We believe in the verbal-plenary inspiration of the Scripture. The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, without error in the words of the original writings. The Scriptures provide the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of humanity and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and practice. (Deuteronomy 27:26; 2nd Kings 17:13; Psalm 19; 119; Matthew 5:17; John 10:35; Luke 24:44; 2nd Timothy 3:16; 2nd Peter 1:20-21)
We believe there is one true and infinitely perfect God who is the creator and sustainer of all things. He eternally exists in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1; 3:22; 11:7; Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4; Isaiah 6:3;45:5; Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 12:29-32; 1st Corinthians 8:4-6, 2nd Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:1-6; Colossians 1:16-17)
We believe the Father; the first person of the Trinity decreed for His glory all things that come to pass. He providentially upholds and governs all creatures and events according to His own purpose. Through His plan and in His wisdom He has graciously provided salvation for mankind through Jesus Christ. (Psalm 33:6; 103:19; 135:6; Daniel 4:34-35; Romans 11:33-36; 1st Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:4-14; 1st Peter 1:13)
We believe Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, is the eternal Son of God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life as the God-Man. He died on the cross in order to pay the penalty for the sins of the world, rose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven. He has been seated at the right hand of the Father and now serves as the believers’ High Priest and Advocate. (Luke 1-2; John 1:1-18; 29; 8:58; Romans 1:3-4, 1st Corinthians 15:3-4; Colossians 1:15; 2:3; Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:17-18; 4:14-16)
We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ, convicts the world of sin and seeks and invites non-believers to accept the free gift of salvation. He indwells the believer and illumines the Scriptures. He empowers and encourages believers for spiritual growth, godly living, and Christian service. (John 3:5; 14:26; 16:8-11; Acts 5:1-11; 1st Corinthians 2:10-16; 12:11; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:30)
We believe God created man and woman in His image, free from sin. They became sinners by voluntarily and personally failing to believe God, disobeying His command. As a result of their sin and mankind’s fallen, cursed state, the human race is alienated from God and subject to his wrath. All people are sinners by nature and practice. (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-19; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:12-21; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1st John 1:8, 10)
We believe that due to the sinful nature of mankind, it is impossible to enter into a right relationship with God or to earn the forgiveness of sins through one’s own efforts. However, because of God’s great love and mercy, He has graciously paid the penalty for sin through Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross and has provided new life through His resurrection. The forgiveness of sins is an act of God’s grace. It is a free gift to be received by faith in Christ alone. Only those who receive this gift become children of God and have eternal life—a relationship in which they are kept forever. (Isaiah 53:6; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:21-31; 5:1-19; 8:6-8; 10:4; Galatians 2:16-20; 3:11; Ephesians 2:4-10, 2nd Corinthians 5:21; Jude 1)
We believe that spiritual growth begins at the point of Salvation. It is normative for believers to live in such a manner as to become progressively more Christ-like, the process of sanctification. Healthy spiritual growth produces an attitude and life-style of obedience to the Word of God. Spiritual growth is increasingly demonstrated by the fruit of the spirit and by obedience to the will of God demonstrated by their love for Him and others. Believers walking in obedience to the Word of God will receive eternal rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. God disciplines believers who disobey Him with temporal consequences and the loss of eternal rewards. (Isaiah 53:4-9; John 1:9-13; 3:16-21; 6:26-65; 11:25-26; Ephesians 2:1-10; 3:16-19; Romans 6:1-22; 14-10-12; 1st Corinthians 3:11-15; 2nd Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 5:16-25; 1st Thessalonians 5:23; 2nd Peter 1:5-11; Hebrews 12:4-13)
We believe the ultimate glorification of believers is assured on the basis of the immutable character of God and His sovereign work in their lives. God glorifies all whom He has called and justified. His character and work guarantee the believer’s final conformity to the image of Jesus Christ. (John 17:24; Romans 8:17; 28-30; Ephesians 5:27; Philippians 3:21; 1st John 3:2)
God’s character is not to provide a limited offer of salvation, thus excluding some unto eternal suffering in Hell. God’s love is directed to all. His salvation is directed to “whosoever will” (John 3:16). Jesus promised that he would draw all men unto Himself (John 12:32). God’s elect are God’s chosen people. Election is the choice of God that those “in Christ” shall be saved. This choice by God is based on our position in Christ, not on the exclusive selection of individuals by God the Father (Ephesians 1:4-7; 1 Peter 1:2). God is not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to repentance. (2nd Peter 3:9). Foreknowledge and foreordination are defined differently; to know in advance is different from appointing in advance. We as Christians are elected as a result of nothing in man, God’s love toward us, our faith in Him and call on our life and our positive response to that call.
We believe the true Church is the Body of Christ of which He is the head. All those in this age who believe in Jesus Christ are indwelt by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, the universal Church of which the local Church is a snapshot. (Acts 1:5; 2; 11:15; 1st Corinthians 12:13; 1st Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:21-23; 2:20-22; 3:1-10; Colossians 1:18)
We believe the local Church is an organized, autonomous gathering of believers. The local Church assembles for the purpose of instruction in the scriptures, prayer, fellowship, exhortation, worship, encouragement, and the observance of the ordinances. Believers are to recognize their spiritual interdependence in the Body of Christ and to be witnesses to God’s saving grace in the world. (Acts 2:42; 11:22; 20:17; Colossians 4:16; 1st Thessalonians 1:1-2, 1st Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 3:13; 10:25; 1st Peter 2:9)
We believe the Scriptures prescribe two ordinances for the Church: baptism by immersion after Salvation and the Lord’s Table. Believers are to be baptized in water as a testimony to their spiritual identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. In corporate worship, believers are to celebrate regularly the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of His death on the cross and in anticipation of His return. These are important physical reminders of the work of Christ, and are not part of Salvation, sanctification or justification. (Matthew 28:16-20; Romans 6:1-11; Acts 2:38-41; Luke 22:19-20; 1st Corinthians 11:23-29)
We believe angels were created by God as spiritual beings. They worship and serve God in heaven and minister to God’s people on earth. We believe that Satan was created as the highest angelic being, but because of his pride, God removed him from his position along with his angels. Satan, the archenemy of God, endeavors to frustrate the purposes of God through all types of deception. Having been defeated at the cross, he and his demonic followers will ultimately be cast into the Lake of Fire. (Genesis 3:1-4; Ezekiel 28;12-19; Daniel 12:1; Matthew 25:41; 2nd Corinthians 11:3; 1st Timothy 3:6; Hebrews 1:14; 1st Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:4-9; 20:10)
We believe in the personal, premillennial, and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His bride. This hope plays a significant role in motivating believers to a godly life and service on behalf of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. (John 14:2-3; 1st Corinthians 3:10-15; 2nd Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; 1st Thessalonians 4:15-17; Titus 2:11-13)
We believe the dead will be raised bodily. The believer will be resurrected to eternal, unbroken fellowship with God and the unbeliever will be resurrected to eternal, conscious punishment. (Mark 9:43-48; John 5:28-29; 1st Corinthians 15:50-53: Philippians 3:21; Revelation 4:10-11; 20:11-15; 21:1-4; 22:5-11)