1. I affirm that I have submitted my life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I am born again.

2. I understand the importance of maintaining a regular and personal time of devotion, prayer, Bible study and fellowship with Jesus Christ in order to be effective at The First Academy, and I agree to do so.

3. I affirm that I will carefully guard the unity within the family of God. I will speak and deal truly with every person in accordance with the scriptural principles outlined in Matthew 18.

DOCTRINAL BELIEFS

1. THE SCRIPTURES: I believe that the entire Bible, all 66 books of the combined Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired by God and are inerrant in the original writings. Through the providence of God, the word of God has been protected and preserved, and is the only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

2. GOD: I believe that there is only one true, living, sovereign, holy, and eternally existent God. He exists in three co-equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each being a distinct person and with a distinct function, but all of one essence and all possessing the same nature, perfection, and attributes. The triune God is the creator and sustainer of all things, the source of all truth, and is worthy of worship, confidence, and obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31).

3. JESUS CHRIST: I believe that Jesus Christ is God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles, shed His blood on the cross to pay the debt for our sins, was buried, bodily resurrected, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return literally, visibly, and personally in glory and power (John 1:1-3, 14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:11).

4. HOLY SPIRIT: I believe that the Holy Spirit is God, co-equal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. He is the chief convictor of sin, the chief agent of regeneration and sanctification. The Holy Spirit lives within every believer and empowers every believer to live a godly life (John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9-11; Titus 3:5).

5. MANKIND: I believe that in the beginning God created mankind in His image, and it is not in any sense the product of evolution. Mankind was originally created with the ability to live perfectly for God's glory (Genesis 1:27, 31).

6. SIN: I believe that Adam, the first man, sinned by disobedience. This act resulted in the fall of all mankind; therefore, all people have sinned and lost their ability to live for the glory of God. Every person's sin incurs both physical and spiritual death until there is forgiveness and salvation by the grace of God (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:10-23; 5:12-21; 6:23).

7. SALVATION: I believe the salvation of lost and sinful people is a free gift of God's grace apart from human works, based solely upon Christ's vicarious and atoning death, effected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and received only through faith in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection from death (Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

8. THE CHURCH: I believe that the church is the body of Christ and the family of God. It is made up of saved and baptized believers, who regularly join together for worship, fellowship, and ministry (Matthew 16:18; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25).

9. EVANGELISM: I believe that it is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to seek to make growing disciples (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

10. THE HOME: In addition to these important beliefs, I also believe that God has given the parents and the home the responsibility to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6). I believe that a consistent and whole education will occur when home, church and school work closely together and are in agreement on the basic concepts of life.

PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS

1. I will conduct my personal life so as to set a worthy example of Christian life. I will not involve myself in the sale or use of illegal drugs, tobacco or alcoholic beverages; I will avoid any scripturally deviant personal relationships and behaviors.

2. I am a member of and will regularly attend and actively support and participate in a local Christian church.