"This doctrinal statement reflects the broad, mainstream, conservative evangelical tradition which is consistent with the teachings of the Bible and which have stood the test of history and experience.

We specifically affirm the following doctrinal truths:

 

1. The Scriptures.

We believe that the entire Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God and that men of God “were moved by the Holy Spirit” to write the very words of Scripture.

2. The Godhead (Trinity).

We believe in one true God, eternally existing in three distinct persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) each of whom is fully and equally God, possesses all the divine nature and attributes, and is totally worthy of our worship and service.

3. God the Father. 

We believe that God, the Father, is the first person of the Trinity and is the eternal, unchanging, all-powerful, all knowing, allwise, all loving, completely just and perfectly Holy, Sovereign ruler and Sustainer of the universe.

4. God the Son. 

We believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity and is the only begotten eternal Son of God who became flesh to reveal God to humankind, to fulfill prophecy, and to become the Savior of the lost world. In becoming man, Jesus did not cease in any way to be God so that He is fully God and fully man, inseparably united in one person forever. Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the virgin Mary; lived a sinless life; died on the cross as the substitutionary, all-sufficient atoning sacrifice for all of the sins of all humankind of all time; was buried; bodily rose from the dead; physically ascended into heaven in His glorified, resurrected body; is seated at the right hand of the Father performing His ministry of intercession; will return in the air to claim His bride the church; and will come again to earth in bodily form, personally and visibly, to conclude human history and consummate God's eternal plan and the eternal state of all people.

5. God the Holy Spirit.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity...He is the primary agent for the conviction of sin and for regeneration...the Holy Spirit imparts new life, baptizes the believer into the body of Christ (His church), permanently indwells the believer, and securely seals the believer unto the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit fills (directs and controls) those believers who are yielded to Him, enables believers to bear fruit, and empowers believers to live a life free from sin's dominion. We also believe that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers for edifying the church in accordance with the teachings of Scripture.

6. Man.

We believe that mankind was created in the image of God by a direct act of God and did not come into being as the result of evolution. Humankind was created to glorify God, worship and serve Him, and have fellowship with Him. Humankind fell through sin by disobeying God, thus incurring both physical and spiritual death, which alienated them from God. Humankind's nature was thus, corrupted and they are utterly lost, “dead in trespasses and sins,” and totally incapable of saving themselves and coming back into right relationship with God by their own merit or effort.

 7. Salvation.

We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provides the sole basis for forgiveness of sins and salvation, which is the gift of God's grace. Salvation is affected by the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit and cannot be secured by humankind's work or personal merit.

8. The Christian Life. 

We believe that every Christian should live for Christ and not for themselves and should, by the power of the indwelling Spirit, allow Christ to manifest His life through him to God's glory. By ever increasing obedience to the Word of God, each believer should mature and progressively become more like Jesus.

9. The Church. 

We believe that the church is the body of Christ of which Jesus is the Head and whose members are those who have truly received Christ by faith. The local church is a tangible expression of the body of Christ in a location. Since all members of the body of Christ are united in Christ by the same Spirit, they should live in love, harmony and unity. The purpose of the church is to make Christ known to lost men and women, to make disciples, and glorify God on earth.

10. Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

We believe in baptizing those who have received Jesus Christ and have professed Him as Lord and Savior...We believe in remembering our Savior's death upon a cross by observing the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. 

11. Sanctity of Human Life.

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in his image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the physically or mentally challenged and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. 

12. Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God...We believe that the term “Marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture...We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman...We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ...We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with the Scriptures nor the doctrines of the Beacon of Hope (Church).