What We Believe

We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Old and New Testaments. In the original writings, the very words were inspired and are without error. The Scriptures are the supreme authority of faith and of practice for all followers of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12

We believe in the One living and true God, who being one essence exists eternally as three co-equal distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Members of the Godhead, or Trinity, possess the same divine nature; however, each relates to mankind in a unique way. Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 28:19; Luke 3:21-22; 2 Corinthians 13:14

We believe that the first Person of the Trinity, God the Father, sovereignly orders and directs the universe for His own purpose, pleasure, and grace. He has decreed all things that come to pass for His own glory. He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of mankind, hears and answers prayer and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Matthew 6:9; Ephesians 1:3-6

We believe that Jesus Christ, God’s only Son is both eternal Son of God and virgin-born Son of Man, fully God and fully man. He surrendered nothing of His deity during His earthly life. Having led a sinless life, He satisfied the Father’s perfect justice concerning sin by His substitutionary death. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His physical ascension, and His visible return to earth to establish His earthly Kingdom. Luke 1:26-35; John 1:1-5, 14-18; Romans 3:21-26; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58; Hebrews 1:1-8; 4:14-16; Revelation 19:11-20:6

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He applies the salvation Jesus Christ secured through His death on the cross, indwelling individual believers in Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers the Church to live a lifestyle that is pleasing to God, endowing its members with special gifts so that they are able to accomplish distinct ministries planned beforehand by God the Father. John 3:1-8; 14:16-17, 26; 16:7-15; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Ephesians 1:13-14; Galatians 5:16-26

We believe that mankind was created in the image of God to enjoy His fellowship and to fulfill God’s will on this earth. By willful disobedience to the clearly revealed will of God, mankind sinned, thus incurring not only physical death but also spiritual separation from God. The fall of the human race into sin is a once-for-all historical fact. Sin’s spiritual deadening effect has spread to all mankind–as each individual is born with a sinful nature and sins habitually in thought, word and deed. Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-7; Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-23; 5:12,17-21; Ephesians 2:1-3

We believe that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is the only sufficient substitutionary sacrifice for our sins. All who believe in Him (and only those who believe in Him) are declared justified by the Father. All who receive Jesus Christ by grace through faith are regenerated by and baptized in the Holy Spirit. In addition, believers in Christ are made to be God’s own children as well as members of the one true Church, the body of Christ. This salvation results in righteous living and good works as believers submit their individual wills to the Word of God and live in obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a free gift received only through personal trust in Jesus Christ. This gift is given by the unmerited favor of God and is given without regard to any and all human works or goodness. All those who accept this gift by faith are eternally secure in Him. John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; 14:6; 1 John 5:11-13; Acts 4:10-12; Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; Titus 3:4-7

We believe that the physical, personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent. Though the timing of this “Blessed Hope” has not been revealed to man, the fact of it is as certain as the first coming of Christ. John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We believe that all believers in Christ are directed by the Word of God to associate themselves in local, visible churches. The local church is autonomous, and its purpose is to lead individuals to faith in Christ and help them grow in the faith. Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:14-17, 38-42; 4:1-16; 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40; Ephesians 2:19-22

Note: An ordinance is a symbolic ritual prescribed by our Lord, practiced in the early church, and expounded by the apostles in the epistles of the New Testament. We observe the ordinances of BAPTISM and THE LORD’S SUPPER. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; 8:36-38; 16:32-33; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

We practice church discipline as instructed by our Lord in Matthew 18:15-20.
See also 1 Corinthians 5:3-13; 11:31-32; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; Hebrews 12:5-17