What We Believe

The Bible

The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God, and that it was written under His inspiration. Scripture thus at one and the same time speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God. (II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:19-21)

The Trinity

We believe there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. (Genesis 1:1, 26; Deut 6:4; John 1:1, 3; Matt 28:19; Romans 1:19-20; 2 Cor 13:14)

God the Father

We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Luke 10:21-22; John 3:16; 6:27; 1 Peter 1:3; Rev 1:6)

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, God's Son, is both fully God – He is equal with God the Father in essence and attributes – and fully human – He was born of the virgin Mary and was like us in every way except that He had no sinful nature and committed no sin. Since He was without sin, Jesus' death in our place fully satisfied God's justice and, thus, made a way for us to enter into a reconciled relationship with God.

After His death, Jesus proved his power over death by rising from the dead. He is now in heaven, where He intercedes with God for us. He will come again to earth, personally and visibly, to fulfill history and God's eternal plan. (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 24:1-8; 2 Cor 5:19-21; Heb 4:14-16, 7:24-25; Rev 19, 20)

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. (John 16:8-11; 2 Cor 3:6; 1 Cor 12:12-14; Rom 8:9; Gal 5:22-26)

Gospel

The Gospel is the good news that God himself came to earth to rescue and renew creation through Jesus Christ on our behalf. This good news of Jesus is capable of transforming everything about a person, their community, and their world. (Romans 1:16-17, 8:1; II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 21:5)

The Church

"The Church" refers not to a building but to that group of people who have a relationship with Jesus Christ, who belong to God. In the broadest sense, the church consists of all people everywhere who have ever acknowledged Jesus Christ as their Lord. In a narrower meaning, it refers to a local body of believers who gather regularly for worship, prayer, fellowship, and teaching of the Bible. They are committed to outreach to the world and to service to one another through the development and use of talents and gifts, and they observe baptism and communion as the ordinances established by Jesus Christ. Under the care of its leaders, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. (Matt 18:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 8:1; Col 1:18; Heb 13:17; Heb 10:24-25)

The Ordinances

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:8; Rom 6:3-5; 1 Cor 11:23-26)

Salvation

We believe salvation is received by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, and that those who put their trust in Him receive forgiveness and pass from spiritual death to eternal life. (Rom 3:23-24)