The Bible
We believe the Holy Scriptures are inspired of God, inerrant in the original documents, and of final authority in all matters of faith and practice. The Holy Spirit superintended the human authors as they composed and recorded God’s Word to man.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:17-18; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18-19
God- The Trinity
We believe there is one God, eternally existing as three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with each person being fully God.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 3:16-17; Genesis 1:26
God- The Father
We believe God the Father orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and holiness. He is sovereign in creation, providence and redemption. As Creator, He is Father to all men, but He is spiritual Father only to believers. He saves from sin all who come to Him through Jesus Christ and He relates Himself to His own as their Father by means of adoption.
Isaiah 46:10; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Isaiah 6:3; Genesis 1:1; Romans 11:36; Psalm 103:19; Ephesians 4:6; Acts 17:24; Romans 8:14-15; John 1:12
Jesus Christ
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, possesses all of the attributes of God. As the eternal Son of God, Christ became man without ceasing to be God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary and is sinlessly perfect. He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice. He was buried, rose bodily from the grave, and ascended to His Father’s right hand where He now ministers as our Great High Priest. He will come in the clouds to call out His Church and subsequently return to reign on the earth.
Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:20-23; John 1:1-2; John 1:14-15; John 1:29-30; 1 Peter 2:24; Acts 1:8-11; Romans 1:3-4; Romans 3:21-26; Romans 8:32-34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Hebrews 4:14-16; Revelation 19:11-16
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the person of the Trinity who in this present age convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. The Holy Spirit is God’s agent in baptizing into the body of Christ, regenerating, sealing and indwelling all believers at the time of salvation. The Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who guides believers into all truth enabling them to live a godly life in a sinful world.
John 16:8-11; Titus 3:5; John 3:5-8; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 John 2:27; John 14:16-17, John 14:26; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16
Man
We believe God created man, male and female, in His own image and likeness. Because all men were in Adam, a nature corrupted by Adam’s sin has been transmitted to all men. All men are thus sinners by nature and by practice. Sin has caused a separation between a Holy God and man. In his sinful state, man is an enemy of God and can do nothing to merit the grace of God. Apart from God’s salvation, man is eternally lost. The penalty of sin is death (both physical and eternal separation from God in the lake of fire).
Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; John 3:19; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:8
Salvation
We believe the substitutionary, sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only ground for a sinner’s acceptance by God. Salvation is a gift of God that is received through personal faith in Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is not of human merit or works.
We believe the following are accomplished at the time of salvation:
a. Redemption - The work of Christ on the cross making payment for the sins of mankind through the shedding of his blood.
Galatians 3:13-14; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19
b. Justification - A judicial act of God, whereby He declares a sinner righteous.
Romans 5:1; Romans 5:9; Romans 5:18; Romans 4:5; Romans 3:23-24
c. Reconciliation - The change of relationship by which God removes man’s hostility toward God and alienation from God, resulting in peace with God.
Colossians 1:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
d. Propitiation - A satisfying of the wrath of God by means of Christ’s sacrificial death.
1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10; Romans 3:25 (KJV, NASB)
e. Sanctification - To be set apart for God’s holy purpose. Note: This sanctification is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive sanctification. This sanctification has to do with a believer’s standing, not his present walk or condition.
1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:25-27
f. Adoption - The act of God causing believers to become His children and heirs.
Galatians 4:4-7; John 1:12-13; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:5
Biblical Ordinances
We believe our Lord Jesus Christ commanded believers to obey the following ordinances:
a. Baptism - Water baptism by immersion is the expression of a believer’s identification with Christ and commitment to follow Him. Baptism is not a requirement for, nor, an aid to salvation. It is expected that all believers, following their profession of faith in Christ Jesus as Savior, will be obedient to Him in baptism. Since this ordinance is for those who profess their faith in Christ, infant baptism is not practiced.
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:36-39
b. Lord’s Supper - The Lord’s Supper, often referred to as communion, is a memorial testimony of the church, instituted by our Lord just before His betrayal, and to be observed by believers until His return as a means of remembering His death for our sins. It is the privilege and responsibility of believers, unless willfully engaged in sin, to prepare themselves for this Remembrance.
Luke 22:17-20; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
The Church
We believe all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ make up the universal Church (the body of Christ). The Church began with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Church is a living organism uniting believers to Christ Jesus and to one another under the headship of Christ Jesus alone.
We believe each local church is a gathering of believers that meet together regularly for teaching (doctrine), fellowship (sharing/partnership), breaking of bread and prayer. The local church is autonomous, free from any external authority or control with the right of self-government, and free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. It is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other for the presentation and propagation of the faith.
We believe the leadership of the local church is given to a plurality of men who are:
a. Qualified and recognized elders (shepherds, overseers, bishops) under the authority of Christ. Elders are responsible for the spiritual and prayer life of the church, Bible teaching ministry, rule, counsel and discipline.
b. Qualified and recognized deacons (servants) responsible for assisting the elders in the ministry of the church.
Acts 2:1-4; Acts 2:42; Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 3:11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4
Eternal Security and the Assurance of Believers
We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.
John 5:24; John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; John 14:3; 1 Corinthians 1:8; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Peter 1:5
We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word and obedience to it.
1 John 1:6; 1 John 5:13; James 2:17; Titus 2:11-14
Angels
We believe that angels are created beings and are therefore not to be worshiped. Although they are a higher order of creation than man, they are created to serve God and to worship Him.
We believe that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator. He introduced sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve.
We believe that Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man; the prince of this world, who has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire.
Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 2:6-7; Revelation 22:9; Colossians 1:16-17; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Genesis 3:1-15; 1 Peter 5:8; John 12:31; 1 John 3:8; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:10
Spiritual Gifts and the Ministry
We believe the Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts upon believers for Christian service and the edification of the church. Each believer, at the time of their conversion (according to God’s Sovereign will) is given at least one such gift and should strive to develop and use their gift(s) in a way that will glorify God.
We believe that since the Lord bestows these gifts in order to fulfill specific purposes in God’s program, when the purpose of any gift is fulfilled, that particular gift is terminated. Thus, the spiritual gifts of biblical speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, miracles and healing gradually ceased.
We believe Christ has given the church evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip God’s people for works of service to build up believers.
Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10; Ephesians 4:11-13
Future Events and Eschatology
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom.
We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal joy of the righteous and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Revelation 20:1-7; Revelation 20:11-15; John 11:25-26; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Matthew 25:46; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 1 Corinthians 15:35-54