What We Believe 

THE SCRIPTURES

We believe the Bible to be inspired, the only infallible authoritative Word of God. Inspired by the Holy Spirit it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13; Hebrews 4:12.

 

THE TRINITY

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. They are equal in every divine perfection and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption. Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14; Mark 12:29; Matthew 28:19; Isaiah 43:10-11.

 

GOD, THE FATHER

We believe in God, the Father, an infinite personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Isaiah 48:12; Ps. 95:3,6; Is. 40:21-26; Ps. 139:1-12; Jn. 7:37,38.

 

JESUS CHRIST

We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return for His church. Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20; Romans 3:25; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 20:31.

 

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, the third Person of the Trinity. In the present age He convicts of sin, of judgment, and of righteousness. He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony, He is the agent in the new birth, indwells all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, baptizes them into the body of Christ, seals them unto the day of redemption, and every believer is commanded by God to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 5:18-20; I Corinthians 3:16-17.

 

SALVATION

We believe in the depravity of man, that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are therefore in need of salvation, divine redemption through personal regeneration. We believe that those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior are "saved", "regenerated" by the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:47-48.

 

SANCTIFICATION

We believe that all believers are indwelt with the person of the Holy Spirit at the time of regeneration, given every spiritual blessing, all things pertaining to life and godliness, to the end that our lives increasingly manifest the very life, character, and power of Christ. Acts 2:38, II Peter 1:3, Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 2:1-6, II Corinthians 3:16, Romans 12:1-3, Galatians 2:20.

 

THE CHURCH

We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ who have a credible profession of faith, and have associated for worship, work, and witness. We believe that the calling of the church is to be the very presence of Christ in the midst of the world, standing as a testimony of His life and character. Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:25-27; I Corinthians 12:12-14.

 

THE ORDINANCES

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: water baptism and the Lord's supper. We believe that baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that baptism signifies and symbolizes Christian life has begun. We believe that the Lord's supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death and signifies Christian life continued. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4.

 

THE LAST THINGS

We teach that Christ will one day return for his Church. His return will signal a time of unprecedented judgment upon man known as the Tribulation. This will culminate in the second coming of Christ to destroy His enemies and set up His millennial reign. God's final judgment upon humanity will consummate in the bodily resurrection of all people; everlasting punishment for the unregenerate and eternal reward for all true disciples of Christ. This final end is our source of hope and comfort in this life and eternal happiness in the next. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:11; 20:6.