The inspired and inerrant Word of God (John 10:35, II Peter 1:21)
The only rule and guide for faith and life (II Timothy 3:16)
The Bible consists of two main teachings: Law and Gospel
The Law reveals our sin to us and shows us our need for salvation (Romans 3:23)
The Gospel tells us that Jesus has forgiven our sins and given us life everlasting in his death and resurrection (II Timothy 2:8)
Who is God?
The only true God has revealed himself to us in the Bible (Isaiah 45:5)
Three distinct persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)
Yet one God (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful and present everywhere (Revelation 22:13, John 21:17, Genesis 17:1, Jeremiah 23:24)
Spirit- he is not confined to a particular place or time (John 4:24)
Just and graciously forgiving (Exodus 34:6,7)
Sin
God demands perfect holiness from all people (Leviticus 19:2)
All people were born into sin (Psalm 51:5)
No one has the ability to do good and keep God’s law. (Romans 3:9-18, Romans 3:23)
The just penalty for sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
Who is Jesus?
The only Son of God (Romans 1:4)
Fully God (I John 5:20)
Fully Human (Hebrews 4:15)
The world’s Savior from sin (John 3:16)
Salvation
God offers mankind salvation from sin and death as a free gift of his grace (Ephesians 2:8,9)
This salvation was won for us by the perfect life, innocent death and resurrection of God’s only Son, Jesus. (Galatians 4:4,5, II Corinthians 5:21)
On the cross, Jesus paid for the sins of all people (I John 2:2)
This salvation becomes ours through faith in Jesus, not by our own works or merit (Romans 3:28, Romans 4:5)
Faith
The Holy Spirit alone creates faith in people’s hearts. (I Corinthians 12:3)
Saving faith in Jesus is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8,9)
The Holy Spirit works through God’s Word, specifically the Gospel, to create and sustain faith (Romans 10:17)
Baptism
The Holy Spirit works through Baptism to cleanse us from sin (Acts 2:38) and give us new life (Titus 3:5).
Baptism is not just a symbol, but a means by which God the Holy Spirit brings to us the salvation won for us by Jesus’ death and resurrection (I Peter 3:21)
Holy Communion (The Lord's Supper)
The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus for Christians to partake in (Matthew 26:26-28)
Jesus true body and blood are present with (not symbolizing or replacing) the bread and wine. (I Corinthians 10:16, Matthew 26:26-28)
Believers receive forgiveness in the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-28)
The Lord’s Supper is an expression of fellowship and unity between believers united in faith and doctrine (I Corinthians 10:17)
Good Works
Good works flow from saving faith in Jesus (James 2:17) and are the result of saving faith, not the cause of it (John 15:5).
Without saving faith in Jesus, one cannot produce good works (Hebrews 11:6).
A believer is motivated to do good works because of God’s mercy (Romans 12:1).
God’s word alone tells us what is and is not pleasing to God (Psalm 119:105) .