God
We believe in one true God (John 17:3), the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). He is the Creator (Genesis 1) and Ruler of all things (Daniel 4:25-26). He is perfect in power, love, and purity (Isaiah 6:3-5). Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne (Psalm 97:2). He knows ALL things (past, present, and future – Isaiah 46:9-10). He is ALL powerful (Job 42:2). He is present everywhere at ALL times (Psalm 139:8-10). The Godhead eternally exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three Persons, having the same nature and perfections, are worthy of praise, trust, and obedience (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 4:3-4, John 1:1-4, Acts 13:2-3, Hebrews 6:18).
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. Fully God, Jesus has always existed as part of the Godhead (John 1:1) and is the all-knowing, Sovereign Lord (John 13:19, John 6:64). Jesus took upon Himself the form of a man by means of the virgin birth (John 1:14). Jesus Christ absorbed the wrath of God that we fully deserve by becoming sin on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21) in order to perfectly save His people (Romans 8:30, 1 Peter 3:18). We believe that one can only be saved through trusting in this Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the Promise of the Father (Acts 2:33), sent to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14). The Holy Spirit regenerates sinners (Titus 3:5) and seals them into the body of Christ through faith (Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit guides, instructs, and empowers believers to live holy and pure lives (John 14:26, John 16:13, Romans 5:5, Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit has been sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-11). Believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8), preaching the gospel with power (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). We believe all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still in operation and are a vital part of church life when used to bring edification to the church (1 Corinthians 12-14).
The Bible
We believe that the old and new testaments are God’s words and therefore have full authority (2 Timothy 3:15-16, 2 Peter 1:20-21). The bible is completely free from error, so we can trust it (John 17:17, Psalm 12:6). The bible is necessary to know God, His will, and His promises (Romans 10:13-17). We believe that the bible is sufficient to know God’s will and obey Him perfectly. The scriptures fully equip believers for every good work (Matthew 4:4, 2 Timothy 3:17). The bible is necessary to maintain spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2).
Man
We believe man was created in the image of God, through disobedience sinned and fell, and that the entire human race shares in man’s lost and depraved nature (Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 1:18, Romans 3:10-18). Because of this, the natural man (apart from grace) is totally incapable of living righteously, pleasing God, or saving himself (Genesis 6:5, Romans 14:23, Hebrews 11:6). We believe that the essence of sin is to exchange the glory of God for other things (Romans 1:23).
Salvation
We believe salvation is the gift of God by grace alone from beginning to end. Sinners are justified by faith alone (Romans 3:28); and faith itself is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). In this gifted faith, sinners call upon the name of the Lord for salvation (Romans 10:9). God is continually at work in the believer to will and work His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). God will ensure that His people persevere in final salvation and glorification (Romans 8:30, Jude 24-25). Good works will always be the fruit of genuine new birth (James 2:18, James 2:26).
Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord (Acts 1:3, Acts 2:24, Ephesians 1:20), in His ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9), and His priestly intercession on behalf of believers (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34).
The Church
Once receiving Christ as Lord, a believer becomes a part of the body of Christ. There is one universal church: all those throughout the world who receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The church is the host of believers who gather in order to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, fellowship (Acts 2:42-46), observance of the ordinances (Acts 10:47, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), service to the body through the development and use of talents and gifts (Romans 12:3-8), and outreach to the world in fulfillment of the command of Christ to preach the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and make disciples of all believers (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Acts 1:8). Wherever God’s people meet regularly in this way, there is the local expression of the church under the oversight of elders and other supportive leadership. The church’s members are to work together in love and unity, for the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ (Ephesians 4:16).
The Return of Jesus Christ
We believe the consummation of all things includes the visible, personal, and glorious return of Jesus Christ… the “Blessed Hope” of the Church (1Thessalonians 4:13-17, 2 Thessalonians 1:10, Titus 2:13).
Heaven and Hell
We believe in the bodily resurr ection of both the saved and the lost. The saved are raised to eternal, conscious joy in heaven (Matthew 25:34, John 14:2, 2 Corinthians 5:1, Revelation 2:7). The lost are raised to eternal, conscious torment and damnation in hell (Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:49-50; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:5; Revelation 21:8).
