Essential Doctrines of Salvation
We believe the following
doctrines are essential for salvation and our faith as Christians. To remove anyone
of these doctrines is to remove the foundation of our faith and so jeopardize salvation.
· Inerrancy of Scripture. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, holy, infallible, and authoritative Word of God: That the Bible is the highest level of authority and that any other written material, philosophical reasoning, scientific theory, religious tradition, legal contract, or governmental decision is secondary in nature. Without recognizing the inerrancy of God’s Word we are left with no foundation of truth and consequently no true revelation of salvation. (2Tim. 3:15 -17; 1Peter 1:23 -25; Heb. 4:12 )
3:15
-17; 1Peter
1:23
-25; Heb.
4:12
).
· Deity of Jesus. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His substitutionary death, and His bodily resurrection. We believe that one cannot receive salvation without recognizing the lordship and deity of Jesus Christ manifested through humble worship and adoration of Him as God. (Romans 10:9-10)
· Salvation by Faith. We believe that salvation is by faith through grace in Jesus Christ alone: Not by works, rituals, church membership, the keeping of the commandments, or any penitent act. We believe that salvation is achieved according to scripture by “confessing with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believing in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead.” We believe that only those who have received Jesus into their hearts have salvation and that all others are lost. (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6)
· Repentance from Sin. We do not believe that sin alone will remove one from salvation or else all are lost. We do believe, however, that to willfully practice sin, denying the evident sinfulness of it, is the practice of one who does not have Christ in his or her heart. To practice theft, to murder, to worship another god, to commit adultery or homosexuality, or to walk in other sins prohibited by scripture, with the belief that these acts are acceptable to God, is the behavior of one who has no inward conviction of sin or righteousness by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 3:19, Exodus 20:1-17, John 16:8)
