The Scriptures

We believe the Scriptures of the Old Testament and New Testament are fully inspired by God and both inerrant and infallible. We believe the 66 books of the Old Testament and the New Testament are God’s complete and sufficient revelation and therefore carry God’s authority for the total well-being of mankind.  (Psalm 119:97-104; Psalm 119:160; Matthew 5:18; John 5:46-47; John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:15-16)

The Trinity

There is only one true God, and God simultaneously exists in three persons (commonly called the Godhead which consists of The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three persons are equally deserving of worship and honor. The three persons of the Trinity have distinct, but complementary roles in the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan. (Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1; Romans 1:19-20)

God

We believe in the only true God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He created all things and upholds all things by the Word of His power. He is a God of truth and without iniquity, He is just and right, and He shall judge the world. (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 9:8 ;Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; John 17:3; Matthew 28:19-20; Revelation 4:11)

Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. In His humanity, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life. He performed miracles and taught with authority, giving evidence of His position in the Trinity. In death, He was the atoning sacrifice for our sins. In His resurrection, He was victorious over death, ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, and now intercedes for His people as the eternal high priest. (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1,14,18; John 8:58; John 14:8-9; Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1:3; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:42-46; Acts 1:6-11; Hebrews 7:23-25; Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 2:22)

Holy Spirit

We believe in the total deity of the Holy Spirit and that His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, convict the world of sin, of God’s righteousness, and of coming judgment. The Holy Spirit actively works in regenerating the sinner upon belief in Christ and baptizing the believer into one body of which Christ is the head. The Holy Spirit indwells, guides, instructs, fills, comforts, and empowers the believer for godly living. (Mark 13:11; John 14:26; John 16:8-11; John 16:13; John 16:14; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

Man

We believe man (Adam & Eve) was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state. Consequently, all mankind is sinful. All people are sinners both by inheritance and by their own choices. Therefore, all of mankind is under just condemnation without defense or excuse. We believe that without exception every man and woman is totally depraved and is in need of a Savior. (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 3:10-19; Romans 1:18; Romans 1:32; Romans 5:12)

Salvation/The Gospel/Spiritual Birth

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Jesus was the perfect, sinless sacrifice that was needed to reconcile the broken relationship between God and man. We believe that all who by faith receive Him as their personal Savior are justified on the basis of His blood shed on Calvary. We believe those who have turned from their sin and trusted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord have new and eternal life. They are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become eternally secure as children of God. We believe the Holy Spirit baptizes a person who believes into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation. (Romans 8:37-39; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13)

Heaven and Hell

We believe in a literal heaven and literal hell. We believe that those who have salvation through Christ will be in unity with God for all eternity. Those who reject God’s free gift of salvation that comes through Christ will be eternally tormented in hell in conscious separation from God. (Matthew 8:11-12; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:49-50; Matthew 25:34; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:5; John 14:2; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 21:8)

The Church

The Church is people and includes everyone who has experienced this spiritual birth. Followers of Jesus Christ come together to form local churches that worship, serve and grow together. We grow in relationship to God through the study and application of His Word, which also leads us to love one another. The Scriptures command believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of the ordinances (baptism and communion), fellowship, service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts, and outreach to the world in fulfillment of the command of Christ to make disciples of all believers. (Ephesians 5:23; Romans 12:1; Acts 2:42-46; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Matthew 28:19-20)

Baptism and Communion

Baptism and communion are the two ordinances required in the church. We believe that Christian baptism by immersion in water is a public identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection and is not salvific. Although baptism is not required for salvation, it is commanded of all believers and is for believers only. Scripture shows that a person was baptized after personally receiving forgiveness of sin through accepting Jesus Christ. The waters of baptism are a symbol of our death, burial, and resurrection to newness of life that happens when we become a new creation in Christ. Communion is the commemoration by believers of Christ’s death and a reminder—through the bread and the juice—of the Savior’s broken body and shed blood. Communion is to be a time of confession of our sin and should be preceded by careful self-examination. (Matthew 26:26-29; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41; Acts 18:8; Romans 6:1-6; Colossians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 11:20-29)

The Christian Life/Process of Sanctification and Maturity

The natural life of the Christian is to become more like Jesus—taking on his actions and attitudes. A person committed to a relationship with Christ focuses on personally adoring and corporately worshipping Him, abiding with Him and fellowshipping in spiritual community, and loving freely, serving sacrificially, giving generously, and proclaiming openly the good news of Jesus. A person committed to a relationship with Christ should also develop a stronger desire for a life of holiness that is evidenced by the spiritual fruit in their lives. That person will experience significant growth in personal sanctification and, therefore, will experience a closer personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and will become “complete in Christ”. God has given spiritual gifts to all of His people to provide mutual ministry in the context of the healthy and strong local church. (Ephesians 4:11-12; Colossians 1:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:2)

Marriage, Sexuality and Gender

We believe that marriage is created by God to be shared between one man and one woman, in a lifelong holy covenant, for the purpose of companionship, sexual intimacy and procreation. Our created gender, sexuality, and sexual fulfillment are gifts from the Creator and are to be embraced with gratitude and worship. God designed sexual intimacy to be expressed and consummated only between a man and a woman when they are united as one flesh in marriage. (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6)

End Times

Someday soon Jesus Christ will make a bodily return to the earth to set up His kingdom. Every person who has ever lived will be brought before God for a final judgment. Those who have not come to faith in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Hell, separated from God’s loving favor where there is nothing but evil and endless suffering. Those who have experienced spiritual birth will live in the joyous presence of God forever. (Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:20-24; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:4-15)