Humanity

The human race began by the direct and instantaneous creation of God (Gen 1:26–27). Men and women are created in God’s image (Gen 1:26–27) and exist to glorify God (Is 43:7). People forfeited their intended fellowship with God (Is 59:2), incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death (Gen 2:16–17; Rom 5:12), became subject to the wrath of God (Jn 3:36), and lost the ability to be independently acceptable to God (Rom 5:6–10) through Adam’s one act of disobedience (Rom 5:12).

People exist relationally separated from God and express that sinfulness in a variety of sinful acts (Is 59:2; Rom 3:10–18).

Salvation

Salvation of individuals is wholly carried out by God’s grace, based on the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross and is in no way contributed to or accomplished by the merit or work of the individual (Eph 1:7; 2:8–10; 1 Pt 1:18–19).

Those who repent and put their trust in Jesus as their provision for their sinful condition (Mk 1:15; Lk 24:46–47; Ac 3:19; 11:18; 20:21) are declared righteous by God (Rom 3:21–22; 8:33). From a human perspective, one is saved after hearing the message of the gospel (Rom 10:14), being convicted by the Holy Spirit of sin (Jn 16:8–9), turning from sin to God (2 Cor 7:9–11), placing one’s trust in Jesus as the complete and sole payment for sin (Jn 3:14–15).

At this point, God’s Spirit indwells the individual (Rom 8:9), resulting in new birth (Jn 3:3) which is often referred to as conversion (Mt 18:3; Ac 15:3; Rom 16:5). Each step in the process of salvation is granted by God including repentance and faith (Ac 11:18; Eph 2:8). The converted individual then naturally bears fruit in keeping with the internal transformation that has taken place (2 Cor 5:17; Mt 3:8; 7:17–23; Jn 3:36).

The Church

The universal church is composed of all Christians from Acts 2 to the rapture and is considered the complete body of Christ (Eph 5:22–33; Mt 16:18; Jn 1:12–13). Christians gathered in geographical locations around the world with a biblical purpose (Ac 2:42–47; Phil 3:3; Heb 10:24–25; Ac 1:8), biblical leadership (Tit 1:5; 1 Tim 3; 1Pt 5:1–3), and practicing the biblical ordinances (Mt 28:19; 1Cor 11:23–26) is what the Bible most often refers to as the “church”—that is local churches (1Cor 1:2; Gal 1:2; 1Th 1:1).

End Times

All people will be physically resurrected (Ac 24:14–15; 1 Cor 15:22–23), the saved to blessing and reward (2 Cor 4:14), the unsaved to retribution and punishment (Rev 20:13–15; Dan 12:2). God has appointed Jesus to judge the world (Jn 5:22), both Christians, concerning rewards (1 Cor 3:11–15), and non-Christians, concerning punishment (Rev 20:6, 11–15; Mt 8:12; 25:41; Rev 14:10–11; 21:8).

Christ will return for his church (Ac 1:11; 1Th 4:16–17). There will be a terrible time of Tribulation (Rev. chaps 4–19). Christ will establish his kingdom (Rev 20:1–9). God will ultimately provide a new heaven and a new earth where the redeemed of God will dwell forever (Rev 21:1–22:5).