1. THE SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Holy Bible is God’s inspired, inerrant revelation to man and is the only certain, sufficient, and infallible rule from which we draw all saving knowledge. All of our creeds, confessions, and church documents are tried by His Word. See 2 Peter. 1:21, 2 Tim. 3:16. The Catholic apocrypha is not inspired scripture.

2. GOD

We believe that there is one true God who is the only Supreme Being with no gods created before or after Him (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6; 44:8). He has always been God (Psalm 90:2). He is Holy (Rev. 4:8), Eternal (Isaiah 57:15), Omnipotent (Jer. 32:17,27), Omnipresent (Psalm 137-12), Omniscient (1 John 3:20); etc. He is Love (1 John 4:8, 16); Light (1 John 1:5); Spirit (John 4:24); Truth (Psalm 117:2); Creator (Isaiah 40:12,22,26), etc. He is to be worshiped (Gen. 24:26; Ex. 4:31; 2 Chron. 29:28; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 7:11). He is to be served (Matt. 4:10;1 Cor. 6:19; Phil. 3:7; 1 Thess. 1:9; Heb. 9:14). He is to be proclaimed (Matt. 28:19f.; John 14:15f.; Acts 1:8). He eternally exists in three persons, and in the unity of the Godhead there are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are equal in every divine perfection, and who execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. From all eternity God decrees all that shall come to pass, yet so without sinning or violating the will and responsibility of man. See Isaiah 44:6,8; 45:5; Gen. 1:26-27; 3:22; Matt. 3:17; 28:19; Luke 10:35; 2 Cor. 13:14.

3. THE FALL OF MAN

We believe that Man was created in holiness, under and capable of fulfilling the law of his Creator but by voluntary transgression fell from that state. As natural heirs of our first parents, we are under the federal headship of Adam and share in his guilt. All men are inherently sinful and eventually become actual transgressors of the law of God. In this state all men deserve the just punishment due their sin: death. See John 6:44; 15:5; Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 2:13.

4. THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST

We believe that sinners are relieved of their sin debt only through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Prophet, Priest, and King. He freely took upon himself our nature, yet without sin or diminishing of His deity. He perfectly obeyed the law of God and by His death made a full atonement for sin. He is risen from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. See Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:5-13; John 1:1-3,14. See also John 2:19; 1 Cor. 15; Luke 24:39.

5. VIRGIN BIRTH

Jesus Christ was miraculously conceived and born of the Virgin Mary. (Luke 1:42).

6. THE WAY OF SALVATION

We believe salvation is dependent on the gracious and ever-present work of the Triune God: regeneration is a work of grace wrought on our hearts by the Holy Spirit enabling us to understand the word of God and believe; faith is saving belief on Jesus Christ and all His works; coupled with faith, repentance is the inevitable response of a person who has been regenerated and is now able to see his sin. Repentance involves a godly sorrow and a turning from sin. Justification is God’s declaration of a sinner’s actual acquittal of all sin. It is based upon the finished work of Christ with the sinner receiving the imputed righteousness of Christ by faith alone. See Eph. 1:1-11; 2:8, Rom. 3:23; Gal. 2:21.

7. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

We believe that sanctification is the process by which the elect are made partakers of God’s holiness and progress toward His perfection. Sanctification is begun in regeneration and is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Believers participate in sanctification by attending to the word of God, and by practicing self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer. All true saints of God will persevere to the end and will one day be raised up in the power of the One who keeps them secure. See 1 Thess. 4:7; Eph. 2:10; 1 Tim. 4:4; 1 Peter. 3:15; 2 Tim. 2:25.

8. ETERNAL SECURITY

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand," (John 10:27-28). Christ has done all that is needed for our salvation and he says that those who have eternal life will never perish. Those who appeared to be Christian but fell away never were Christians begin with (1 John 2:19).

9. A GOSPEL CHURCH

We believe that the Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all true disciples. God has declared that all believers are to congregate together in local assemblies for regular worship on the Lord’s Day. All true churches of God observe the two ordinances commanded by our Lord and Savior: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism with water in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is a sign of identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper commemorates the death of Christ through sacred use of bread and wine and is to be observed by the church until the end of the world. The only offices of the local church are elders and deacons.

10. CHURCH OFFICERS

God calls qualified Christians to be ordained and to serve Jesus Christ in special leadership capacities, i.e. Elders, Deacons, Ministers of the Word, and Evangelists. The office(s) of pastor and elder is limited to qualified men only, called by God, recognized by the body, and meet the biblical standard of eldership. Women are not to be pastors nor elders. (1 Tim. 2:11-15; 3:11-13; Titus 1).

11. RAPTURE

The event where, upon Jesus' return, those who have died in Christ and those Christians who are then alive will be physically caught up to the clouds and meet the Lord Jesus in the air. We will then forever be with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:16-5:2). Because of the diverse opinions among godly Christians regarding the rapture, Truth Defense Ministry considers pre-trib rapture, mid-trib rapture, and post-trib rapture to be within the scope of Christian orthodoxy.

12. SECOND COMING

Jesus Christ will bodily and visibly come from heaven with great glory and majesty. Then all human creatures will appear in person before Him to be judged -- men, women, and children, who have lived from the beginning until the end of the world. The evil ones will receive everlasting torment. The faithful ones will receive everlasting life on a new world. So we look forward to that great day with longing in order to enjoy fully the promises of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Matt. 24; Rev. 19-21)

13. MILLENNIUM

Because of the diverse opinions among godly Christians regarding the millennium, Truth Defense Ministry considers amillennialism, premillennialism, and post millennialism to be within the scope of Christian orthodoxy.

14. SPIRITUAL REALM

There is a spiritual realm of angels and demons.

15. ETERNAL JUDGMENT

All who are not justified by the blood of Christ will face eternal and conscious judgment.

16. EVANGELISM

Part of the beliefs and Purpose of Truth Defense Ministry is to carry out the work of evangelism which means that we must teach the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as refute false doctrines, false religions, and whatever else might contradict the word of God including such sins as homosexuality, adultery, pornography, pedophilia, bestiality, lying, fornication, false gospels, false gods, etc., inside and outside of the church.

17. LAST THINGS

We believe that it is appointed for men once to die and after that the judgment. On the last day Christ will return and will raise the dead bodily, both the unrighteous and the righteous. All will be judged by Christ and shall receive according to their deeds: those who die in their sin will go into everlasting punishment and those found with the righteousness of Christ will enter into everlasting life.