Theology matters.

There is only one true and eternal God who created heaven, the universe, and all that is in them. This one true God exists eternally in three persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each of whom are God and yet distinct from one another.
Gen 1:26-27; Mt 3:13-17; Jn 1:1-4, 14; Acts 5:3-4

God has made himself known to humankind through general revelation (creation) and special revelation (scripture and the person of Jesus Christ). While God once spoke through the prophets through direct revelation, visions, and dreams, God’s full and final revelation came through the incarnation of Jesus Christ in his first coming. Today, God’s special revelation has been completed in the canon of scripture—The Bible—which includes both the Old and New Testaments, and point to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is the very Word of God—authoritative, sufficient, and given to complete God’s people.
Ps 19:1; Lk 24:27, 44; Rom 1:19-20; 1Tim 3:16-17; 2Ptr 1:19-21; Heb 1:1-2

God does not merely allow the world to exist, rather he makes the world exist and upholds it by his power. God, from all eternity, ordains all things that come to pass, either by his sovereign decrees or permission, and is for his glory and for the ultimate good of his people. God, being not the author of evil, nor giving approval to any evil, is not culpable for evil in the world, yet he ordains all things to accomplish his perfect and holy will.
Gen 50:20; Deut 29:29; Prov 16:4; Isa 46:8-11; Rom 8:28; Eph 1:11; Col 1:17

Humankind was created with both body and spirit, bearing the image of God, and for the purpose of bringing glory to God.  Due to original sin inherited from Adam, every human being is born inherently rebellious toward God. This rebellion produces thoughts, words, and actions which are in opposition to God’s holy law. Therefore, every person stands guilty before God from birth and therefore cannot receive eternal life. While sin has corrupted every part of the human’s being, by God’s preserving grace, humankind is not as sinful as they could be. Sin has also corrupted creation which awaits its own redemption upon Christ’s return.
Gen 1:26-27, 2:7, 6:5; Ps 32:1-2; Rom 5:12; 8:19-22

The will of every human being is not free before their conversion. Scripture tells us that all human beings are enslaved by sin. The effects of sin restrict every person to do only what sin desires and he has no ability to convert himself or obey God. It is only through God’s grace that the human will is freed in order to please God. In this life, the freed heart wrestles against the flesh which is bent toward rebellion. It is only after death, and in the new heavens and new earth, that the human will is fully freed to do what pleases God.
Rom 6:15-23; 7:1-25; 8:6-8; Heb 11:6

Justification is the legal declaration of righteousness given to the believer. It is a free gift of God that is given by grace alone through faith alone, and can never be earned by any good work. Before creation, God the Father elected some for salvation according to his divine providence and gracious will. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross fully and finally accomplished salvation for his elect. The Holy Spirit works in the lives of the elect to regenerate their hearts and draw them to the Father upon hearing the gospel message. All whom the Father elects are justified and will certainly be saved.
Gen 25:23; Dt 7:7-8; Ezk 36:26-27; Jn 1:12-13, 6:37, 44, 64-65, 19:30; Rom 8:29-30, 9:1-24; Eph 1:3-14, 2:8-9; Phil 1:6

All those whom God has justified, God also graciously adopts as his children, puts his name upon them, gives access to God as their Father, and promises an eternal inheritance as heirs of everlasting salvation.
Mt 6:25-34; Jn 1:12-13; Rom 8:15-17; Eph 1:5; Heb 12:6; 1 Ptr 1:3-5 

Once someone has been regenerated through the grace of God, they begin the process of sanctification—the process by which God conforms the elect to the image of Christ. While no human will reach this goal in life, God is faithful to apply the death and resurrection of Christ to them, renewing their entire person, granting them repentance and all other saving graces, so they more and more die unto sin and rise unto newness of life.
Ezk 36:22-28; Jn 17:17-19; Acts 20:32; Rom 6:1-14; Phil 1:6; 1 Thess 5:23-24; 2 Thess 2:13-14

All who are elect unto salvation comprise the universal church who have been gathered under Christ as their leader. As each member of the church is the temple of the Holy Spirit, with God as their Father, the church is united together as brothers and sisters in Christ. The church is a visible presence of God in the world as they love and serve one another, and advance the gospel message making disciples in every nation.
Mt 28:18-20; 1 Cor 1:2; 12:12-13; 6:19-20; Eph 1:10, 22-23; 4:4-6; 5:23, 27, 32; Col 1:18; Rev 7:9

When Christ returns, all who have died will be raised and experience judgment according to their deeds. Only those who are found to be in Christ will be saved from judgment as they have received the righteousness of Christ. They will receive glorified bodies, and will live forever in the new heavens and new earth that God restores. There, God’s people will dwell with God forever.
Isa 65:17; Rom 2:6; 1 Cor 15:35-49; Rev 20:12; 21:1-5