Salvation
A. That it is by grace -
John 1:17; Acts 15:11; Romans 4:16, Romans 5:15-17; Ephesians 2:8-9
- and therefore, the free gift of God
Romans 5:15-18, Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8
B. It is by faith
Romans 3:22, Romans 4:5, Romans 10:8; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:8-9
and merited neither in part nor the whole by any virtue or work of man
Romans 4:4-5, Romans 10:3; Titus 3:5
C. Is it by the blood.
Matthew 26:28; Acts 20:28; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:2; Revelations 1:5
The believer is washed from his sins by the precious, incorruptible blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, by which he is forgiven, cleansed, purchased, justified, redeemed, sanctified, an washed.
D. And by the word of God
Luke 8:11; Romans 10:13-15 &17
All that we know about salvation comes from this one source (John 5:24). It is itself alive (Hebrews 4:12) and able to impart life (James 1:18) to those who hear the preaching of the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25; James 1:21).
E. We reject the modern trend of easy believism. Salvation is the result of true repentance that comes from godly sorrow for sin.
Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30; Acts 20:21; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; 2 Peter 3:9)
F. We believe that God (in His absolute sovereignty), gave man a free will to accept or reject the salvation He has provided. Still God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" - 2 Peter 3:9.
Ezekiel 33:11; Acts 10:34; 1 Timothy 2:4
G. That salvation is a threefold process that begins with:
1. Justification, being the instant and complete deliverance from the penalty of sin forever. (John 5:24; Romans 4:5-9)
2. Sanctification, being a progressive deliverance from the power of sin daily. (1 Corinthians 10:13; Ephesians 4:7, 12-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 John 1:9)
3. Glorification, our final deliverance from the presence of since forever. (2 Corinthians 1:10, 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 John 3:2)
H. That all born-again believers are eternally secure
The Bible teaches that:
1. True believers shall never perish (John 3:15-16)
2. Neither shall any man pluck them out of the Father's hand (John 10:28-29)
3. They are "kept by the power of God". (1 Peter 1:5)
4. Sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30)
5. Delivered from all condemnation (John 3:18, 5:24)
I. Simply stated, we believe that "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" are the only conditions for salvation. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3; Acts 20:20-21)
J. That while in no sense having anything to di with obtaining or retaining salvation,
Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; Titus 3:5
Righteous living and good works are the proper evidence and fruit of salvation.