This election is based upon God’s predestination (Rom. 8:29-30) which is based upon God’s foreknowledge (Rom. 8:29; 1 Pet. 1:2). We believe that salvation is only available through Christ’s atonement. The atonement is a general term, referring to Jesus’ death on the cross for sin. Atonement involves the satisfaction of God’s wrath (propitiation), the driving away of sins (expiation), the substitution of Jesus in our place, the imputation of His righteousness to us, the justification of our sins, and the reconciliation of mankind to God (Rom. 5:11; 2 Pet. 2:1; Acts 16:31; 4:12; Eph. 2:8-9).
We believe that repentance is an active turning away from sin and turning unto God. Repentance is necessary for salvation (Heb. 6:1, 6). Repentance involves faith (Acts 20:21) and eventuates in works (Acts 26:20). However, it is a gift of God (2 Tim. 2:25) and at the same time, repentance is God’s will for every man (2 Pet. 3:9).
We believe that faith is necessary for salvation (Mt. 9:2 Rom. 10:14; Acts 16:31). Faith is also a part of effective prayer (Mt. 21:21; Mk. 5:34; Lk. 17:6). True saving faith involves the mental apprehension of the facts of the gospel (Rom. 10:14), the affections of the heart toward the truth of the gospel (John 20:30-31; Heb. 11:1), and the adherence of the will to the reality of the gospel (Jn. 1:12; Acts 16:31), involving the totality of one’s person and individuality of the faith. Faith eventuates in good words (James 2:14:-26).
We believe that justification is the legal declaration of God, whereby He declares a sinner to be righteous (Rom. 4:5-8). God forgives all sin (Acts 2:38) and imputes Christ’s righteousness (Rom. 5:17-19) based on the sacrificial, substitutionary death of Jesus (Mt. 3:13-15; Rom. 3:24-26). Because of justification, believers are exonerated from the very guilt or culpability for their sin (Rom. 8:1, 33-34). Justification is God’s act, and man cannot merit nor accomplish justification for himself (Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:8-9); it is a result of the gift of faith (Rom. 3:28-30; 5:1).
We believe that regeneration is God’s giving of a new life, His own eternal life, to the believer (Jn. 3:3; Eph. 2:1-6; 1 Jn. 3:9). Because mankind is dead in sin (Eph. 2:1), God, through the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:5; Tit. 3:5) and the Word of God (Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23), accomplishes this new birth (Jn. 3:3). The regeneration, or new birth, brings with it a total change in lifestyle (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Jn. 3:9).
We believe that adoption refers to the believer’s position as being a Son of God (Gal. 4:5, Eph. 1:5), enjoying the rights and privileges attending thereto. The ultimate consummation of this sonship, occurs when Christ returns and believers are glorified (Rom. 8:23, Rom. 8:15). Thus, adoption is accomplished at glorification.
We believe that sanctification is the believer’s becoming more holy, i.e., more separate from sin and unto God. Sanctification is comprised of positional sanctification, which occurs at the moment of conversion (1 Cor. 1:2, Tit. 2:14) and progressive sanctification, which is a process that takes a lifetime (2 Cor. 3:18). Sanctification has a goal—Christlikeness (Rom. 8:29). Sanctification is complete when the believer is glorified and his sin nature eradicated (1 Thess. 3:13).
We believe that salvation is a certainty assured in the Scriptures, (Jn. 10:29; 2 Tim. 1:12) and affirmed by the Spirit (Eph. 1:3, 13-14). A true believer cannot lose his or her salvation. The Scripture’s assurance of salvation extends only to those who manifest the marks of a changed life (Mt. 7:16; Rom. 8:5; 1 Jn. 1:6; Jas. 2:14-26; Heb. 4:11). Perseverance in the faith and assurance of salvation are works of grace, and are therefore from God—not a feeling, memory or action of the believer (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 8:14-16; 2 Pet. 1:5-11).
