What We Believe

SCRIPTURE

We believe “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Word is infallible [incapable of teaching deception], inerrant, endures forever, and is the final authority for faith and life (Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25). The Holy Scripture is the verbally [including the actual language form and extending to every word] and plenary [extending to all parts alike] inspired Word of God in the original manuscripts.

GOD

We believe God is one true God, and sovereign in all of his creation (Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:29).

We believe in one Triune God [the Trinity]. God is one divine essence and revealed in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each eternal in being, equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections, yet with differing ministries (Matthew 23:9; 28:19; John 3:16; Genesis 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

CHRIST

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in one person possessed two natures, a human nature and a divine nature. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life in order that He might reveal the Father and redeem sinful humanity (Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross, shedding His blood as a vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Hebrews 9:22; 1 Corinthians 15:17).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate (Hebrews 8:1,6).

We believe Christ has “borne our griefs”, and “with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5). In Christ’s suffering on the cross he provided for our healing (Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:17-19; Acts3:1-11; James 5:14-15). We recognize the sovereignty of God in healing.

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit also forms the Church (Ephesians 2:21-22) by baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), by imparting gifts to every member of that Body (1 Corinthians 12:7-11), by guiding the members in their service (Acts16:6-7), and by instilling the essential power into each service (Acts 1:8; 2:4; 1 Corinthians 2:4).

We believe the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is the “Promise of the Father” (Luke 24:49), is subsequent to the new birth, endues the believer with power, and is the same today as in the early church (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4; 10:44-46; 19:2-6).

SALVATION

We believe Man fell into sin in the Garden of Eden “by one man” Adam (Genesis 3:1-17), and has been redeemed by one man, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:12-21). The salvation of man is real and removes all guilt and penalty of sin (Romans 8:16; 10:1-17; Titus 2:11; 3:5-8).

We believe in the necessity of the new birth (John 3:3), the particular redemption produced by the death of Jesus Christ (John 17), the irresistible grace of God (John 6:37, 44), the free agency and human responsibility of man, the perseverance and preservation of the saints, salvation by grace through faith apart from works, and the maintenance of good works by believers as evidence of their faith (Ephesians 2:8-10).

We believe the unconditional covenant of Christ makes man’s salvation totally dependent upon Christ’s finished work. Thus, man’s choosing God is a total act of God’s drawing (John 15:16).

We believe each redeemed man’s eternal relationship with God is secured (John 10:27-29).

We believe sanctification of the believers is instantaneous once they believe in the sacrifice of Christ. (Hebrews 10:10,14: 1Corinthians 6:9-11). However, sanctification is also a progressive and continuing experience for every believer. Christians are being sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit through the Scripture (John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). Complete sanctification for the believer awaits the appearing of the Lord (Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 3:2).

THE CHURCH

We believe the Church is the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22).

We believe we are to perform the ministry of evangelism (2 Timothy 4:5), both in working for the salvation of the lost and in edifying the Body of Christ.

We believe that the church is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises to Israel, the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile has been abolished and we have been made one in Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16).

We believe that marriage as ordained by God is between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:20-24).

SACRAMENTS

We believe in the believer’s baptism (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). This “burial” in baptism is accomplished through immersion, just as Philip and the eunuch “went down into the water” to be baptized (Acts 8:38), and Jesus came “up out of the water” after his baptism by John (Mark 1:10). Christ commissioned that all nations be discipled and baptized (Matthew 28:18-20).

We believe we are commanded to partake of the Lord’s Supper – “this do in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). By doing so, we acknowledge Jesus dwells in us and we in him (John 6:56). We believe this is a symbolic participation.

We believe that marriage as ordained by God is between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:20-24).

END TIMES

We believe the Second Coming of Christ is our blessed hope and resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58). The second coming will precede the end of time and the General Judgment of the righteous and of the wicked. We believe as a church that Christ’s kingdom is spiritual and eternal.

We believe the Lake of Fire is the eternal punishment of the wicked (Revelation 19:20; 20:10-15; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

We believe the New Heaven and the New Earth will be established and will become the eternal abode of the righteous (2 Peter 2:10-14; Revelation 21:1-7).