The Sixteen Fundamental Truths
1. The Scriptures Inspired
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the
revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:15-
17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
2. The One True God
The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of
heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying
the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4;
Isaiah 43:10,11; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:22).
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
a. His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35).
b. His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).
c. His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).
d. His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
e. His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:4).
f. His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3).
4. The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical
death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans
5:12-19).
5. The Salvation of Man
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
(a) Conditions to Salvation
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By
the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through
faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Luke 24:47; John 3:3;
Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).
(b) The Evidences of Salvation
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward
evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12)
6. The Ordinances of the Church
(a) Baptism in Water
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and
believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they
have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life
(Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4).
(b) Holy Communion
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements—bread and the fruit of the vine—is the symbol
expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His
suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians
11:26); and is enjoined on all believers “till He come!”
7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the
Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus
Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the
enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work
of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from
and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9).
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the
Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an
intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42), and a more active love
for Christ, for His Word, and for the lost (Mark 16:20).
8. The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking
with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). The speaking in tongues
in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-10,28), but
different in purpose and use.
9. Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God
(Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). Scriptures teach a life of “holiness
without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). By the power of the Holy Spirit we
are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15,16).
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death
and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every
faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13; Galatians
2:20; Philippians 2:12,13; 1 Peter 1:5).
10. The Church and Its Mission
The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine
appointments for the fulfillment of her Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an
integral part of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven
(Ephesians 1:22,23; 2:22; Hebrews 12:23).
11. The Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the
fourfold purpose of leading the Church in: (1) evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20), (2)
worship of God (John 4:23,24), (3) building a Body of saints being perfected in the image of His
Son (Ephesians 4:11,16), and (4) Meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion
(Psalms 112:9; Galatians 2:10; 6:10; James 1:27)
12. Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the
Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).
13. The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with
those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of
the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52).
14. The Millennial Reign of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope,
followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand
years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennial
reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21,22; Zephaniah 3:19,20; Romans
11:26,27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).
15. The Final Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to
their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his
angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-
48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).
16. The New Heavens and the New Earth
“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21,22).