind became corrupted by sin. Thus all mankind since has been sinful from birth, separated from God and thus in need of reconciliation to God. This sinfulness most clearly shows itself in how mankind worships other things rather than our Creator. This fallen state we are in is the reason for every evil action and intention in mankind, whether great or small. Sin introduced pain, suffering, and death into the world. In this event, mankind fell under the wrath of God, and it would be just for Him to leave us in a state of complete separation from Him forever.
Genesis 3; Romans 3:9-18; Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 John 1:8; John 3:19-20; Psalm 51:5; Romans 1:22-25; Romans 5:12-21; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:20-22; John 3:36; Romans 2:5-11
Salvation
Every person was in this state: spiritually dead. Then God, in His great love for mankind, sent His Son into the world to die, so that whoever believes in Him would be reconciled to God. Through Christ’s perfect life, death, and resurrection, God gives His people forgiveness of sins and eternal life, fully accomplishing the reconciliation they needed. While we, His people, had sinned and Christ had not, Christ on the cross received the wrath of God, the punishment for our sins. This is the saving grace (unmerited favor) of God, and it is given to all who cry out to Him in true faith (dependence on and trust in God) and repentance (turning our backs on sin and turning toward God). They become a child of God, their sins (past, present, and future) are forgiven, and they become spiritually alive. This is the only way anyone is saved from the wrath of God and receives eternal life. This salvation cannot be earned by anything we do; it is a gift from God. There is no other way to God except through His Son.
Ephesians 2; John 3:13-18; Colossians 2:13-14; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; Romans 5:6-11; Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:19-22; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Romans 10:11-13; Mark 1:15; Galatians 4:1-7; Romans 8:14-17; John 3:3-8; Titus 3:4-7; Galatians 2:16; Acts 4:10-12
The Church
While saved individually, we are also saved into a community of believers, who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We worship God together, encourage one another, come alongside one another as we grow toward spiritual maturity, and serve each other using the gifts Christ has given us. We corporately come together to hear the preaching and teaching of God’s word, baptize new believers, and take part in communion. We, the church, are the body of Christ, His representatives in the world. We are called to go out into all the world, put God’s love on display, and proclaim the truth of God so that the lost may be saved.
Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14; Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:4-13; Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 2:2; Acts 2:38-42; Acts 8:12; 1 Corinthians 11:17-33; 1 Corinthians 12:25-27; Matthew 5:14-16; Romans 10:14-16; Mark 16:15-16
Resurrection and the Eternal State
Even though our bodies will die, one day at the end of history there will be a resurrection of all the dead: those who are not in Christ will receive a resurrection to everlasting punishment in hell, while those who are in Christ will receive a resurrection to eternal life with God. God will set both His church and the created world free from sin, corruption, decay, and death; and we will dwell with God in the new heavens and new earth forever.
John 5:25-29; Revelation 20:12-21:4; Daniel 12:2-3; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 2 Timothy 2:11; John 6:40; Romans 8:18-23
The Bible is God’s word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. That is, it was written by God through people. As God’s word, it is without any error or fault, and it is our only authoritative guide in all things. The truth of God’s word is unchanging.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 1:1-2; Psalm 19:7-9; Hebrews 1:1; Matthew 5:17-19; Revelation 22:18-19
God in Three Persons: the Trinity
There is one God, who has always existed and will forever exist in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 1:8; Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Hebrews 13:8; John 8:56-59; John 10:24-38; Hebrews 9:14
The Father is the first person of the trinity, the self-existent one.
Acts 17:24-25
The Son is the second person of the trinity, through whom the whole creation was made. He entered into the world by being born of a virgin; lived a perfect, sinless life; suffered; died on a cross; was raised to life on the third day; appeared to many over the next 40 days; and ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the throne of God the Father as head over the church with all dominion and authority. He will one day return as King of kings and Lord of lords. This man, Jesus Christ, is both fully God and fully man.
John 17:4-5; John 1:1-18; Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1:2-6; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-21; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Matthew 27:17-28:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 1:3; Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 1:20-23; Acts 1:9-11; Colossians 3:4; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:23-31; 1 Timothy 6:13-16; Revelation 19:16; Romans 1:3-4; Colossians 2:9
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. He inspired men to write the Holy Scriptures, so that what is written in the Bible is God’s words expressing God’s truth. He works in people’s hearts to convict them of sin, reveal God’s truth to them, draw them to Christ, and lead them to repentance. He dwells within believers, motivating and empowering them as they mature in their imitation of Christ and faithfulness toward Him. The Holy Spirit also marks the believer, guaranteeing that they have been redeemed by God and will experience eternal life with God.
2 Peter 1:19-21; John 16:7-15; John 14:16-17; John 14:25-26; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; Galatians 5:16-26; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9-11
God’s Perfect Creation and Mankind’s Fall Into Sin
God purposefully and specifically created all things.
Genesis 1-2; Psalm 139:13-16
While everything that God created was good (including people), through Adam’s disobedience all mankind became corrupted by sin. Thus all mankind since has been sinful from birth, separated from God and thus in need of reconciliation to God. This sinfulness most clearly shows itself in how mankind worships other things rather than our Creator. This fallen state we are in is the reason for every evil action and intention in mankind, whether great or small. Sin introduced pain, suffering, and death into the world. In this event, mankind fell under the wrath of God, and it would be just for Him to leave us in a state of complete separation from Him forever.
Genesis 3; Romans 3:9-18; Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 John 1:8; John 3:19-20; Psalm 51:5; Romans 1:22-25; Romans 5:12-21; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:20-22; John 3:36; Romans 2:5-11
Salvation
Every person was in this state: spiritually dead. Then God, in His great love for mankind, sent His Son into the world to die, so that whoever believes in Him would be reconciled to God. Through Christ’s perfect life, death, and resurrection, God gives His people forgiveness of sins and eternal life, fully accomplishing the reconciliation they needed. While we, His people, had sinned and Christ had not, Christ on the cross received the wrath of God, the punishment for our sins. This is the saving grace (unmerited favor) of God, and it is given to all who cry out to Him in true faith (dependence on and trust in God) and repentance (turning our backs on sin and turning toward God). They become a child of God, their sins (past, present, and future) are forgiven, and they become spiritually alive. This is the only way anyone is saved from the wrath of God and receives eternal life. This salvation cannot be earned by anything we do; it is a gift from God. There is no other way to God except through His Son.
Ephesians 2; John 3:13-18; Colossians 2:13-14; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; Romans 5:6-11; Romans 8:1; Colossians 1:19-22; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Romans 10:11-13; Mark 1:15; Galatians 4:1-7; Romans 8:14-17; John 3:3-8; Titus 3:4-7; Galatians 2:16; Acts 4:10-12
The Church
While saved individually, we are also saved into a community of believers, who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We worship God together, encourage one another, come alongside one another as we grow toward spiritual maturity, and serve each other using the gifts Christ has given us. We corporately come together to hear the preaching and teaching of God’s word, baptize new believers, and take part in communion. We, the church, are the body of Christ, His representatives in the world. We are called to go out into all the world, put God’s love on display, and proclaim the truth of God so that the lost may be saved.
Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14; Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:4-13; Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 2:2; Acts 2:38-42; Acts 8:12; 1 Corinthians 11:17-33; 1 Corinthians 12:25-27; Matthew 5:14-16; Romans 10:14-16; Mark 16:15-16
Resurrection and the Eternal State
Even though our bodies will die, one day at the end of history there will be a resurrection of all the dead: those who are not in Christ will receive a resurrection to everlasting punishment in hell, while those who are in Christ will receive a resurrection to eternal life with God. God will set both His church and the created world free from sin, corruption, decay, and death; and we will dwell with God in the new heavens and new earth forever.
John 5:25-29; Revelation 20:12-21:4; Daniel 12:2-3; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 2 Timothy 2:11; John 6:40; Romans 8:18-23