Our Beliefs

The Bible

We believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation of God’s will for salvation, and supreme and final authority in faith and life. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21)

The Trinity

We believe in one God, creator and sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19)

God the Father

We believe in God the Father, an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe He involves Himself mercifully in people’s lives, hears and answers prayer, and saves from death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (John 16:23-27; Gal.4:4-6; Eph. 1:3, 17-23)

God the Son

We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son. He is fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. We believe that He lived a sinless life on earth and died a substitutionary death on the cross, that His sacrifice for the sins of all people satisfied God’s justice, and that all who believe in Him are freed from the penalty of sin and made acceptable before God on the grounds of His sin-payment. We believe in His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His current ministry of prayer on behalf of His people, and His visible return from Heaven. (Matt. 1:18-23; Luke 24:1-8; John 1:1,14; Acts 1:11; 2Cor. 5:19-21; Heb. 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1; Rev. 19,20)

God the Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit. He is fully God, sent into the world by the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; to indwell the believer securing him or her in Christ forever; and to fill him or her with power to be witnesses in the world and serve in the church. His presence is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit and the building up of believers into Christ likeness. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 1:8; John 3:5; 16:8; Acts 1:8; 2: 38; 5:3-4; Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:11,19; 12:1-31; Eph. 1:3; 3:6; 4:11-16; 1 Pet. 4:10)

Humanity

We believe God created humanity, male and female, in the image of God and free from sin. Sin entered the world when Adam, representing us, disobeyed God. The effect is that all people are sinners by nature and choice, are spiritually dead, and are in need of a Savior. The family is established by God and is the foundational institution of society. He has designed marriage to be a life-long commitment between one man and one woman. (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7-13, 19; Rom. 3:23; 5:12-21; 6:23)

Salvation

We believe the central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call all people into relationship with Himself. We believe salvation is grace-given through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, was paid for by Christ on the cross, is received by faith, and cannot be earned through good works or rituals. We also believe that salvation produces a desire to become more like Christ in character and purpose. (1 Tim. 2:4-5; John 1:12; 3:3-7; 5:24; Tit. 3:5; Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 13:8-10)

The Church

We believe that the Church is a spiritual body, with Jesus Christ as its head. We believe the Church is made up of all those who have trusted Christ as their Savior and Lord. We believe that Scripture commands believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of believers baptism and communion as the ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. (Matt.28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2:41-47; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Eph. 5:21; Col. 1:18; Heb. 10:24-25)

Faith and Practice

We believe Scripture is the final authority in faith and practice. We recognize that it cannot bind the conscience of individual members in areas where scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord and the Bible, with the help of trusted, godly counsel. We believe every Christian’s purpose in life is to glorify God, grow in Christ, and help others to grow towards Christ. We also believe Scripture teaches faithful management of our resources. (1 Cor. 4:2; 10:31; Col. 1:28; 1 Tim. 6:6-9; Heb.10:24-25; 1 Pet. 1:14-15; 2 Pet. 3:18)

Last Things

We believe there will be a resurrection of the body for all people, and a judgment which will determine the fate of each individual. Those who rejected Jesus Christ as their only hope for salvation from sin will experience eternal separation from God and believers in Christ will experience eternity with God and will be rewarded for works done in this life. (John 5:29; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 15:1-58; 2 Cor. 5:8, 10; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 John 8; Rev. 19-20)