The Bible I believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments, which, being inerrant in the original, and infallible in content, is final authority in matters of faith and practice. (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:21; John 10:35; Rev. 22:18; 2 Tim. 3:16) God I believe in one God, Who is self-existent, eternal, all-powerful, perfect, righteous, and infinite, and Who has revealed Himself as the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) the same in Essence but different in Personality. (Deut. 6:4; John 1:1, 2; Mat. 28:19) Jesus Christ The Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, only begotten son of God and eternally preexistent with the Father in heaven. At God's appointed time Christ became wholly man while remaining wholly God. As a man He set aside His visible glory and the independent use of His godly attributes. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, was tempted as we are but lived a sinless life, and died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. On the third day Jesus resurrected from the dead and remained on earth for forty days. He ascended into heaven where he sits today at the right hand of God, interceding before the Father on behalf of believers. (John 1:1, 2; Col. 1:16, 17; Phil. 2:6, 7; 2 Cor. 5:21; Mark 16; 1 John 2:1) The Holy Spirit I believe in the eternal deity and personality of the Holy Spirit whose ministry it is to convict of sin, bear witness to Jesus Christ, and baptize the repentant sinner into the Body of Christ. At the new birth the Spirit regenerates (imparts spiritual life), permanently indwells the believer, and becomes the seal of divine ownership and the earnest that guarantees the salvation of the believer. I believe in the filling of the Holy Spirit –the controlling of the believer by the Spirit in proportion to his yielding and obedience to God and the Word. I believe that it is also the ministry of the Holy Spirit to instruct men. (John 16:7, 8; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Cor. 3:16; Rom. 6:13; Gal. 5:22, 23; 1 John 2:27) Creation I believe in the creation of all things by the direct act of God, accepting the literal interpretation of Genesis as opposed to the evolutionary theory of origins. (Gen. 1-3; Heb. 11:3) Man Man was created innocent. When he disobeyed the command of God he fell, lost his innocence and became subject to physical and spiritual death and to the eternal wrath of God. (Gen. 1:27-31; 1 Cor. 3:7-19; Rom. 5:12; Rev. 20:15) Salvation I believe in the salvation of sinners through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the only Savior of men by virtue of His shed blood. I believe that salvation is completely dependent on the grace of God, is a free gift of God that man cannot earn or merit in any way, is applied by the work of the Holy Spirit, and is appropriated by faith alone in Jesus Christ. I believe that in salvation the believer is called, regenerated, Spirit baptized into union with Christ, justified, adopted, sanctified, and glorified. I believe that God secures and guarantees the salvation of every true believer. I believe the genuine believer will not abandon the faith, and that the true measure of salvation can be found in the believer bearing fruit and growing in faith. (John 14:6; Rom. 3:25; Rom. 4:16; Eph. 2:9; 1 Pet. 1:23; Rom. 6:3-10; Rom. 8:15) Spiritual Gifts The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to all who are born again. Those to whom these gifts have been given are commanded to exercise them for the benefit of the body of Christ, to the glory of God. However, lacking a particular spiritual gift does not exempt the believer from his responsibilities in that particular area (giving, teaching, hospitality, etc.). "Sign" gifts were given in the early days of the church to apostles and some others for the specific purpose of authenticating their message as being from God. The need for "sign" gifts on the individual believers has passed away as man came to possess the New Testament. God Himself, however, can and does continue to perform miracles and healing as He deems appropriate to glorify Himself. (Rom. 12:5-8; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:11-16; Luke 5:18-26; James 5:16) Satan I believe in the reality of Satan as a distinct personality, who, though having been created in a state of perfection and enjoying a heavenly abode with God, was prompted by pride to rebel against God and fell from his original exalted state, leading a multitude of other angels in his revolt. Over whom he is king. Satan is the acknowledged god of this world and the archenemy of God and believers; his purpose and work are to thwart the divine counsels, accuse and oppose believers, incite persecution against believers, sow counterfeits among the believers, and tempt believers to sin. I believe in Satan's final destruction by God and the destruction of his followers. (Job 1:6-12; Rev. 12:3, 4; John 12:31; Rev. 2:10; 1 Cor. 7:5) Ordinances Of The Church The Ordinances of the New Testament Church are Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in Christ "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," and symbolizes the believer's identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord's Supper is the partaking of the bread and cup by the believer as a memorial of the broken body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The privilege of the Lord's Supper is extended to all those present that are saved and surrendered to the Lord having examined themselves and confessed all known sin. (Acts 2:41; Mat. 28:19, 20; Rom. 6:3-13; Col. 2:12; 1 Cor. 11:23-29) The Last Things I believe in the imminent rapture of the church to Heaven followed by a seven-year period of tribulation upon all the Earth. At the end of this period of tribulation, Jesus Christ shall come back to Earth in power and glory with His Church to establish the promised Davidic Kingdom. He shall reign for one thousand years, during which time peace and righteousness will cover the earth, Satan will be bound, and Israel will be established in her own land. At the end of this glorious reign, Satan will lead a rebellion against Christ, shall be defeated, and shall be forever banished to the Lake of Fire. The wicked dead shall be judged at the Great White Throne and shall be condemned to everlasting conscious punishment in the Lake of Fire. The righteous shall be in eternal conscious blessedness in the presence of the Lord (John 14:3; Mat. 24:21; Rev. 19:11- 16; 21:1-15; Ezek. 39:25-29; 1 Thess. 4:17).