What We Believe
1. We believe the Old Testament and the New Testament were fully and equally inspired by God and were therefore without error in the original writings. Therefore, the Scriptures are the divinely authorized standard. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21 et al)
2. We believe that God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these three are one God. The Father is God (Psalm 89:26; John 5:18; John 6:27; John 6:45; et al). The Son is God (Isaiah 9:6; John 14:9; Colossians 2:9; et al). The Holy Spirit is God (Genesis 1:2; Matthew 3:16; Ephesians 4:30; et al).
3. We believe that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God and that because of Adam’s disobedience to God, all mankind inherited Adam’s sinful nature and became separated spiritually from God. No man can justify himself by his own efforts. (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 3:23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-2; et al)
4. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became fully man but retained his full deity at the same time. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit without a human father, was born of a virgin mother, and lived a sinless life on earth in order that he might reveal God to mankind and provide a perfect redemption for the human race. To this end he was voluntarily crucified and died as the perfect sacrifice for man’s sins. As man’s substitute, he paid the full penalty for God’s righteous judgment against sin. He was raised bodily from the dead (resurrected), thereby guaranteeing salvation, and now sits at the right hand of God interceding for all believers. Through the grace of God, salvation in Jesus Christ is available to any and all who repent and accept him as personal Savior. (Luke 1:35; John 1:14-18; John 3:16; Colossians 2:9; Romans 3:24-26, 4:25; 1 John 2:1-2; Hebrews 7:25; et al)
5. We believe God totally forgives our sin and declared us righteous as a free and perfect gift of his grace. A personal trust in his Son as Savior results in absolute justification before God, eternal life with God, and a new nature that is not enslaved to sin. This salvation is of grace and is entirely apart from good works, resolution to live a good life, baptism, or church membership. Those who have trusted Christ as their Savior will spend eternity with God, and those who have rejected Christ will be eternally separated from God. (Romans 3:23-28, 5:1, 6:6-7; Ephesians 1:5-7, 2:8-9; John 3:16-17; 1 John 5:11-13; 2 Corinthians 5:6-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 21:6-8; et al)
6. We believe the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, convicts the world of sin. He dwells in all believers, and seals and baptizes them into the body of Christ at the moment of their salvation, making them forever secure in Christ. He also enables believers to live the holy life God desires of his children. (John 14:16-17, 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; Galatians 5:16-25; et al)
7. We believe the church, the bride of Christ, is a spiritual body made up of all those who have personally trusted Christ as Savior in this present age. Each individual is a vital and integral part of the church, being gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve others for the building up of the church. (Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:11-16, 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-25; Hebrews 2:2-4; et al)
8. We believe that it is the goal of each believer to grow in spiritual maturity through obedience to the Word by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God. It is his responsibility to glorify the Lord by his conduct, to be diligent in prayer, and to testify by his life and words the good news of Jesus Christ. Faithful service to God will result in eternal rewards. (Ephesians 4:14-15; 1 Peter 2:2; Galatians 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 21:7; Philippians 3:8-14; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Peter 1:4-8; et al)
9. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the ordinances of baptism and communion to be observed by all believers until his return. These ordinances are a testament to the world of our love and obedience to him. (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; et al)
10. We believe that God will fulfill his promises that one day Christ will rapture his church into heaven where he has already prepared a home for all who are his, and they will dwell with him throughout eternity. Christ will defeat Satan and his demons once and forever. At the sound of the trumpet the kingdom of the Lord will be complete, and he will reign over it forever and ever. (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, 4:13-18; Revelation 11:15, 20:6; et al)