Our Beliefs
GOD
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. Though each person of the Godhead possesses one and the same nature, each functions differently in respect to God’s dealings with man.
(Deut 6:4, Matt 3:16-17)
THE FATHER
The Father 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 6:9; John 5:19-24; Eph 1:3-6)
THE SON
Jesus Christ is both the 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 justice concerning sin by His death. Bodily resurrected to life, He ascended into heaven and is the only mediator between mankind and God.
(John 1:14-18; Rom 3:24-26; 1 Cor 15; Col 2:9; Heb 2:17-18)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit manifests the presence of God as He executes His will in the world. He convicts the world of sin, and persuades people to repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord. By the same Spirit, all believers are given new life through regeneration, empowered and gifted to live righteously, and enabled to persevere in their faith until the final day. (John 3:1-8; 16:4-15; 1 Cor 12; Gal 5:16-25; Eph 1:13-14)
THE BIBLE
The Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired by God, error-free in the original writings, and the supreme authority of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are rightly understood when interpreted according to the historical-grammatical method, in order to determine the author’s original, intended meaning. (2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12; 2 Pet 1:20-21)
MAN
Man was created, as male and female, in the image of God to glorify Him and enjoy His fellowship forever. Man fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the will of God; consequently all of mankind are born sinners, alienated from God and corrupted in every aspect of their being. This depravity condemns everyone to both physical and spiritual death apart from Jesus Christ.
(Gen 1:26-27; 2:7; 3:3-4; Rom 1:18-32; 3:10-23; Eph 2:1-3)
SALVATION
Salvation is found in Jesus alone. None can accomplish salvation according to his own merit but receive it only by God’s grace through faith. Those who believe in Jesus for salvation are declared justified by the Father and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The Christian is adopted as a child of God forever and granted an eternal inheritance.
(John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom 3:21-26; 1 Cor 15:1-4; Gal 3:26; Eph 1:7; 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; Heb 10:10-12; 1 John 5:11-13)
THE FUTURE
The next great event of human history will be the personal return of Jesus Christ. This blessed event will coincide with the bodily resurrection of the dead and usher in the final judgment and the consummation of God’s redemptive work. Though the time of Christ’s return is a mystery known only to the Father, it is the great hope for all those who love Him.
(Matt 24-25; 1 Thess 4:15-17; John 14:1-3)
THE CHURCH
All who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit belong to the one true church and are directed by the Scriptures to associate themselves in local, visible churches. The gospel message and mission distinguish the local church. The mission of the church is to prepare for Jesus’ return by leading people to Christ and helping them mature in the faith.
(Matt 16:13-28; 28:18-20; Acts 2:9-11, 41-47; 4:1-16; 1 Cor 12-14; Eph 2:19-22; Heb 10:24-25)
RESTORATION
Pervasive, sinful conduct is harmful, wrecking the wayward person and eroding the unity of the local church. Consequently, the church is required by Scripture to confront lawlessness and pursue restoration. Church restoration is never punitive but is rather an effort to encourage every professing believer in righteousness.
(Matt 18:15-17; 1 Cor 12:14-20; Gal 6:1)
ORDINANCES
Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water as a visual and symbolic demonstration of his union with Christ in the likeness of His death, burial, and resurrection. The act of baptism has no power to save but vividly depicts a person’s release from the mastery of sin.
(Rom 6:4; Matt 28:19; Gal 3:27)
As with baptism, the Lord’s Supper is to be observed by those who personally know Jesus as their Savior. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and shedding of His blood on our behalf and is to be observed regularly in remembrance of Christ’s finished work.
(1 Cor 11:17-34; Luke 22:14-20; Acts 2:42,46)
From creation God wonderfully made man and woman to be sexually distinct from one another and complementary to one another. Through marriage, a man and a woman are united in an exclusive, lifelong covenant with each other. Marriage is a gift from God that is intended to mirror the union of Christ and His church.
(Gen 1:27-28; 2:18, 21-24; Matt 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-8; Heb 13:4; 1 Cor 6:9-20)