THE BIBLE
We believe that “all Scripture is God-breathed,” ensuring that every word is true and without error in the original manuscripts. It was revealed to chosen men through the agency of the Holy Spirit and has complete authority over all men. (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21; 1 Cor 10:11; Rom 15:4)
THE GODHEAD
We believe there is but one living and true God, who is one in essence, while eternally existing in three distinct Persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three Persons have the same nature and attributes and are equally worthy of the same reverence and obedience. (Mark 12:29; Matt 28:18-19; 2 Cor 13:14)
THE FATHER
The first Person of the Trinity orders and directs all things according to 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 men, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Matt 11:27; Rom 11:33-36; 1 Cor 8:6; John 3:16; Ephesians 1:3-4)
THE SON
The second Person of the Trinity; Jesus Christ, is the eternal Son of God and the virgin-born Son of man. Fully God and fully man, He retained all of His deity during His earthly life. Having led a perfect and sinless life, He satisfied the Father’s justice concerning sin by His death. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His physical ascension, and His visible, bodily return to this earth to establish His earthly kingdom. (John 1:1; John 1:14; Heb 1:1-3)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The third Person of the Trinity executes the will of God in the world by convicting it of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Holy Spirit seals the believer and empowers him to live a lifestyle pleasing to God. He endows believers with specific gifts which provide for the proper operation of the Church. (Acts 5:3-4; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; John 14:16-17, 16:7-15)
THE NATURE OF MAN
We believe that man was created in the image of God to enjoy fellowship with Him and to fulfill His will on the earth. Man fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the will of God. Consequently, all men are born spiritually dead and are subject to physical and eternal death apart from Jesus Christ. Man is wholly unable to save himself and must be graciously regenerated through a miraculous work of God. (Gen 1:26; Gen 2:17; Ephesians 2:1-3; Rom 8:6-7; John 3:6)
SALVATION
We believe that Jesus Christ’s death is the only sufficient sacrifice for sin. All who believe in Him are declared righteous by the Father on the grounds of Christ’s death and resurrection. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by grace through faith are regenerated by the agency of the Holy Spirit and baptized into the body of Christ. They are thereby the children of God forever and members in the one true Church. This great salvation results in righteous living and good works as the believer submits his life to the Word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 4:11-12; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13; Rom 5:9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 3:6)
THE CHURCH
We believe that all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit belong to the universal Church and are commanded in the Scriptures to associate themselves with other believers in the context of the local church. The local church is the only visible representation of Christ’s invisible church and consists only of regenerated believers. The local church is autonomous in its relationship and elects its own members to servant leader roles. The two-fold purpose of the church is to lead men to Christ and to mature them in the faith. (Matt 16:16-18; Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:20-23)
THE FUTURE
We believe that the next great event of human history will be the personal and bodily return of Jesus Christ. This is the BLESSED HOPE, for which all who love Jesus Christ yearn. Though the time of Christ’s return is a mystery known only to the Father Himself, we believe that it is as sure as Jesus’ first coming was fact. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and of life everlasting in the presence of God for those who believe and of eternal punishment for those who do not. (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
BAPTISM
We believe that Baptism is an essential step of obedience in the life of a believer. Baptism does not save a person, but is an act of identifying oneself with Christ and His Church. We believe that Scripture teaches believer’s baptism by immersion. (Matt 28:19; Acts 10:47-48, 16:32-33; 18:7-8)
THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord’s Supper is primarily summed up in the command of Christ, “Do this in remembrance of Me”. It is first and foremost a memorial of Christ and His redemptive death, and secondly an expression of our fellowship with one another. We believe the Lord’s Supper is open to all who have trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and are in pursuit of living a life pleasing to Him. We observe the Lord’s Supper during the morning worship service on the first Sunday of each month. (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26)