WHAT WE BELIEVE
WHAT WE BELIEVE...
The Bible
We believe in the divine inspiration of the Bible, the inerrancy of its original manuscripts, and its sole authority and complete sufficiency in all matters of faith, life, and godliness. (Ps 19:7-11 & Ps 119:9-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
The Trinity
We believe there is one true and living God, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father. God the Son, God the Holy Spirit; and that they are equal in divine essence and perfection, and they execute distinct, but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. (Gen. 1:1, 26; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 Pet. 1:2)
God the Father
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, justice, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He infallibly foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 44:8; John 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:1-2)
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal, only begotten Son of God, conceived by The Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into Heaven, His perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth. (John 1:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:3-8; Gal.4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-6; Col. 1:15-20, Rev. 22:16, 20-21)
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit sent by the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, distributing gifts as He wills for the edification of the church, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (Matt. 28:19; Jn. 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; Rom. 8:9-11, 15; 1 Cor. 12)
Humanity
We believe that humanity, male and female, is sacred in God’s eyes and was uniquely created by Him, in His image and for His glory, to exercise dominion over the earth and to enjoy a relationship with Him forever. Every human being is directly responsible to God in matters of faith and life. God’s will for humanity is that they love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love their neighbors as themselves. (Gen 1:26-28; Matt. 22:37-38)
The Fall & Original Sin
We believe that, though originally free from sin, humanity voluntarily rebelled against God and fell from its original state. As a result, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by choice and therefore under condemnation. (Gen. 3, John 3:18-20 Rom. 1:18, 3:10-18)
Salvation
We believe that salvation is a gift from God that is to be received by grace alone, through faith alone, in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone, for the forgiveness of sins. We believe that those who repent and forsake sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become new creatures, who are delivered from condemnation and given eternal life. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12, 13:38-38; Rom. 3:21-26, 5:6-11; Eph. 2:4-10; Heb. 9:11-12)
The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all who have trusted in Jesus by faith are members, and that He distributes spiritual gifts to each to be used for the common good. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers united in Jesus Christ, baptized, and gathered for worship, discipleship, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Cor. 12:11-14; Eph. 2:19-22, 3:9-11, 4:1-6, 11-16; Heb. 10:23-25)
Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christians should be baptized in the name of the triune God, signifying their union with Him, and regularly share in the Lord’s Supper to remember His atoning death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 6:3-6; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)
The Second Coming
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth to establish His eternal kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of both the believing and unbelieving: The believing to the resurrection of eternal life with Jesus Christ in glory, and the unbelieving to the resurrection of eternal separation from God. (Matt 25:31-33, 41-46; 1 Cor 15:12-19, 42-54; Phil 3:21; 1 John 3:2-3)
Christian Conduct
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of all people; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. (Jn. 13:34-35; Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 3:17-24; Heb. 12:1-2)
Sanctity of Life
We believe the Bible is clear about the sanctity of life and that life begins at conception. The destruction of human life through abortion, infanticide, or euthanasia is unbiblical and contrary to God's will. Life is precious and in God's hands. (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 139:13-16; John 1:3; Col. 1:16-17)
Marriage
We believe biblical marriage consists only of a faithful, heterosexual union between one genetic male and one genetic female, and biblical marriage is the only legitimate and acceptable context for a sexual relationship. (Gen. 1:28 & 2:21-25; Pr. 18:22; Eph. 5:25-28; Hebrews 13:4)