We teach that salvation is wholly of God by grace received through faith on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ by the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5-6).
Election
We teach that election is the sovereign act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ (Eph. 1:4) those He graciously calls to Himself, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies (Rom. 8:29-30).
We teach that election does not contradict man’s freedom and responsibility to make the choice to repent of his sins and believe in Christ (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:13; Acts 2:40, 16:30-31; Mt. 23:37). Though God’s sovereignty and man’s freedom may seem to be contradictory to our finite human minds (Isa. 5:8-9), the Bible teaches both truths and we must accept both, knowing that in heaven God may reveal to us the way they work flawlessly together (Deut. 29:29).
Regeneration
We teach that regeneration is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which we are imparted a divine life and nature (Jn. 3:3; Col. 2:13; Titus 3:5). It happens instantaneously the moment a repentant sinner, enabled by the Holy Spirit, places saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 5:24; Eph. 1:13-14). That new life is his true identity (2 Cor. 5:17), is experienced by faith (Gal. 2:20), is enabled by the Word of God (2 Pet. 1:3-4), and is expressed in righteous living and good works (Jn. 15:5; Gal. 5:22-23; Ja 2:17-18).
Justification
We teach that justification before God is an act of God by which He declares righteous those who put saving faith in Him (Rom. 3:24,28). It involves the placing of our sins on Christ and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us (2 Cor. 5:21).
Sanctification
We teach that every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God by justification and is therefore declared to be holy and identified as a saint (I Cor. 1:2,30). This sanctification is positional and instantaneous (I Cor. 6:11). This sanctification has to do with the believer’s standing, not his present walk or condition (Heb. 10:10).
We teach that there is also, by the work of the Holy Spirit, a progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought closer to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29) through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. The believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God (2 Cor. 7:1).
In this respect, we teach that every saved person is involved in a daily conflict— the new creation in Christ doing battle against the flesh (Gal. 5:17). Ever believer has adequate provision for victory through drawing upon the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit by faith (Gal. 5:16; Rom. 8:1). Nevertheless, the struggle stays with the believer all through his earthly life and is never completely ended (Rom. 7:15) until he reaches heaven (I Jn. 3:2). All claims to the eradication of sin in this life are false (I Jn. 1:8). However, we can experience forgiveness and cleansing of our sins as we confess them (I Jn. 1:9).
Security
We teach that all the redeemed, once saved are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever (Jn. 5:24, 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom. 5:9-10, 8:1, 31-39; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 7:25, 13:5, I Pet. 1:3-5). However, not all who claim to be believers, are truly saved (Mt. 7:21-23, 13:24-30, 36-43). True believers, though they may have temporary lapses in faithfulness, will persevere in their faith (Jn. 10:27-28; I Cor. 1:8-9; Col. 1:22-23). Those who do fall away from Christ give conclusive proof that they were never true believers to begin with (I Jn. 2:19).
We teach that believers can and should have assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word (I Jn. 5:11-13), through the inner witness of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:16), and through the evidence of Christ-like character in their lives (Heb. 6:9-10; 2 Pet. 1:5-11). We teach that anyone who takes on an overtly sinful lifestyle can have no genuine assurance of salvation (2 Pet. 1:10-11; I Cor. 6:9-10).