1. There is one God, absolutely good, pure, loving, and just, who eternally exists in three distinct persons: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.[1]
2. God is the supreme ruler of the universe, governing all matters of creation, revelation, redemption and final judgement according to the faultless purpose of his will.[2]3. The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired and so entirely trustworthy word of God, the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behaviour.[3]
4. The Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government. It is binding on all, yet to be obeyed not to merit salvation, but as the fruit of true faith. The essence of the law is love for God and neighbour, including a rejection of all false religion, blasphemy, hatred, extra-marital or homosexual sex, dishonesty, slander, greed, and drunkenness.[4]
5. Since the fall, all humankind has disobeyed God’s law and is sinful and guilty, so that everyone is subject to God's wrath and condemnation.[5]
6. The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s incarnate Son, fully God yet born of a virgin, fully man yet without sin. He died on the cross, was raised bodily from death, and is now reigning over heaven and earth.[6]
7. Sinful human beings are freed from the guilt, penalty and power of sin only through the sacrificial death once and for all time of Jesus Christ, the only mediator between humanity and God. On the cross Jesus bore sin’s punishment as a substitute for all who would put their trust in him.[7]
8. Those who repent and believe in Jesus are pardoned all their sins and accepted in God’s sight only because the righteousness of Christ is then counted as their own. This justification is God’s act of undeserved mercy, or grace, received solely by trusting him for it, and not on the grounds of moral or religious effort.[8]
9. The Holy Spirit alone applies the work of Christ to individual sinners, enabling them to understand and accept God’s word, turn to him from their sin, and trust in his Son Jesus.[9]
10. The Holy Spirit lives in all those he regenerates in this way, writing the law on their hearts, making them increasingly Christ-like in character and behaviour, and giving them power and gifts for witness in the world and service of the church.[10]
11. The one holy universal church is the Body of Christ comprising all true believers. Its local expression is the primary means by which God builds up his people and extends his kingdom.[11]
12. The Lord Jesus will return in person, to raise and judge all humanity, justly sentencing those who have not repented to everlasting destruction in hell, and mercifully receiving the redeemed to everlasting glory in a new heaven and earth.[12]
[1] Exodus 34:6-7, Isaiah 44-45, Matthew 28:19, John 14-16
[2] Ephesians 1:1-14, Hebrews 1:1-4, Revelation 20:11-15
[3] Matthew 5:17-20, Mark 7:5-16, John 5:37-40, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, 2 Peter 3:15-16
[4] Matthew 5:17-48, 7:15-23, 22:34-40, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 4:17-5:20, James 2:14-19
[5] John 3:17-21, Romans 1-3, 5:12-21, Ephesians 2:1-3
[6] Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Luke 1:26-38, John 5:16-23, Acts 2:22-36, Hebrews 1:1-4, 1 Peter 3:18
[7] Isaiah 53:4-6, Romans 3:21-26, 5:12-21, 10:14-15, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, Hebrews 9-10
[8] Romans 3:21-4:25, 5:12-21, 9:30-10:13, Galatians 2:11-4:7
[9] Matthew 11:25-27, John 6:35-47, 65, Acts 16:14, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, Ephesians 1:15-2:10
[10] Luke 11:11-14, Acts 1:8, 4:23-31, Romans 8:5-8, 1 Corinthians 12, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, Galatians 5:16-25, Ephesians 2:10
[11] Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 2:11-4:16, Hebrews 10:24-25
[12] Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 10:42-48, John 5:19-30, Romans 8:17-39, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Revelation 20:11-22:21