Articles of Faith

We believe that the Holy Spirit uniquely, verbally and fully inspired the human authors of the Holy Scriptures (1). The Holy Scriptures, the Bible, are the written revelation of God and the sole basis of our beliefs.  We must first determine what the Bible teaches, and then judge our experience by the fixed standard of the written Word of God.  The Bible is the fixed standard and filter through which we establish our life and worldview (2).  The Bible is without error (3) in the original manuscripts, infallible, and God-breathed (4).  We receive the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments as our final, absolute and supreme authority, to be the only perfect rule of faith (5) and practice.

1. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
2. Psalm 119:1,43; Matthew 5:18
3. Psalm 19:7-9; 119:30,89 & 160; Isaiah 30:8; Matthew 24:35; Luke 16:17; 24:27,44;1 Thessalonians 2:13; Revelation 22:6
4. 2 Timothy 3:16
5. Isaiah 40:8 & 55:11; John 5:39 & 17:17; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11-12; Hebrews 4:12;2 Peter 3:15-16

The Holy Bible is divided into two Covenants or Testaments, the Old and the New.

The Old Testament (Covenant) is made up of 39 books.  Gathered as the:

• Pentateuch (“5 vessels” in Greek) or Torah (“Law” in Hebrew): (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy)
• History (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther)
• Poetry or Wisdom Writings (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon)
• Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel)
• Minor Prophets (remaining books)

The New Testament (Covenant) is made up of 27 books.  The four Gospels of Jesus Christ.  The remaining 23 books of the New Testament are written to His bride, the church.

We believe there is only one true and living God Who is perfect, personal, and infinite. From all eternity (6) He exists eternally as the One (7) Living (8) and True (9) God in three distinct Persons (10), the Holy Trinity, the unity of the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit: equal in power and glory (11).  The Person, God, is an infinite (12), unchangeable (13) Spirit (14), perfect (15) in holiness (16), wisdom (17), goodness (18), justice (19), power (20) and love (21).  His kingdom is everlasting (22).  He orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. He is sovereign in providence and redemption (23).  We believe He is the awe-inspiring, sovereign Creator of the universe, which He accomplished from no pre-existing substance, but by the creative power of His spoken Word (24).  He is Immutable (25), Omnipotent (26), Omnipresent (27), and Omniscient (28).

6. Isaiah 43:13; John 1:1-2
7. Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; Mark 12:29; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Ephesians 4:4-6
8. Deuteronomy 5:26; Joshua 3:10; Psalm 42:2 & 84:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:9
9. 2 Chronicles 15:3; Jeremiah 10:10; John 3:33, 7:18 & 17:3; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 6:10
10. Matthew 28:19; John 10:30, 14:9-11, 14:16-20, 15:26 & 17:21
11. Psalm 66:2 & 79:9; Luke 9:26; Ephesians 3:14-21; 2 Peter 1:3
12. Isaiah 43:10, 44:6 & 48:12-13; Revelation 1:8, 22:13
13. Malachi 3:6; James 1:17
14. Genesis 1:2; Job 34:14-15; John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:3,17-18; Philippians 3:3;1 Peter 4:14; 1 John 4:2
15. Matthew 5:48
16. Leviticus 11:44 & 19:2; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8
17. Job 12:13; Psalm 104:24; Proverbs 2:6 & 3:19; Isaiah 28:29
18. Exodus 33:19; Nehemiah 9:25; Psalm 31:19 & 145:7; Hosea 3:5; Ephesians 5:8-9
19. Psalm 33:5, 89:14, 97:2 & 111:7; Isaiah 30:18
20. Exodus 9:16 & 15:6; Deuteronomy 9:29; 2 Kings 17:36; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Job 36:22 & 37:23; Psalm 62:11 & 145:6,11; Jeremiah 10:12; Daniel 2:20; Luke 1:35; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 2 Peter 1:2-3; Revelation 15:8
21. 1 John 4:7-10,16
22. Psalm 45:6, 90:2, 93:2 & 145:13; Daniel 4:3
23. Psalm 47:2,8, 103:19 & 145:8-9; Romans 8:28 & 11:33
24. Genesis 1:1-3; Job 38:4-13; Psalm 33:6 & 148:5; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3
25. Psalm 102:25-27; Isaiah 43:10-13; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17
26. Job 11:7 & 33:4; Psalm 91:1, 115:3 & 135:5-6; Isaiah 40:28; Romans 4:17; Revelation 1:8
27. Psalm 139:7-16; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Acts 17:27b-28
28. Job 38:1-41, 39:1-30, 40:1-9 & 42:2-8; Psalm104:24 & 139:1-6,23-24; Isaiah 40:13-14,18; Matthew 6:8, 6:25-33; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Ephesians 1:11

We believe Jesus to be a distinct Person in the unity of the triune Godhead (29), perfect Deity and true humanity united in one Person (30) forever, possessing all the divine excellencies and is co-equal with the Father (31) and the Holy Spirit (32). Jesus, Son of the living God (33), was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (34). He is the living Word, fully God and fully man in human flesh (35). He is humanity as God intended us to be (36). God honored His covenants with Israel and His prophetic promises of salvation (37) by sending His Son (38), Jesus, into the world (39). Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit (40), inaugurating God's kingdom reign on earth (41), overpowering the reign of satan by resisting temptation (42), preaching the good news of salvation (43), healing the sick (44), casting out demons (45) and raising the dead (46). He lived a sinless life (47), died on the cross to take away our sins (48) thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone (49) and rose physically from the dead on the third day (50), He was victorious over sin and satan and now holds the keys of death (51). He ascended to sit at the right hand of God, where He, the only mediator between God and man, intercedes on every believer¹s behalf (52), and is returning to receive His church and rule and reign forever (53). He is Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (54).

29. Deuteronomy 6:4; John 10:30
30. Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-2, 1:14, 1:18, 5:18, 17:5 & 17:21; 2 Corinthians 4:4 & 5:19; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15, 1:19 & 2:9-10; 1 John 1:1-3
31. Isaiah 9:6; John 10:30, 12:45 & 14:9-11; Colossians 1:15 & 1:19; 1 Timothy 1:1-2; Hebrews 1:1-3;
2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 5:20
32. Romans 8:9; Philippians 1:19; 1 Peter 1:10-11
33. Mark 1:1; John 3:16 & 20:31; Romans 1:4; 1 John1:3, 4:15, 5:5 & 5:20; 2 John 1:3
34. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35
35. John 1:1-4, 1:14 & 1:18; Colossians 1:16-17; 1 John 1:3
36. Romans 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22-24
37. Isaiah 42:6, 49:6 & 53:10-12; Matthew 26:42; Luke 2:25-32 & 19:5-10; Acts 4:9-12; Romans 1:1-4; Titus 1:1-3
38. John 1:14 & 3:16-17; Romans 8:32a; Hebrews 1:1-4; 1 John 4:9-10
39. John 1:17, 10:36-38, 11:27 & 16:28; Galatians 4:4-6; 1 John 4: 9-15
40. Matthew 11:2-5; Luke 3:21-22, 4:1 & 4:16-21; Acts 10:38; Romans 1:1-4
41. Daniel 2:44; Matthew 3:1-3; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 8:1, 11:20 & 17:20-21
42. Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; Hebrews 4:14-16
43. Matthew 4:23 & 9:35; Mark 1:14, 1:21-22, 1:38-39 & 10:1; Luke 4:43-44 & 8:1
44. Matthew 4:23, 8:16 & 9:35; Mark 1:34; Luke 4:40, 6:19 & 9:11
45. Matthew 4:24, 8:16, 9:32-33 & 12:28; Mark 1:34 & 1:39; Luke 4:41, 11:14, 11:20 & 13:32
46. Luke 7:12-17 & 8:53-55; John 11:39-45, 12:9 & 12:17
47. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:21-23; 1 John 3:5
48. Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Romans 3:21-26, 5:6-8 & 8:32; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:17, 9:11-14 & 9:26-28; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2, 3:5 & 4:10; Revelation 1:5
49. John 3:16, 3:36, 6:40, 11:25-26 & 14:6; Acts 4:12 & 10:42-43; Romans 8:32; Galatians 2:20 & 3:22
50. Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:46; Acts 2:24, 2:30-32, 3:15, 4:10, 5:30, 10:40, 13:30, 13:34, 13:37 & 17:31; Romans 1:4, 4:24, 6:4, 8:11 & 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 1:21
51. Revelation 1:17-18
52. Psalm 110:1; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:2, 1:9-11 & 1:22; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:19-20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 2:17-18, 7:25, 8:1-2, 9:24, 10:12 & 12:2
53. Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 16:27, 24:27 & 26:64; Mark 8:38 & 13:26-27; Luke 9:26 & 21:27; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 3:13 & 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 1:7, 22:7, 22:20
54. Isaiah 7:14 & 9:6; Matthew 1:23

We believe the Holy Spirit to be a distinct Person in the unity of the triune Godhead.  He is a divine Person, fully God and fully Spirit, eternal (55) and co-equal with the Father (56) and the Son (57).  He is the gift from God (58), the abiding Helper (59) and He:

1. Convicts of sin and God's righteous judgment (60)
2. Testifies of Jesus Christ (61)
3. Imparts new life and regenerates the unsaved (62)
4. Is the indwelling presence of God (63) to the believer (64)
5. Is our Guide (65)
6. Equips and empowers the saints (66) with gifts for ministry today (67), proclaiming the word of Jesus (68) and doing the works of Jesus (69)
7. Sanctifies (70)
8. Is Liberty (71)
9. Unites, edifies and builds the body (72)
10. Intercedes for the saints (73)
11. Assures us of our salvation (74)
12. Teaches us the truth (75)
13. Anoints the saints (76)
14. Is a pledge from God (77)

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55. Hebrews 9:14
56. Genesis 1:2; 1 Samuel 16:13; Job 33:4; Isaiah 11:2 & 61:1; Ezekiel 11:24;Matthew 3:16 & 28:19;Acts 8:39; Romans 8:9 & 8:14; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Peter 4:14; 1 John 4:2
57. Acts 16:7; Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6; Philippians 1:18-19; 1 Peter 1:10-11
58. Acts 2:38 & 10:45; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; 1 John 3:24
59.  John 14:16-17, 14:26, 15:26 & 16:7
60. John 16:8-11; Acts 5:3-5
61. John 15:26; Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:6
62. John 3:5-8; Romans 8:11; Titus 3:5
63. John 14:16-17 & 16:7; Romans 8:9 & 8:11; 1 Corinthians 3:16 & 6:19; Galatians 4:6; 2 Timothy 1:14;1 John 3:24 & 4:13
64. John 14:16-18; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:14, 6:17 & 6:19-20
65. John 16:13; Acts 8:29, 8:39-40, 10:19-20, 11:12, 13:2-4, 16:6-7, 20:22-23 & 21:11; Romans 8:14
66. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8 & 4:31; Romans 15:13; Ephesians 3:16
67. Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 1 Peter 4:10
68. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 & 2:12-13; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:5
69. John 14:12-13; Romans 15:18-19
70. Romans 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2
71. 2 Corinthians 3:17
72. Romans 14:16-19; 1 Corinthians 14:4-5, 14:12 & 14:26; Ephesians 2:19-22 & 4:1-6
73. Romans 8:26-27
74. 1 John 3:24
75. John 14:26 & 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 1 John 2:27
76. 1 John 2:20-21 & 2:27
77. 2 Corinthians 1:22 & 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14

The believer is to be aware of that which is concerning the spiritual (78).  The Holy Spirit Himself is a gift to be received (79) and He is received by faith (80).  The believer is to be filled with the Holy Spirit (81) and the evidence of His presence in the believer’s life will be the fruit of the Spirit (82).  The Holy Spirit seals the believer for the day of redemption (83) and we are not to grieve or quench Him (84).  We trust in the presence and manifestation of the Holy Spirit (85) in the life of His church for its common good (86) and edification (87), and for the glory of God (88).  We believe the gifts are of the Holy Spirit and therefore He must be present in order for them to be manifested (89).  The gifts/manifestations of the Holy Spirit are as He wills (90).  We believe in the gifts/manifestations of the Holy Spirit as declared in the Scriptures (91) and as exercised within the Scriptural guidelines (92).  There are also appointments in the church (93).  We believe that love is of utmost importance and without His love all exercise of spiritual gifts and appointments is worthless (94).

78. 1 Corinthians 12:1
79. John 14:16-17; Acts 2:38, 8:14-17 & 19:1-6
80. Galatians 3:2-5, 3:14
81. Acts 2:4, 4:8, 4:31 & 9:17; Romans 8:9 & 15:13; 1 Corinthians 3:16 & 6:19-20; Ephesians 5:18
82. Matthew 7:17-20; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9
83. Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30
84. Isaiah 63:10; Acts 7:51; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19
85. Joel 2:28-29; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
86. Romans 14:19; 1 Corinthians 12:7 & 12:25; Ephesians 4:11-12 & 4:16
87. Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 14:3-5, 14:12, 14:17 & 14:26; Ephesians 2:19-22
88. 1 Peter 4:10-11
89. Acts 10:44-47; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 12:7, 12:11; Hebrews 2:4 & 6:4
90. 1 Corinthians 12:11; Hebrews 2:4
91. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
92. 1 Corinthians 14:2-33 & 14:40; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
93. 1 Corinthians 12:18 & 12:27-29; Ephesians 4:11-12
94. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 & 13:8-13; Galatians 5:6

We believe God created mankind in His own image, male and female (95), for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth (96).  Under the temptation of satan (97), their disobedience and not trusting God, our original parents were driven out of the garden (98), creating alienation from our Creator, thus bringing sin (99), sickness (100) and death to the earth (101).  Through their disobedience and not trusting in God, satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation (102).  Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam and Eve’s original sin (103).

Human beings are born in sin (104), their nature is corrupted (105).  They are hostile to God, unable to please Him (106), separated from Him (107) and responsible for their own sin.  They are subject to God's just judgment of wrath and death (108), and captive to satan's kingdom of darkness (109).  But by, and through, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ redemption, salvation, and forgiveness are freely offered to all (110).

95. Genesis 1:27, 5:1-2 & 9:6; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6; James 3:9
96. Genesis 1:26; Psalm 8:4-8
97. Genesis 3:1 & 3:13; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9
98. Genesis 3:8-13, 3:23-24
99. Romans 3:23 & 5:12-14
100. John 5:14
101. Romans 5:12-19 & 7:5; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
102. Luke 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:1-2 & 6:12; 1 John 5:19
103. Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-23
104. Job 15:14; Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3
105. Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 1:8-10
106. Romans 8:6-8; James 4:4
107. Romans 1:21; Ephesians 2:11-12; Hebrews 7:26
108. Ezekiel 18:4, 18:20; Romans 1:18, 2:5, 5:12, 6:16, 6:21 & 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 5:6
109. John 8:38, 8:41, 8:44; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 3:8
110. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 5:9 & 9:27-28; 1 Peter 2:24

Salvation is an act of God!  It is not the result of something we have done but rather because of what God has done (111).  Salvation is God's almighty work of spiritual deliverance from the power and dominion of sin by His grace (112) and mercy (113), His work of propitiation for us (114).  Salvation is His gift (115) and it cannot be earned nor is it deserved, in whole or in part, no human works or goodness or religious ceremony can be exercised to obtain it (116).  The Bible shows that salvation is given through grace (117) and is received by faith, trust (118) .

When a person repents (119) of their life of sin and confesses Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, trusting in Him to redeem and save them, and receives Him as their Lord, that person is “born again” (120) and sealed with the Holy Spirit (121), all their sins are forgiven (122).  They receive God’s "gift" of salvation and eternal life through trusting in the Lord JESUS CHRIST alone (123).  They are justified (124) by God’s holy sacrifice (125), Jesus’ life - His blood, born again of His Holy Spirit through faith, assured of their salvation from the moment in which they trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.  God reconciles (126) and adopts (127) that person as His child, destined to spend eternity with Him.  Their trust in Jesus Christ as Lord (128) and Savior (129) frees them from satan’s domain and they enter into God’s reign.

All mankind is in need of God’s gift of salvation (130).
 
111. Psalm 18:35, 37:39 & 98:2; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:1-9 & 3:15-21; Colossians 2:12-14; 1 John 4:9;Revelation 19:1
112. Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24 & 5:15; Ephesians 2:5 & 2:8-9
113. Romans 9:16; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3
114. Romans 3:23-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:17; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2 & 4:10
115. Romans 3:24, 5:15-17 & 6:23; 2 Corinthians 9:15; Ephesians 2:8
116. John 6:63; Romans 3:28 & 4:5; 2 Corinthians 3:5-6; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9
117. Acts 15:11; Romans 4:16 & 5:15; Ephesians 2:4-5 & 2:8-9; Titus 2:11
118. John 20:31; Acts 15:9; Romans 3:22-26 & 4:16; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:9-11;2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 1:5
119. Ezekiel 18:32; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3 & 13:5; Acts 2:38, 3:19, 8:22 & 11:18;2 Corinthians 7:10
120. John 1:12 & 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3-4 & 1:23
121. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30
122. Mark 3:28; Titus 2:14: 1 John 1:7
123. John 3:15-16, 3:36, 6:40, 11:25 & 14:6; Acts 4:12 & 13:38-39; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Hebrews 5:9
124. Romans 3:24, 3:30, 4:5 & 5:1; Titus 3:5-7
125. Acts 20:28b; Romans 3:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 & 15:22; Ephesians 1:7 & 5:2; Colossians 1:13-14;Hebrews 2:9, 7:26-27, 9:14, 10:10 & 10:14
126. Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Colossians 1:19-20
127. Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:5-6
128. Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-11 & 14:9; Philippians 2:11
129. Luke 2:11; John 3:17 & 4:42; 1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 3:6; 1 John 4:14-15
130. Ezekiel 18:23 & 18:32; Matthew 18:14; John 3:17; Acts 17:30-31; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Titus 2:11;2 Peter 3:9

We believe in the one, holy, universal Church (131).  The church is the gathering of the Lord’s people, His children.  All who repent (132) of their sins and confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit (133) and form the living Body of Christ (134), the church, of which He is the head (135).  These born-again believers are the church and are being built together into a dwelling of GOD (136).

God loves His children, the church, and frees them to love one another. He calls them to assemble together for worship and praise, for edification through the Scriptures, for prayer, ministry and for mutual encouragement (137).

The Lord, Jesus Christ, calls His followers, the church, to be His disciples, His witness and to proclaim His Gospel throughout the world making disciples of every nation (138).

131. John 17:11 & 17:20-23; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 10:17, 12:12, 12:20; Galatians 3:28;Ephesians 2:16-22, 4:4-6, 4:16 & 4:25; Colossians 3:15; 1 Peter 2:5 & 2:9-10; Revelation 1:6
132. Ezekiel 18:32; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38, 3:19 & 11:18; 2 Corinthians 7:10
133. Titus 3:4-7
134. Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 & 12:27; Ephesians 1:23 & 5:30; Colossians 1:24 & 3:15
135. Ephesians 1:22, 4:15 & 5:23; Colossians 1:18
136. 1 Corinthians 3:9, 3:16 & 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5
137. John 13:34-35, 15:12 & 15:17; Acts 2:42; Romans 12:10-13; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 5:21;Philippians 2:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 3:13, 10:23-25 & 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:23
138. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 14:26-33; Acts 1:8 & 8:4; Colossians 1:28; 1 Peter 2:9;1 John 1:5

We believe that Jesus Christ committed the ordinance of water baptism to His Church (139).  This is a baptism into Christ not into the church (140).

The Bible declares that after repenting of one’s sins and receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, a born-again believer should be baptized through their immersion in water.  In the New Testament church, every born-again believer is commanded to be baptized (141).  Water baptism symbolizes the following:

1. The Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ Jesus (Romans 6:3-11; 1 Peter 3:21).  Immersion in water is the only physical act that pictures this so beautifully and accurately.
2. Forgiveness and removal of sins (Acts 2:38 & 22:16).
3. Circumcision of the Heart (Romans 2:29; Colossians 2:8-12).

139. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16
140. Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:48; Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:26-28; Colossians 2:12
141. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 8:12, 8:35-38, 10:47-48 & 19:3-5

The Lord’s Supper (often called Holy Communion) is a symbolic remembrance of Christ, His life, suffering and death for our salvation (142).  The two elements received during the Lord’s Supper are the bread, representing Christ’s body, and the cup of the fruit of the vine, representing His blood of the New Covenant and the forgiveness of sins (143).  Only born-again believers (144) who have carefully examined themselves, and taken any necessary actions of repentance and reconciliation, should partake of the Lord’s Supper (145).  When we partake of the Lord's Supper we are reminded of His return (146) and we look forward with great hope.

142. Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 & 11:23-26
143. Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; John 6:48-58; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:15-16,26; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9
144. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
145. 1 Corinthians 10:21-22 & 11:27-32
146. 1 Corinthians 11:26

Marriage is a blessing from God (147).  We believe that from the beginning of creation GOD created the human race with a clear distinction between male and female (148); they are of equal worth before GOD, but different.  GOD assigned to each their gender identity, and we are obliged to embrace that identity, gladly and thankfully, in submission to GOD.  According to GOD’s Holy Word, gender is never self-assigned.  Each is called to contribute the distinctive qualities of his/her gender, this is important in the relationship of marriage.  Therefore, marriage involves the bringing together of two complementary genders to form a whole (149).
 
Marriage has been ordained by GOD Almighty.  GOD’s Holy Scriptures make it clear that the divine design for marriage is one man, the husband - male (“anēr” is the Greek word used in the New Testament), and one woman, the wife - female (“gynē” is the Greek word used in the New Testament), in an exclusive and permanent relationship.  We believe marriage to be an exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in which such bond is a lifetime commitment (150).  This is the only legitimate, established and blessed form of matrimony ordained by GOD (151).

Marriage is GOD’s unique gift in which He chose to reveal the union between Christ and His church (152) and to provide for both the man and the woman the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to Biblical standards and the means for procreation of the human race (153).

According to the truth, teachings and commandments of GOD we believe that legitimate sexual relations are to be exercised solely between one man and one woman who are married to each other.  Hence, illicit sexual activities (“porneia” is the Greek word used in the New Testament) are outside of marriage, including but not limited to, premarital sex (fornication) (154), adultery (155), homosexuality (156), bisexual conduct (157),  incest (158),  bestiality (159) and pedophilia which are inconsistent with the teaching of the Bible and the Church.  Therefore, these actions are sinful.  Further, lascivious conduct, transgender behavior (160) and the production and/or distribution and/or viewing of pornography, are incompatible with Biblical truths (161).

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His grace, mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (162).

A civil government’s sanction of a union will be recognized as a legitimate marriage by The CROSSing church only to the extent that it is consistent with the definition of “marriage” found in these Articles.

147. Genesis 1:28 & 9:1
148. Genesis 1:27, 2:18-23 & 5:2; Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6
149. Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9; Ephesians 5:31
150. Proverbs 5:18-21, 12:4, 18:22, 19:14 & 31:10-12; Ecclesiastes 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16;Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:10-11
151. Hebrews 13:4
152. Ephesians 5:22-32
153. Genesis 1:27-28, 9:1 & 9:7  
154. Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9 & 6:18; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19, 5:21;Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:8-10; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 21:8, 22:15
155. Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:20, 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:18; Proverbs 6:29;Matthew 5:27-28, 5:31-32, 19:8-9,18; Mark 10:6-12,19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Hebrews 13:4; James 2:11
156. Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: 1 Timothy 1:8-10
157. 1 Corinthians 6:9
158. Leviticus 18:6-18 & 20:11-12, 14, 17, 19-21; Deuteronomy 22:30, 27:20 & 22-23;1 Corinthians 5:1
159. Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:23 & 20:15-16: Deuteronomy 27:21
160. Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9
161. Matthew 5:28
162. Psalm 32:5; Ephesians 1:7; 2:1-10; Titus 2:11-14 & 3:4-7; 1 John 1:9