Every word in the original writings of the Holy Scriptures is inspired of God, authoritative, and without error. The Bible is the only written revelation of God to man and is infallible (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Proverbs 30:5-6).
There is one God, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable (Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8-12).
The Lord Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He entered the human race miraculously by being born of a virgin. He did not sin and He could not sin. He died as a substitute for all the sins of the human race. He was buried, rose bodily from the grave, and ascended to the Father’s right hand. He now ministers as our Great High Priest (Matthew 1:21-23; John 1:1, 14; Acts 1:9; Romans 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:14-15; 7:25; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18).
The Holy Spirit convicts and converts the sinner. He regenerates, indwells, baptizes, and seals all true believers in Christ and empowers them to live a holy life (Matthew 28:19; John 16:8; Romans 8:9-16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:12-14).
Adam was created in the image and likeness of God and was an innocent being. He subsequently sinned, and as head of the human race he passed on a sinful nature to all mankind. All men are sinners by nature but also by practice. Apart from God’s salvation man is eternally lost (Genesis 1:27; 9:6; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1).
Sin is any violation of or disobedience to the revealed will of God. It is also the absence of righteousness, or anything that falls short of the perfect glory of God. God has established that the penalty of sin is death (Isaiah 53:6; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 3:23; James 2:10; 4:17; Revelation 20:11-15).
Without the shedding of the precious blood of Christ, there is no remission of sin. Salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and entirely apart from law-keeping or good works. It is entered into by all those who hear and understand the gospel, repent of their sins, and trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Lord and Saviour (Mark 1:15; John 1:12-13; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-13; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Hebrews 9:22).
The universal Church is made up of all true believers in the Lord Jesus from Pentecost to the Rapture. Each local assembly or church should be a miniature of the universal Church, expressing the great truths of the latter. The local assembly is made up of believers in the Lord Jesus who have been baptized following their conversion and who meet together for teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayers, and evangelism. Christ is the head of each assembly and He entrusts leadership to the elders, men who are recognized as Christ’s under-shepherds. Each assembly is also to have deacons to serve the practical needs of the assembly (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:24-25, 30; Acts 6:3-6; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Hebrews 13:17).