1. Theology – The study of God
There is one God, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the Creator of heaven and earth and all that is therein.
Gen 1-2; Deut 6:4, Matt 28:19; John 1:1-5; Col 1:16-17
2. Christology – The study of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity. Christ came from heaven to become a man to pay the sin debt for all mankind. Christ is thoroughly God, thoroughly man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of Majesty on high as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His kingdom, righteousness and peace.
Philippians 2:6–11, Luke 1:34–38, I Peter 3:18, Hebrews 2:9, Romans 5:9, Acts 2:23–24, Hebrews 8:1, Matthew 26:64
3. Pneumatology = The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to dwell, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
John 14:15–18, John 16:13, Acts 1:8, John 16:7–11
4. Bibliology – the study of the Bible
God has revealed Himself in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments which are called the Bible. The Bible was verbally inspired by God to the prophets and apostles and is inerrant in the original autographs. The Bible is the complete revelation of God’s will and His salvation for mankind. The Bible constitutes the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.
2 Peter 1:20–21, 2 Timothy 3:15–17
5. Anthropology – the study of Man
Man was created in the image and likeness of God; he fell through disobedience, bringing upon himself both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Those without Christ will suffer a conscious existence of torment apart from God for all eternity in a place called the Lake of Fire.
Genesis 1:27, Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12; Revelation 20:11—21:8
6. Soteriology – the study of Salvation
Salvation from God’s wrath has been provided through Jesus Christ alone; and those who repent of their sin and believe in Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, become the children of God, are eternally secure in the Father’s care, and will dwell in everlasting joy and bliss with God in Heaven.
John 3:1-21; 10:27-31; Romans 5; Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:4–7; Rev 21:1-7
7. Ecclesiology – the study of the Church
The Church consists of all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world to preach His gospel and make disciples in all nations. The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Ephesians 1:20–23; 2:11-22; 4:11-16; 5:23-27, Matthew 28:19–20, Acts 2:41–47
8. Eschatology – the study of End Times
We believe Jesus Christ is coming again. Ultimately, he will condemn the unrepentant and receive his followers to live with him forever. This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.
Hebrews 10:37-39; Titus 2:11–14; 1 John 3:1-3; Revelation 1:4-8; 19—22.
9. Believer Baptism by Immersion
The word “baptize” in the original Greek language of the New Testament is “baptizo” which means “to immerse, to submerge.” Baptism by water immersion symbolizes one’s belief in, identification with, and adherence to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Baptism comes after one’s profession of faith and is a demonstration of the believer’s desire to “walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:1-6; Acts 8:35-39; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 2:12
10. The Resurrection
There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the just, a resurrection unto life; for the unjust, a resurrection unto judgment.
1 Corinthians 15:20–28, John 5:28–29
11. Sanctification
It is the will of God that each believer should be led by the Holy Spirit and live a holy life. The believer is to be separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. This is both a struggle and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; 5:23-24, Romans 6:1–14, 2 Timothy 2:1-13