We believe in the Bible. Brethren doctrine centers on Jesus Christ as the living Word of God…given in human words in history, the Scriptures of both Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, authoritative, trustworthy, and true in every respect…Brethren believe and obey the Bible, for only the written Word reveals to us Jesus Christ, the living Word. (John 1:1-4; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 10:35; John 14:14,21,23; 1 John 5:3; John 5:39,45-47; Luke 24:25-27,44-47)
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three equal persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 2:5; Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Matthew 3:13-17)
We believe in the Father. Scripture reveals the first person of the trinity as the Father. The created world testifies to him in both the external order of nature and the internal working of conscience. As the Father of Old Testament Israel, he lead the nation with parental love and care, with warnings, chastenings, and promise of inheritance. He sent His beloved Son into the world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. All who confess him as Lord, the Father makes a new creation and adopts as His children. (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20-21; Romans 2:14-16; Isaiah 63:15-16; Isaiah 64:8; Matthew 3:16-17; John 6:57; John 8:42; John 17:8; Romans 8:12-17; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 4:4-7)
We believe in sin. God created humanity, male and female, in His own image with freedom to obey or disobey Him. As a result of their disobedient choice, sin entered our race, and its effects of guilt and corruption have passed on to every person. The image of God, though not destroyed, is now distorted. Sin dwells in all people…the penalty of sin is death. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:7; Romans 5:12-19; Genesis 9:5-6; Romans 3:23; Romans 7:18-25; Romans 6:23; John 1:12)
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the second person of the triune God. He was born of a virgin and lived the perfect human life upon earth. As Man and God, Jesus lovingly gave Himself for others in a ministry of service and reconciliation. His obedient life led to His sacrificial death upon the cross where He bore sin and its penalty in our place. He was raised and glorified in the body in which He suffered and died. He ascended as Lord and Savior into heaven, where He continually intercedes for those who are His and from which He will return in glory. He is the source of eternal salvation for all who believe in Him, submitting to His Lordship. (Matthew 1:18-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; Mark 10:45; Romans 5:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:8; Isaiah 53:4-12; 1 Peter 2:24; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:33-34; Hebrews 7:25; Romans 10:9-10)
We believe salvation is both an event and a process; it is an accomplished fact, a continuing walk, and a future hope. Always the gift of God, salvation is received by repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In faithfulness to His promises, God adopts believers as His children, forgiving their sins and giving them His Holy Spirit. They in turn demonstrate their faith by obeying the commands of Christ and following His example in daily living. (Philippians 1:6; Colossians 2:6; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12; Galatians 4:4-5; Matthew 22:34-40; 1 John 2:4-6; Romans 8:28-29; Ephesians 4:11-16)
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the triune God. He was active in creation, the history of Israel, the Inspiration of Scripture, the ministry of Jesus, and the birth of the church. The Spirit likewise acts today, opening the mind to understand Scripture, calling forth the response of repentance and faith, and giving the desire and ability to grow in Christlikeness. The Spirit’s indwelling is to make a visible difference in the lives of Christians as they yield to, and cooperate with, His transforming power. (Genesis 1:1-2; Numbers 11:16-30; Acts 2:1-21; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14; John 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 6:17-20; Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 3:14-19)
We believe in the Church. God’s purpose in human history is to form a people for His own glory. This purpose, begun in the Old Testament nation of Israel, is continued in the New Testament church, which is founded upon Jesus Christ. He calls it to be a visible body of His followers, extending his own ministry in the world. It is composed of all who have received Him as saving Lord and have committed themselves to being His faithful disciples. (Exodus 6:7; Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Isaiah 43:5-7; Matthew 5:13-16; Acts 2:38-41)
We believe in “Last Things.” By the sending of His Son, God inaugurated the last days. Therefore the church waits eagerly for the consummation of the divine plan in Christ. Prior to that, the human body at death returns to the dust from which it came. The soul of the Christian goes immediately to be with the Lord, while the souls of the unsaved enter into torment. The climax of God’s plan will include the personal, visible return of Jesus Christ from heaven….the bodily resurrection and judgment of believers unto eternal life; the bodily resurrection and judgment of the wicked unto eternal punishment; and a new heaven and new earth in which righteousness dwells, where the saved will live eternally with the Lord. The Bible does not focus so much on the details and order of final events as on how believers are to live in light of these things. (Hebrews 1:1-2; Romans 8:22-25; Genesis 3:19; Psalm 104:29; Luke 16:19-31; Philippians 1:21-24; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Revelation 20:1-22:5; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10; 2 Peter 3:11-15; 1 John 3:2-3)