About people: created in the image of God, yet marred by sin
As part of the perfectly created universe, Adam and Eve were created perfect in human intellect and innocence. As the pinnacle of God’s creation, mankind was also created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27); however, when Adam willfully chose to transgress God’s law, he plunged the whole human race into a depraved, guilt-stricken state that now demands God’s justice (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23). This depravity affects every aspect of a person and makes it impossible for us to please God (Romans 8:7-8).
About Jesus Christ: fully God and fully man, He’s the perfect sacrifice for sin
Jesus Christ is the second person of the trinity, the Son. As so, He is eternally and fully God, co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit (John 1:1). Being born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23), He fully united Himself with the human race, yet without the depraved sin nature (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15). He did this in obedience to the Father’s will to pay the penalty for all sin which God’s justice demanded (Hebrews 10:9-10, 14). Through His substitutionary death, He provided atonement for sin through which people may, through faith, be eternally reconciled to God and live a life that is pleasing to Him (Ephesians 2:8-10;1 Peter 2:24).
About salvation: graciously given, received by faith
Mankind’s problem is sin. It is our very nature, embedded into the fabric of our being. Because of our sinfulness we all deserve to be included in God’s wrath and receive our due penalty of an eternity apart from God in hell (Romans 3:23, 6:23).
Jesus, having died to become our perfect substitute, paid the penalty we owed! His death makes salvation possible for all people. God freely offers this salvation to everyone by His grace (1 Timothy 2:3-4). It is each person’s responsibility to respond to this gracious offer of salvation with repentance and faith (i.e. being deeply convicted of one’s guilt and helplessness to save himself, which leads to believing that Jesus’ death is all-sufficient to cover the penalty of sin. This is coupled with trusting Him at His word to deliver from sin and hell and bring him into an eternity with Him in Heaven (Romans 10:9-10, 13).
Salvation of a person is only accomplished as the Holy Spirit moves in that person’s spirit to bring about repentance and faith (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5). There is nothing a person can do to save himself (Ephesians 2:8). Each person must simply respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit with faith. Once a person has received this salvation, he is eternally secure in that salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14), effectively adopted as a child of God, and given eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:5-7).
When God saves and forgives a person, He forgives ALL of their sin (past and future).
Salvation is a one-time event in a person’s life. Salvation is then realized and proven by the way the person lives after salvation. The Holy Spirit, still being at work in the life of a believer, convicts, encourages, and guides the believer to become more holy throughout life by rejecting sin and living a life that is pleasing to God (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:14). This is God’s plan for bringing people back into fellowship with Himself and is ultimately fulfilled when the believer enters the Lord’s presence in heaven (Romans 8:29-30; Philippians 3:20-21).
About the Church: the body of Christ, reflecting Christ
Jesus has instituted the Church to serve as His body, to accomplish His will (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 18-20). The Church is made up of all believers globally but gathers locally all over the world. All local churches have the responsibility to faithfully glorify and serve Christ while remaining true to the teachings of Scripture (Ephesians 3:21). Jesus commanded the Church to follow two ordinances: Baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Christ has given two officers to serve the Church: pastors (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 5:17) and deacons (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:10, 13). The Holy Spirit assists believers in worship to lift up Christ, never to draw attention to Himself (John 16:13-14).
About eternity: everyone, somewhere forever
A person’s soul is created miraculously at conception and once created, will never cease to exist. There is life after death, and there are only two destinations where a person will spend eternity, heaven or hell. There is no intermediary state, nor are the dead reincarnated. Much like a person’s soul, time also will never cease. People will either exist forever in a hell designed for Satan and his demons under the eternal wrath of God or dwell in the splendor of Christ’s presence in the joys of heaven forever (Matthew 25:34, 41, 46).