OUR BELIEFS

The Bible is composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that the Bible originated with God, and that it was given through chosen men. Scripture reflects the backgrounds, styles and vocabularies of the human authors and we understand it through that context. We believe that the Scriptures are truthful and without error in the original manuscripts. There are no other writings similarly inspired by God.

We believe that there is one true, Holy God, eternally existing in three persons -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. In the beginning God created out of nothing the world and everything in it. This act demonstrated the glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence He is working throughout history to fulfill His redemptive plan.

The central purpose of God's revelation in Scripture is to call all people into a relationship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God choosing to go his independent way, and therefore was alienated from God. Because of this, man suffered the corruption of his nature, rendering him unable to please God. The fall took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of mankind is, then, completely a work of God's free grace, not the result, in any way, of human works or goodness. Salvation must be personally appropriated by repentance and faith. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He promises in the Bible that He will continue performing it until its completion.

Jesus Christ is the eternal second Person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily paid for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute. This act satisfied divine justice and accomplished salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where he, the only Mediator between God and man, continually intercedes for His own. He is coming again to earth, personally and visibly, to fulfill the eternal plan of God.  The whole of our Christian faith rides on this resurrection of Jesus.

A natural outgrowth of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience. This is attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their needs of a Savior. At the point of salvation he permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building of the body. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying the Scripture. His power and control are put to use by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of God.

Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation. God's judgment will reveal His justice in consigning them to eternal separation from God. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life.

A relationship with Jesus Christ causes all believers to become members of His body, the church. There is one true church universal, made up of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching the Word, to observe baptism and communion as commanded by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world.
Wherever God's people meet regularly in obedience to this command, there is the local expression of the church. Under the watch care of elders and the supportive leaders, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.

Jesus is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. DADCAMP recognizes that it cannot bind the conscience of individual people in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible.