1. GOD: There is one God, Creator and Lord of the universe, who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three persons are equal in power, glory and divine perfection, and are worthy of worship and obedience.

2. THE BIBLE:The Bible, consisting of the old and new testaments alone, is the inspired, revealed, inerrant word of God, and is our full and final authority, sufficient in all matters of faith and practice.

3. THE HUMAN RACE: All men and women are created in the image of God with equal and inherent value and dignity, yet through Adam’s disobedience and our own personal choice, are sinners, alienated from God, under his condemnation and wrath, and thus in need of redemption.

4. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and died in the place of sinners on the cross, thereby accomplishing redemption by bearing the punishment and wrath for all who believe in him. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended to heaven where, as the only mediator between God and man, He intercedes for his people, and from where he will return in power and glory.

5. SALVATION: Salvation is by grace, through faith in Christ alone. It has been accomplished by Jesus Christ, and is proclaimed and offered to all in the gospel.  All who repent and believe are forgiven, justified, and made new creatures in Christ. They are born of the Holy Spirit, receiving the gift of eternal life and adoption into God’s family. 

6. THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation.  He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the scriptures. He indwells all believers, distributes spiritual gifts, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ.  He builds up the church and empowers its members for worship, service and mission. 

7. THE CHURCH:
The Church is one holy and universal body and bride of Christ.  The Church is composed of all who are redeemed through the work of Christ, and is called to worship God and to witness concerning her head, Jesus Christ.  The local church is the visible yet imperfect expression of the church.  The local church proclaims, values, and submits to the whole counsel of God, administers baptism and communion as signs of the gospel, and exercises spiritual authority to care for her members and fulfill her mission of making disciples of all nations.  Unity is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement. True fellowship between churches exists only where they are faithful to the gospel.

8. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper have been given to the church by Christ as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and entry into his Church but does not impart spiritual life. The Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice offered once for all. All its blessings are received by faith.

9. THE RETURN OF CHRIST AND THE FUTURE: Jesus Christ will return personally, visibly and bodily in glory to raise the dead and bring salvation and judgment to completion. Those joined to Christ by faith will be brought into fullness of eternal life and joy in Christ; those alienated from Christ will experience eternal, conscious torment in hell.  God will establish his kingdom fully with a new heaven and new earth, in which he will be glorified forever, having triumphed over all evil, suffering, and death.

All Scripture is self-attesting and being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life.  The infallible Word of God, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks.  On this sure foundation we affirm these nine essentials of our faith. This statement is not laying out distinctive beliefs, but rather ESSENTIALS.  These are historic Christian beliefs common to all true believers and churches throughout the world – minimal core beliefs for membership.  

In Essentials, Unity.  In Non-Essentials, Liberty.  In All Things, Charity.