"I believe in God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord and Savior; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He arose from the dead on the third day; He ascended into Heaven and is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the Holy Church, which is the assembly of believers; the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. I believe in the Holy Bible, to be inspired by God, and is the entire revelation of God's will for salvation and the divine and final authority of Christian faith." Amen.
Amplification:
1. God: There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the Godhead these three persons are equal and united in essence and perfection. They execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
a) God the Father reigns in providential care over all life and history in creation. He is Father to all people in the general sense of Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He has fatherly compassion for all humanity. However, God is Father in a personal sense, to all who profess faith and accept His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior.
b) Jesus Christ is God Who was manifested in the flesh. We affirm His virgin birth, conceived of the Holy Spirit, sinless humanity, divine miracles & teachings, substitutionary death once for all time, bodily resurrection and ascension, mediatorial work before the Father and the blessed hope of His personal return in power and glory to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.
c) The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead who proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit convicts humanity of sin, righteousness and God?s judgment, calls people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, produces the fruit of godliness in all who yield to Him, guides, teaches, comforts, encourages, and empowers the believer to witness and to work for the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives spiritual gifts to believers for ministry.
2. The Scriptures: The Holy Bible is the sole basis of our beliefs (the 66 books of the Old & New Testaments). They were given to us by divine inspiration from God alone and are without error in the original manuscripts. They are the supreme & final authority and guide for all matters of faith and conduct. They have been carefully preserved by the providence of God through the work of faithful believers.
3. Humanity: Humanity was created sinless. By the disobedience of the first man and woman sin entered the human race. Through this disobedience all humanity is born sinful, under the curse of condemnation and death and in need of repentance and forgiveness, in which the ONLY hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ.
4. Salvation: The salvation of lost and sinful humanity is possible only through the merits of Jesus Christ and His substitutionary death on our behalf. Salvation is a free gift that is not merited by good works or religious ceremony. Salvation must be received personally through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. It is characterized by regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
5. Baptism: Baptism is an act of a believer to symbolize their faith in Christ and repentance from sin.
6. The Church: The Church consists of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible also identifies the local Church as an assembly of believers who come together for worship, discipleship, outreach, mutual encouragement, and service to others for God.
7. Resurrection and Judgment: There will be a general resurrection of the bodies of the just and the unjust. God will judge all humanity. Those who are saved will live eternally in God?s presence. Those who are lost in sin will receive eternal judgment.
8. Marriage: Marriage is divinely instituted by God in the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
